Donald Campbell (1878-1934) is my great grandfather on my father's side.
Donald Campbell, from records and notes from my father Douglas, was born in Barogill, Parish of Canisbay (near Castle Mey) on 13 July 1878. He was a champion ploughman and lived near Watten, inland from Wick, Caithness in the north of Scotland.
When living in Caithness he was a member of the 1st Sutherland Highland Regiment with the Volunteer Rifle Corps (VRC).
He moved to Leith, Edinburgh around or before 1900 where he met and married his first wife Margaret Cunningham (1878-1926) on 1 Jun 1900. He worked as a lorryman at a flour mill.
His children were:
- James Campbell (1902-1913) - died young, possibly from cortical syncope and/or insipidus diabetes
- Isabella Campbell (Bella, 1903 - 1990). I visited Bella in Scotland in 1985, descendents living in Edinburgh and Glasgow
- William Campbell (1905-1968) - my grandfather who emigrated to Australia, descendents living in Australia,
- Donald Campbell (1907-1972) - emigrated to Australia, descendants living in Australia
- Peter Hay Campbell (1911-1942) - killed in WW2
The family lived at 25 Halmyre Street in Leith.
Donald transferred to the 5th V.B. Royal Scots (information from war pension record dated 6 April 1908). He was a good marksman. A relative in Edinburgh sent me these photos of a medal he won in the Royal Scots.
6th Volunteer Battalion The Royal Scots
General Competition, 1st Prize, Sergt D. Campbell, 1 Coy, 1907
He was injured on the troop train that crashed in the Gretna Green train disaster during World War 1 on 22nd May, 1915. He told his men to put their feet up to avoid injury. Some 500 officers and men of the Leith Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment were on the train. 232 were killed and 230 injured in Britain’s worst ever train crash.
Donald's first wife Margaret died in 1926.
Donald's first wife Margaret died in 1926.
His second marriage was to his first cousin Catherine Campbell in South Leith Parish Church on 4 Jul 1929.
Donald Campbell died in 1934 of pneumonia in Murray's Royal Asylum, Perthshire, Scotland, a mental health facility.
Margo, a distant relative (4th cousin) in Scotland located these details which were unknown by surviving relatives in Australia.
Margo, a distant relative (4th cousin) in Scotland located these details which were unknown by surviving relatives in Australia.
