Brigadier Ian Ross Campbell

Service number 332, VX21, VX12722
Ranks Held Brigadier, Major, Temporary Brigadier
Birth Date 1900-03-23
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Moss Vale
Final Rank Brigadier
Service Australian Army
Units
  • 16th Australian Infantry Brigade
  • 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion
  • Australian Army
Place Moss Vale
Conflicts/Operations
  • British Commonwealth Occupation Force, 1946-1952 (Japan)
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1946-09-05
Published in London Gazette in 1954-01-01
Published in London Gazette in 1946-08-29
Published in London Gazette in 1941-05-09
Published in London Gazette in 1941-05-09
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1954-01-14

Collection items

    Document


    Scrapbook relating to Kenneth Tebbet Johnson, c. 1939 - October 1945

    Wallet 1 of 1 - Papers relating to the service of William Gordon McGuinness, 1949 - 1953

    Wallet 26 of 90 - Papers relating to the 6 Division and the Battle of Bardia, 1940-1941

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 23 March 1900
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) 26 March 1919 Inducted C Staff captain, Royal Military College.
Date commissioned 14 December 1922 Graduated from Royal Military College. Appointed lieutenant.
Other 20 August 1923 Adjutant and quartermaster 36th Battalion.
Other 1926-09-09 - 1926-11-03 Training in India Scots Fusi.
Other 04 November 1926 Attached Headquarters 1st Division.
Other 24 January 1927 Adjutant and quartermaster SUS.
Date promoted 14 December 1930 Appointed captain.
Other 1932-11-11 - 1934-06-05 Aide de camp to New South Wales Governor.
Other units 1934-07-01 - 1934-09-30 Adjutant and quartermaster 26th Battalion.
Other units 01 November 1934 Adjutant and quartermaster 15/26th Battalion.
Other 1935-11-15 - 1938-03-24 Course Staff College, Camberly.
Other 19 April 1938 Attached A Branch, Army Headquarters.
Other 01 September 1938 Staff captain A Branch, Army Headquarters.
Other units 13 October 1939 Seconded major 2/1st Battalion and brigade major 16th Brigade on the same day.
Other 20 December 1940 Appointed general service officer grade 2 Operations Headquarters, 6th Division.
Other units 1941-01-07 - 1941-01-17 Attached 2/5th Battalion.
Date of honour or award 07 March 1941 Companion of the Distinguished Service Order 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the period from 21st December 1940 to 4th January 1941 which period embraced the preparations for, and the capture of Bardia. During the preparation period in the face of the enemy and under enemy fire, this officer continually patrolled the area selected as the point of entry for the attack. His accurate and daring reconnaissance contributed largely to the selection of the Brigade Assembly Area and start line. He was responsible for taping the Assembly Area and also the start line on the night prior to the attack, and the success of the attack was greatly due to the thoroughness in which this job was done. During the attack, on 3rd and 4th January 1941, his behaviour under fire was exemplary, and each day he repeatedly contacted the Commanding Officers while under heavy fire, conveyed instructions, and by his own initiative directed the course of the battle according to plan. His presence on the battlefield was an inspiration, and considerably helped to prosecute the momentum of the attack.'
Other units 1941-04-08 - 1941-05-30 Returned to unit, 2/1st Battalion and appointed temporary lieutenant colonel and commanding officer.
Date captured 31 May 1941 Campbell became a prisoner of war, held in Retimo.
Other 26 June 1941 Reported missing in action, Crete.
Date of honour or award 11 December 1942 Mention in Despatches.
Other 14 April 1945 Campbell was reported to be safe in Allied hands.
Date promoted 1945-05-11 - 1945-09-16 Promoted lieutenant colonel and temporary brigadier commander of AIF Reception Group, United Kingdom.
Other 16 September 1945 Relinquished command AIF Reception Group.
Date returned to Australia 21 October 1945 Returned to Adelaide.
Other 19 November 1945 Appointed deputy adjutant general (I), A Branch deputy adjutant general, Headquarters AMF.
Date of honour or award 29 August 1946 Bar to Distinguished Service Order. 'Lt-Col. CAMPBELL was in command of a force of two AIF Bns at RETIMO CRETE in May 41. The role of this group was the denial of the RETIMO airstrip to the enemy. On 20 May a force of 1300-1500 paratroops was dropped to both flanks of and on top of the Australians. The Germans had powerful air support, and the Australians were isolated from the start from the rest of the garrison of Crete. Lt-Col CAMPBELL remained in command during ten days continuous and at times bitter hand to hand fighting. The Australians, with little ammunition and fighting largely with captured weapons, towards the end on quarter rations, attacked the enemy so persistently that by May 30 less than 130 Germans were still able to fight, 9 planes had been shot down by SA fire plus several others severely damaged. On 31 May the enemy was heavily reinforced from Suda Bay with tanks and artillery. Our force, its supplies exhausted, but its task till then fulfilled, was forced to surrender. Throughout the fighting, Lt-Col. CAMPBELL set an inspiring personal example and kept the morale of his troops at a high level. On May 21 he personally organised and commanded a most successful two company attack by 2/1 Bn, which largely due to his leadership recovered an important ridge lost the previous day. Lt-Col. CAMPBELL was captured on May 31.'
Other 30 September 1946 Appointed lieutenant colonel, Staff Corps.
Other 01 March 1947 Appointed director of Military Training , G Branch, director of Military Training, A Headquarters and honarary brigadier.
Date promoted 18 October 1948 Appointed colonel, Australian Staff Corps.
Other 01 January 1949 Appointed temporary brigadier, commander 34th Brigade.
Other 20 May 1949 Brigade redesignated to 1st Brigade.
Other 22 July 1951 Transferred to Unattached List, Eastern Command.
Other 27 August 1951 Command Australian Military Force Company, Korea, and Brigadier in command, Administering Headquarters, British Commonwealth Occupation Force.
Other 15 December 1951 Command Australian Military Force Company British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Korea.
Other 15 May 1952 Appointed temporary brigadier, Australian Staff Corps.
Other 11 July 1952 Appointed to command Australian Army Company British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Korea.
Date promoted 02 November 1952 Appointed brigadier, Australian Staff Corps.
Other 14 August 1953 Appointed commandant Australian Staff College.
Other 24 May 1954 Appointed commandant Royal Military College.
Other 25 May 1954 Appointed temporary major general, Australian Staff Corps.
Date promoted 13 September 1954 Appointed major general.
Date of discharge 23 March 1957 Transferred to the Retired List.
Other c 1941-04-02 Arrived Greece.

Share this page

Related information

Conflicts

Units

Places

Subjects

Objects

Related Objects