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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Cramond Brig on Friday 05 June 15 14:29 BST (UK)
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This book was written by Captain Robert William Campbell, Royal Scots Fusiliers. I have not been able, so far, to find any biogaphical material about the author, so any help would be greatly appreciated. His Medal Card shows an address at Roberton, Abington.
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I will pass this information on to someone who may be able to trace the author and get more details.
Morag.
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Thank you, Morag.
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https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HyDxLyb6yigC&pg=PT164&lpg=PT164&dq=private+spud+tamson&source=bl&ots=fzI865UW2r&sig=3d9Uqf-pY4Gg2gpGpCRmUs8-u4E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hedxVfveNsetswHjtoLgAg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBTge#v=onepage&q=private%20spud%20tamson&f=false
Found this , not sure how accurate it is ?
ev
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I have 2 pieces of information for you which I received from friends.
The first is a file which cannot be downloaded but I think you can pay and get the information from the National Archives at Kew. It might be expensive.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C682282
The second link can be downloaded free of charge.
https://archive.org/details/privatespudtamso00campuoft
Once the above link loads, scroll down the page until you see BW/PDF on the right hand side. Click that and a PDF copy will download which you can then save. It might be quite large.
Alternatively, you can read it online at the initial opening page.
Hope this is of some help to you.
Good luck in your searching.
Morag
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Thanks to everyone so far
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Possible marriage record 1916
Robert William Campbell (Officer Reserve of Officers - Territorial) 33 years old
Grace Gilmour 27 years old
Robert's parents given as Henry Campbell Army Pensioner deceased and Annie White
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Henry Campbell - Private 42nd Highlanders and Annie White had a son Robert William Campbell born 29 Jan 1883 in Alloa
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Thanks, Sancti.
Short bio about him seems to have his middle name wrong:
"Robert Walter Campbell served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers during the Boer War and then retired to the Special Reserve. In 1914 he rejoined his regiment and served with the 5th battalion, a Territorial Army formation recruited from Ayrshire. With them he served in Gallipoli, an experience which gave him the background for his first war novel The Kangaroo Marines (1915). In 1916 he was transferred once more to the reserve and served for the rest of the war in an administrative capacity. His next novel Private Spud Tamson was published in 1916 and quickly went through several editions. Campbell repeated the formula, less successfully, in Sergeant Spud Tamson VC and his hero reappeared in 1926 to save a mining village in Spud Tamson's Pit. After the war Campbell lived in Lochmaben and Edinburgh but he vanished from the literary scene in the late 1920s and little is known about his subsequent life and career. He was also well known for his jaunty war poems which were published in The Making of Micky McGhee (1916). Campbell described the men of the 'Glesca Mileeshy' who took part in the trench fighting as 'a noble force, recruited from the Weary Willies and Never-works of the famous town of Glasgow.'"
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A tree on Anc* has Grace dying in Friern Barnet, 1975
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Marriage announcement in Glasgow Herald
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19161023&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
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1891 census has the family living in Glasgow with his father's details as
Name:
Henry Campbell
Age:
38
Estimated Birth Year:1853
Where born:
Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Address:
29 Grove St
Occupation:
Mess Sergeant of Volunteers
Spouse's name :
Annie Campbell Born England
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Photocopies of papers relating to Capt R W Campbell, including his autobiography and papers relating to his career and family, 1880-1985 (c); associated with the Boer War (1899-1902) and World War One, Outbreak of War (1914-1918). Archives 1987-03-14
http://www.nam.ac.uk/inventory/objects/results.php?unit=royal%20scots&page=2
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Thanks again, Sancti.
I found the National Army Museum information a few days ago, and have contacted the museum to see if copies might be available.
Robert and Grace married at the Grand Hotel, Glasgow on 21 October 1916.
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Robert's address at the time of his marriage was 54 West George Street, Glasgow
Grace lived at 59 Monreith Road, Newlands, Glasgow
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He wrote this about himself in "Kangaroo Marines", the book about Gallipoli.
"I have lived in Australia and New Zealand. I have served on a Sydney paper and with the New Zealand Herald. I have met every Premier (Federal and otherwise), from "Andrew" Fisher to "Bill" Massey. And, during my stay, I made it my duty to study the Citizen Army - a National Service organisation.
This was before the war. And this army was founded by "K" and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. Did they see ahead? One is almost tempted to think so. In any case, the possession of a General Staff and the framework of a National Army ensured the rapid mobilisation of a voluntary force to assist the Motherland. This force was armed, clothed, equipped and staffed from the existing military organisations in Australia and New Zealand. You have heard of their courage at Anzac; you have read of how many have died."