Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: William Andrew Campbell

Ancestor's date of birth: 04/07/1872

Ancestor's date of death: 23/01/1953

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: William was born in Scotland and went to sea with the merchant navy

Service Number: Not known

Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: Cape Town

Unit: Merchant Navy

Rank attained in Boer War: Able Seaman, Date Effective: Not known

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Merchant Navy Service

Murray Page: Not applicable did not serve in an Australian unit.

Contingent: Not applicable

Ship: Not applicable

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Transport and Merchant Navy Medals.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided

Reasons to go and fight: Volunteers from the merchant navy were sought to serve in the war probably with the Naval Brigade

Details of service in war: As William's trade was a sail maker he was kept in Capetown manufacturing and repairing harness for horse, mule teams (much to his disappointment)

Service and life after the Boer War: He served in World War One in the merchant navy and later came to Australia. He put his age down and went to sea again in World War 2 serving on the Australian coastal trade in the famous "Iron" ships of the iron ore trade and was the recipient of four WW2 service medals.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: John Campbell, Jannali NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson

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