Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Campion, Seaforth Highlanders, who died from the effects of gas in February 1916

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Lieut. E. Campion. 1/Sea. Hrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. E. Campion, Sea: Hdrs:); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt: E. Campion. Sea: Highrs.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (Lieutt. E. Campion 1st Sea Highrs.) good very fine (4) £800-1000

Edward Campion was born on 18 December 1873, son of Colonel W. H. Campion, C.B., V.D., D.L., J.P., Hon. Colonel of the 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment and late Captain in the 72nd Highlanders, having seen service in the Crimea and Indian Mutiny. Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was originally commissioned into his local Militia regiment, 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, as 2nd Lieutenant, on 21 January 1893, and was promoted Lieutenant on 12 September 1894. He transferred to the 1st Seaforth Highlanders on 7 December 1895, which required him to revert in rank to 2nd Lieutenant and he did not regain his former rank until June 1898. He served with the battalion during the Occupation of Crete in 1897 and, in March 1898, proceeded to Egypt on active service to join in the reconquest of the Sudan, taking part in the battles of The Atbara and Khartoum (Queen’s Medal and Khedive’s Medal with 2 clasps).

Appointed A.D.C. to Colonel (temp. Major-General) R. H. Murray, C.B., C.M.G., on 1 October 1900, he was promoted to Captain on 19 March 1901. In October 1901 he was posted to South Africa for service during the latter stages of the Boer War, serving chiefly in the Lydenberg district of the Transvaal (Queen’s Medal with 5 clasps). After a brief spell at home he returned to duty in 1903 with the 1st Battalion in India, based in Nasirabad. He was seconded for service with the Supply and Transport Corps, Indian Army, on 4 March 1906, and following completion of his secondment, returned to the U.K.

Campion transferred to the 2nd Battalion in 1909 and on the outbreak of war in 1914 that battalion was stationed at Shorncliffe, Kent. After mobilising with a large influx of Reservists the battalion embarked at Southampton for France, disembarking there on 23 August 1914. He was recommended by Brigadier-General Haldane, Commanding 10th Infantry Brigade, on 2 October 1914, for “Good all round work and has made several personal reconnaissances close to the enemy’s position.” This resulted in a mention in despatches, published in the London Gazette of 17 February 1915. Promotion to Major followed on 22 October 1914.

The second battle of Ypres in May 1915 and the attack of St Julien, at which the 2nd Seaforths lost so heavily, left him in command of his regiment until all attacks had been repulsed. In expectation of the use of gas in the forthcoming German attack, Major Campion had issued the following Field Message to O.O. Coys with a note “Men to see”. The message stated: “Remember no Seaforth Highlander ever has left or ever will leave his post. Whatever damnable engine of war the enemy use the Seaforths will stick it out and will have their reward in killing the enemy.” The losses sustained by the battalion as a result of the German attack on the 2 May were 1 man killed and 10 wounded, but the following day the effects of the gas were more readily apparent with 3 officers and 321 men sick with gas poisoning. A further 24 men had already died from its effect. More officers and men would report sick in the coming days, including Major Campion who was hospitalised on 6 May.

Major Campion returned to duty from sick leave on 11 September, receiving promotion to temporary Lieutenant-Colonel following the departure of Lieutenant-Colonel Vandeleur to command a Brigade. Nothing of significance occurred during the ensuing routine of tours in the trenches but with the onset of winter it became clear that Colonel Campion had not fully recovered from the debilitating effects of the gas poisoning. He was consequently compelled to leave the battalion once again sick on 16 November 1915. He returned to England and was admitted to Endsleigh Palace Hospital in London where he finally lost the battle against his gas poisoning and died on 25 February 1916.

Sold with comprehensive research including numerous copied group photographs and extracts from his personal diary of events of his first two weeks in France from 24 August 1914.