Frederick William Campbell VC (1867 – 19 June 1915) was a Canadian Army Officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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Campbell was born on 15 June 1867 to Ephraim B. and Esther A. Hunt Campbell, of Mount Forest, Ontario. He was married, to Margaret Annie.[1]
As a lieutenant in the 1st (Western Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, he was awarded the VC for actions performed on 15 June 1915 at Givenchy, France. As he was retreating, his right thigh bone was shattered. The wound turned septic, and Campbell died in hospital in Boulogne four days later.[2]
For most conspicuous bravery on 15th June, 1915, during the action at Givenchy. Lt. Campbell took two machine-guns over the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one gun, and maintained his position there, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun and bomb fire, notwithstanding the fact that almost the whole of his detachment had then been killed or wounded. When our supply of bombs had become exhausted, this Officer advanced his gun still further to an exposed position, and, by firing about 1,000 rounds, succeeded in holding back the enemy's counter-attack. This very gallant Officer was subsequently wounded, and has since died.—London Gazette, No. 29272, 20 August 1915[1]
Grave/memorial at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Plot II, Row A, Grave 24, Headstone.