Harold George Campbell

Captain (retired) SIR Harold George Campbell, K.C.V.O., D.S.O. (6 April, 1888 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He commanded one of the Mersey ferries involved in landing troops for the Zeebrugge Raid, and later served as Equerry and Groom to the King.

Life & Career

Campbell gained two and a half months' time on passing out of Britannia. His early service was in Ariadne from 1904-05, Venerable for two years from August, 1905, then Prince of Wales at the end of 1907. In early 1908, Campbell failed Part I and was appointed to London of the Home Fleet from 1 February 1908 to 21 April, 1908. He then passed Part I of his examinations.

In December 1908, Campbell missed a gunnery examination owing to illness, but he got a second class certificate in February 1909. In August of 1909, his name was noted for submarine service, and in October he gained his watchkeeping certificate and was appointed to the armoured cruiser Achilles. At the end of the year, Campbell requested that his name be removed from the list of volunteers for submarine service.

Campbell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1910.

Campbell was appointed Lieutenant & Commander of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 110 on 9 March, 1912.

Campbell was appointed in command of the destroyer Conflict on 19 August, 1913.

In February, 1918, Campbell applied for command of a destroyer, a role for which Rear-Admiral Nichols thought him "exceptionally suitable." He was appointed in command of Liberty later that month, but remained just two days before he was assigned to navigate the double-bottomed Mersey ferry Daffodil to participate in the Zeebrugge Raid of 23 April, 1918. Campbell was slightly wounded in the naval attack, in which Daffodil landed 1,500 raiders and pressed Vindictive against the Mole to press home the assault. Amazingly, Daffodil lost just one man in the operation. Campbell was ballotted for V.C.s awarded in the operation, and was mentioned in despatches.

Campbell was appointed in command of the destroyer Sikh on 25 May, 1918.

Campbell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1918.

Post-War

On 1 May 1919, Campbell was appointed to the depot ship Alexandra and was re-appointed upon his promotion to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1921.

In July 1922, Campbell asked to be retired upon his relief, which occurred on 15 October, 1922. On 25 February, 1924, Campbell was made Acting Equerry to H.R.H. The Duke of York.

On 1 September 1933, Campbell was appointed Private Secretary and Equerry to H.R.H. The Duke of York. In 1936, he resigned as Private Secretary and became Deputy Comptroller, retaining his role as Equerry. On 2 March 1937, he was made Groom of the Robes and Groom in Waiting to H.M. The King's Household.

World War II

In 1939, it was decided that Campbell's role as Equerry to the King would prevent his service, but he was granted the acting rank of Captain on 25 September 1942. Campbell was promoted to the rank of Captain on 8 May, 1946.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
  • Daffodil's role at Zeebrugge outlined on pp 244, 249-65.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Montague R. Bernard	Captain of H.M. T.B. 068 9 Aug, 1911 – 5 Jan, 1912	Succeeded by Robert J. Harness
Preceded by Robert J. Harness	Captain of H.M. T.B. 82 5 Jan, 1912 – 9 Mar, 1912	Succeeded by Walter A. Rose
Preceded by Kenneth C. Helyar	Captain of H.M. T.B. 110 9 Mar, 1912 – 4 Jul, 1913	Succeeded by William O. Hozier
Preceded by Leonard P. Vavasour	Captain of H.M.S. Conflict 19 Aug, 1913 – Jun, 1914	Succeeded by Alan F. W. Howard
Preceded by Philip W. S. King	Captain of H.M.S. Lurcher Jun, 1914 – 3 Aug, 1914	Succeeded by Wilfred Tomkinson
Preceded by Colin S. Thomson	Captain of H.M.S. Liberty 23 Feb, 1918 – 25 Feb, 1918	Succeeded by Humphrey B. Jacomb
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sikh 25 May, 1918 – 15 Apr, 1919	Succeeded by Geoffrey S. Holden
Preceded by Eldred S. Brooksmith	Superintendent of Anti-Gas Training, Portsmouth 12 Dec, 1921 – 11 Sep, 1922	Succeeded by Cuthbert H. Heath-Caldwell