Nancy Walsh shares the story of her ancestor CAMPBELL LOGIN HARRISON.

Gunner Harrison, Campbell Login, (Reg. No. 189 47th. Battery, 12th. Field Arlillery Brigade, 4th. Australian Division) was the Grandson of Rev. William Spence Login who was the first Presbyterian Minister In Gippsland. He enlisted in Melbourne on 21 January 1915 and joined the Naval Bridging Train on 27 March 1915.

He  embarked 3 June 1915 for Gallipoli where they arrived in August of that year. He was withdrawn from Gallipoli and spent Christmas at Lemnos Island and later transferred to Egypt – Ismalia and Alexandria. After the Naval Bridging Train was disbanded, he was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery in April 1916. Disembarking at  Marseilles, France he went on to Armentieres – Bois Grenier. Campbell died on 24 June 1916 from wounds received in action. He was buried at Brewery Orchard Cemetary, Bois Grenier. (Memorial reference: IV.D.30)

Campbell was my mother’s cousin. The families lived in and around Sale. I do remember his mother and also a brother Rowland. I think it must have been him who passed on to another cousin a book of letters written home to their mother. Cam was a very adventurous young man and travelled the world at an early age, including sailing in a boat called The Tilikum, captained by Joshua Slocum which also called into Australia. He went to South Africa, UK and Canada, working as he went. After about ten years he came home and decided to settle in Woombye in QLD. He bought a small property and was just getting established when the war intervened and, as they say, the rest is history.

The book was getting fragile so I have now preserved it digitally and given it to the National War Museum in Canberra. Copying these letters had a huge emotional effect on me and ANZAC day is viewed quite differently since then. I have been to Canberra, found his name on the wall and paid my respects with a poppy. I’m glad he packed so much into his short life!