Private John Campbell
John Campbell was born on 2 January 1900 at Carntall, Ballylinny, County Antrim, the fourth or fifth of nine children of labourer Robert Campbell and his wife Maggie (née Kirkpatrick). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at nearby Ballyhowne with his parents and five surviving siblings.
Campbell enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 14 December 1916 (No.2332). He gave his age as 19 (his true age was 16) and his occupation as farm labourer. He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France on 14 May 1917. There he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiments.
In August-September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Campbell, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Campbell was issued regimental number 41350.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917, and perhaps also during the retreat from St Quentin and the fighting around Mount Kemmel in March and April 1918.
Campbell was wounded in the back and left knee on 4 September 1918 during the fighting near Wulverghem at the beginning of the Advance to Victory offensive. Four days later he was evacuated to the UK, where he was admitted to the New End Military Hospital at Hampstead. He remained there until discharged on 23 October, when he was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
On 7 December 1918 Campbell was discharged as 'surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service' (paragraph 392 xvi(a), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'very good'.