Current Information:

Age-29

Sloane Square

Born-Sydney

Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France

The Battle of Neuve Chapelle

Between 10th and 13th March, 1915, the Indian Army Corps and IV Corps attacked the village of Neuve Chapelle in the Artois region of France. During the winter of 1914-1915, reinforcements had arrived from Britain and this was seen as an opportunity to use them to break through the German lines.

It started well. At 7.30am on 10th March, a 30 minute hurricane bombardment destroyed the German wire and front line trenches and at 8.05am the infantry went in. Neuve Chapelle was captured and over a mile of the German line taken. But that was the end of the success.  The British chain of command was weak and their communications poor, which was hardly surprising given that many of the troops had no previous experience of battle. The Germans re-organised and reinforced during the night and no further gains were made. British casualties mounted to 12,000 by the time the offensive petered out on 13th March.

The Sirhind Brigade of the  Lahore Division were in reserve during the first two days of the battle and on 11th March the 1st Highland Light Infantry battalion moved forward to Richebourg St Vaast in support of the Meerut Division and that evening relieved the 4th Seaforth Highlanders in the support trenches. At dawn on 12th March, the enemy launched their counter attack preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment and some of 1st Highland Light Infantry were sent forward to reinforce the front line trenches held by the Garhwal Brigade. By 1pm the rest of the battalion had also moved forward and after a half hour bombardment of the enemy’s positions they and the 4th Gurkhas attacked. Unable to get in touch with the Jullunder Brigade, the 1st Highland Light Infantry suffered heavy losses from oblique fire as they advanced in rushes but eventually they established themselves in the front line trenches, some 70 yards north-west of the River Layes, which had been wrested back from the enemy during the morning. However they were unable to make any further progress. The battalion remained in these forward positions until finally relieved on 18th March when they moved back to Richebourg St Vaast. The records show that William Campbell was killed on 14th March but the battalion diary recorded his death as being on 12th March.