Figure 1.--This photograph shows Alec aftr he enlisted in the rmy in 1915.

Alec William Campbell was the son of a commercial traveller (salesman) and had a Scottish grandfather who had migrated to Australia. Alec was born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1899. He did his schooling at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston from 1910-1915 where he was good at Aussie rules footy and cricket. He was a boyish looking 16 year old child when he lied about his age to join the Australian Infantry in June 1915. His mother farewelled the boy soldier at the dock but his dad was too upset to go and see his soldier boy off to a probable early death. Mrs. Campbell had lost a nephew in the same war. Alec was trained up and left with the 15th Battalion for the dreaded Gallipoli campaign.

Family

Alec William Campbell was the son of a commercial traveller (salesman) and had a Scottish grandfather who had migrated to Australia.

Childhood

Alec was born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1899.

Boyhood Clothes

Education

Alec did his schooling at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston from 1910-1915 where he was good at Aussie rules footy and cricket.

World War I

Alec was a boyish looking 16 year old child when he lied about his age to join the Australian Infantry in June 1915. His mother farewelled the boy soldier at the dock but his dad was too upset to go and see his soldier boy off to a probable early death. Mrs. Campbell had lost a nephew in the same war. Alec was trained up and left with the 15th Battalion for the dreaded Gallipoli campaign.

He acquireed the moniker 'the Kid' because he looked so young and had not begun shaving yet. Alec slept in damp holes amongst dead comrads and rats'he kept his head low'dodged bullets and mortor fire. He ate bad food for 2 terrible months. I think I would have cracked up if I was young as Alec Campbell was in the predicament. Private Campbell caught Bells palsy he infact had a relapse of the disease he had as a little boy which had been caused originally by dental problems. He had this paralysis of his right side of his face which meant he could not close his right eye at all and it kept on weeping. The eye was removed in 1999. He was in a Egyptian hospital in 1916 and left there 6 months later on a ship called the Port Sydney back to Australia and was discharged from the army via his condition.

Adult Life

Alec did the following things after surviving World War I. He worked as an insurance clerk, jackeroo (????), carpenter, railway carriage builder, union official, economist, boxer, and yachtsman. He was a family man with nine children and several grand and great grandchildren. He was also in six big Sydney to Hobart Yacht races and plus he was a mature student at university.

Patrick Durward

Created: September 5, 2002
Last updated: September 7, 2002