John King Campbell when did he join the Scots Guards

[Midlad]

Hi,
I am hoping someone can help me get more information on John King Campell's army career.
He was born on 26Th October 1886 in Gilmerton Liberton Edinburgh . As far as I can ascertain he never married was a miner and lived with his mother sister and two brothers (one of whom was my step grandfather) --his father had been killed in a mining accident.
We have very little knowledge of him except his birth and he died in France in 1915.
Thank you

midlad

[jim1]

His army no. indicates he was either a professional soldier or a part timer & embodied with the same no.
He went overseas 10/3/15 & was seconded into an R.E. Tunnelling Coy 17/9/15.
He was awarded the 14/15 Star, BW & Victory Medals.

[Midlad]

Thank you so much jim1 is there any way I can find out when he actually enlisted .

midlad

[jim1]

His Army no. 7721 indicates he joined mid-late 1902.
Are you sure he died in 1915 because the CWGC don't have him listed.
There is a John King Campbell who died 1916.
7721 John King Campbell was commissioned (from the 5th, Scottish Rifles) 2nd. Lt. RE 17/9/15 when he joined the 253 tunnelling Coy.
He died 21/4/1916.
The war diaries for the 253rd. are at Kew but have not yet been digitalised:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_st=adv&_aq=253%20tunnelling%20company&_dss=range&_ro=any

Officers service records are also held there under WO 339 and WO 374.

253rd Tunnelling Company  Moved after formation in January 1916 to Sailly Labourse and the front line areas of the old Loos battlefield, north of the Vermelles-Hulluch road. In mid-1917, the Company was engaged in constructing light railways to the battery positions of Fifth Army, preparatory to the 31st July 1917 attack at Ypres. In March 1918, they were at rest in Wiencourt when the great German attack opened, and had to halt a panic retreat by French (and probably British) units on the Guillaucourt-Marcelcave road by placing trucks across the road. Absorbed into Carey's Force, and dug in as infantry in front of Marcelcave on 26th March 1918. After a disjointed defensive battle and suffering more than 100 casualties, the Company reformed at Boves.

[Midlad]

Hi Yes as far as I was always led to believe my step grandfather had a picture of him hanging on the wall all the years I can remember -- and always said it was his brother died in France in May 1915 he was in the Scots Guards I am trying to remember it was something like Festenberg .
I know the birth details are correct as I have his birth cert .

midlad

[jim1]

You're probably thinking of Festubert.
There is no other John King Campbell.
There's this John Campbell:
John Campbell b Edinburgh d 18 May 1915 France/Flanders
Enlisted Edinburgh Scots Guards (2nd. Batt.) Regimental Number: 8317
mother:Janet.

is this him?
2nd Battalion, The Scots Guards were based at the Tower of London when war was declared in August 1914. In September they joined 20th Brigade, 7th Division, who were concentrating in the New Forest in Hampshire. The Division landed at Zeebrugge in the first week of October 1914, to assist in the defence of Antwerp, they arrived too late prevent the fall of the city and took up defensive positions at important bridges and junctions to aid in the retreat of the Belgian army. The 7th Division then became the first British Troops to entrench in front of Ypres, suffering extremely heavy losses in the The First Battle of Ypres. By February 1915 the Division had been reinforced to fighting strength and they were in action at The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers and The Battle of Festubert.

his army. no. indicates he joined in 1912.
He went overseas 7/10/14 & so qualified for the 14 (Mons) Star.

[Midlad]

Hi,
     Yes that is him his mother was Janet King father was William Campbell -- he was killed in a mining

accident in October  1888 Janet was left with three young children and pregnant with her fourth who was born in January 1889.
Her father also John King was killed in a mining accident in 1891.

Thank you so much I assumed that his middle name would be included knew it started with an F but couldn't remember it exactly .
He was actually mg great step grandfather get a wee bit mixed up sometimes with these greats.
Gilmerton was in Liberton Parish which was then a small mining village on the outskirts of Edinburgh

midlad

[jim1]

Festubert 1915
2SG marked yellow

[Midlad]

Thank you so much for your help jim1 very much appreciated

midlad