Campbell Mellis Douglas

Campbell Mellis Douglas VC
Born	5 August 1840 Quebec City, Canada
Died	31 December 1909 (aged 69) Wells, Somerset, United Kingdom
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1862 - 1882
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Andaman Islands Expedition
Awards	Victoria Cross

Campbell Mellis Douglas VC (5 August 1840, Quebec City – 31 December 1909), was a Canadian 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.

Douglas joined the British Army in 1862.

Details

Campbell Mellis Douglas graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School with an MD degree in 1861.^[1] He was 26 years old, and an assistant surgeon in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Andaman Islands Expedition when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 7 May 1867 at the island of Little Andaman, eastern India, in the Bay of Bengal, Assistant Surgeon Douglas and four Privates (David Bell, James Cooper, William Griffiths and Thomas Murphy) of the 2/24th Regiment risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the commander and seven of the crew, who had landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders.

Further information

VC not awarded for bravery in action against the enemy, but for bravery at sea in saving life in storm off Andaman Islands.

Later life

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel, and served on the Northwest Frontier in India.^[2] He retired from the army in 1882 and settled in Lakefield, Ontario. He married the widow of Valentine Munbee McMaster VC.^[3] He was recruited for service as a medical officer during the Northwest Rebellion in 1885, where he further distinguished himself, arriving in time to treat the wounded from the May 3 Battle of Fish Creek and caring for the soldiers wounded during the Battle of Batoche, on May 14.^[2]

Campbell Mellis Douglas retired to England in 1894, and died at Hollington, Somerset, on December 30, 1909.^[2]

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Canadian War Museum (Ottawa, Canada).

References

• Location of grave and VC medal (Somerset)
• Legion Magazine article on Campbell Douglas
• Find-A-Grave profile for Campbell Mellis Douglas
• Douglas' Medals at the Canadian War Museum