Gordon Campbell
Commander, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 178 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Commander all Commanders →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Farnborough) all HMS Farnborough VCs →
- Date of action
- 17 February 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 21st April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 6th January 1886 at Croydon, Surrey
- Died
- 3rd July 1953 at Isleworth, London
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 17th February 1917 in the North Atlantic, Commander Campbell Commanding HMS Q5 * sighted a torpedo track. He altered course and allowed the torpedo to hit Q 5 aft by the engine room bulkhead. The 'Panic party'got away convincingly, followed by the U-boat. When the submarine had fully surfaced and was within 100 yards of Q 5 ---badly damaged and now lying low in the water, the commander gave the order to fire. Almost all of the 45 shells fired hit the U-boat which sank. Q5 was taken in tow just-in-time and was safely beached
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CAMPBELL, Gordon. (reg No. 178)
Commander. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 21st April 1917.
Born on 6th January 1886 at Croydon, Surrey.
Died on 3rd July 1953 at Isleworth, London.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 17th February 1917 in the North Atlantic, Commander Campbell Commanding HMS Q5 * sighted a torpedo track. He altered course and allowed the torpedo to hit Q 5 aft by the engine room bulkhead. The 'Panic party'got away convincingly, followed by the U-boat. When the submarine had fully surfaced and was within 100 yards of Q 5 ---badly damaged and now lying low in the water, the commander gave the order to fire. Almost all of the 45 shells fired hit the U-boat which sank. Q5 was taken in tow just-in-time and was safely beached.
* designated mystery ships the Q5 was an armed, disguised merchantman Additional information: Vice-Admiral Campbell also held the Distinguished Service Order ( DSO) and two Bars; the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes and the Légion d'Honneur (France). He was the uncle of Lieutenant-Colonel L Maclaine Campbell VC. From 1931 until 1935 he was the Member of Parliament for Burnley. He was the author of My Mystery Ships .
Additional information
Vice-Admiral Campbell also held the Distinguished Service Order ( DSO) and two Bars; the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes and the Légion d'Honneur (France). He was the uncle of Lieutenant-Colonel L Maclaine Campbell VC. From 1931 until 1935 he was the Member of Parliament for Burnley. He was the author of My Mystery Ships .
* designated mystery ships the Q5 was an armed, disguised merchantman
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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