To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World
War, I am working on a series of blog posts that will
look at 100 Manitobans who died in action. For more about this project
and links to other soldiers, follow this link.
The 1901 census shows the 12-year-old Peter had at least 6 siblings ranging in age from 10 to 25 years of age. His father, also named Peter, was a carpenter by trade. There is no mother listed on the document and it is unclear what happened to her.
The family reminded close-knit. By 1908, they they were all living together in Winnipeg at 95 Inkster Boulevard.
Campbell followed in his father's footsteps as a carpenter and by 1916 was working on a farm in Russell, Manitoba.
Camp Hughes, August 1916 (Source)
It was while at the farm that Campbell chose to go to Camp Hughes and enlist with the 179th Overseas Battalion on June 26, 1916. Later, he would be transferred to the 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) .
The Camerons fought at both Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge in 1917.
On October 26, 1917 in the early days of their time at the front lines of Vimy, Campbell was reported “missing after action” and presumed deceased.
On June 15, 1918, the Army Council passed an order that: "...this soldier is to be regarded for official purposes as having died on or since the above date."
Peter Allan Campbell was 29-years-old.
Source: Military File
The body of Private Campbell was eventually discovered and he was buried Poelcapelle British Cemetery in Belgium.
Campbel was single and left his possessions to his sister, Janet, back in Winnipeg in a handwritten will, (see above).
Related:
Attestation Papers and Military File
Canadian Virtual War Memorial entry
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