Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting post-war civil O.B.E. group of three awarded to S. R. Campion, a long-served member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery and latterly Principal Information Officer at the G.P.O., late Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (109136 2 A.M. S. R. Campion, R.A.F.), good very fine or better (3) £180-220

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 June 1953.

Sydney Ronald Campion was born at Coalville, Leicestershire in June 1891 and, according to his extensive entry in Who’s Who, was educated at the Charnwood Street Elementary School before working as a street newspaper seller between the ages of 11-14, and thence in assorted factories, workshops and woodmills until assisted by, among others, the Rt. Hon. Ramsay MacDonald, thereby permitting him to return to his education and gain a foothold in the world of journalism.

He did, however, enlist in the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in November 1917, and witnessed active service out in France with H.Q. 8th Brigade from January until September 1918, an unhappy experience judging by observations later made by him in his book, Only the Stars Remain, which was published in 1946:

‘I left Chorley in 1917 a mightily vigorous young man supremely confident of returning from the War unchanged. I came back early in 1919 a broken creature. Instead of walking with ease and speed, I slouched along as if overwhelmed with weariness. Where I used to be active and challenging I was now tired and indifferent. My dark eyes no longer flashed light and fight: they were dull and expressionless. Once square-shouldered and upright, I was now round-shouldered and stooping.’

Demobilised in April 1920, Campion returned to his career in journalism, although he had a wide variety of interests outside such employment, being an artist (he onetime attended St.Martin’s School of Art), sculptor, author and schoolmaster, in addition to a qualified barrister (called to the Bar in 1930). He also stood as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Oswestry in 1923. Such diversions aside, he served on the staff of the Parliamentary Press Gallery 1933-40, and as Principal Information Officer at the General Post Office 1940-57, the latter appointment resulting in the award of his O.B.E., the former period witnessing many momentous events in the Commons, not least in 1939-40 - indeed another title published by Campion was Press Gallery.

He died in December 1978; sold with a copy of Only the Stars Remain, together with brief research.