Kenneth Campbell was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 23 years old, and a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , serving on No. 22 Squadron RAF, during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 April 1941 over Brest Harbour, France, Flying Officer Campbell attacked the German battle-cruiser Gneisenau. He ran the gauntlet of concentrated anti-aircraft fire and launched a torpedo at point-blank range. The ship was severely damaged below the waterline and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. Flying Officer Campbell's aircraft then met a withering wall of flak and crashed into the harbour.

Further information

At a small ceremony in his home town of Saltcoats in Ayrshire on 6 April 2000, the 59th anniversary of his death at Brest, a memorial plaque and bench were unveiled by his sister in law, and his 90 year old brother handed over his VC to the safekeeping of the commanding officer of the present day 22 Squadron.

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• SCOTLAND'S FORgotten VALOUR (Graham Ross, 1995)
• Michael J. Timmons

See also

External links

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.