Name
Reginald Ernest Campkin
21/2/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
765220
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
4th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church, Datchworth,
Roll of Honour, All Saints Church, Datchworth,
Not on the Hertford Grammar School memorials,
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London
Pre War
Reginald was born 21/2/1891 in Brixton, the only son of Ronald and Minnie Campkin, later of The Limes Datchworth. In 1901 he was living in Stapleford (Jersey Lodge, Bulls Mill), with his parents and his father is working on the grandfather's farm (Waterford Hall Farm 436 acres, employing 12) Attended Hertford Grammar School from 1904 - 1906. The family have not yet been found in the 1911 census Hilda Hargreaves was living in Merton in 1911.
In late 1912 he married Hilda Hargreaves in St Marylebone but she is not given as his next of kin in army records. At his marriage, he was recorded as a Theatrical manager and that his father was an engineer. Hilda's father was a doctor.
Reginald and Hilda had two daughters, Joan born in 1913 and Hilda born in 1915. H
His wife Hilda never remarried.
Wartime Service
Reginald dissolved a partnership of Entertainment Providers of New Empire, Whitehaven in Dec 1916 probably due his enlistment in late 1916 as private 765220 in 28 London Regiment and after being a cadet at an Officers Cadet Unit (He may have had some OTC training from his years at Hertford Grammar School ).
He was commissioned on 27th November 1917 into 3rd Bn London Regt, and later transferring to 4th Bn. Reginald was killed in action in the Scarpe area of the battles of Arras, in the Battle of Oppy Wood, and as his remains were not recovered is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
An article in the Hertfordshire Express of the 27th April 1918 reports Ernest as "killed in the fighting near Baillieul on March 28." It goes on to say that "he was educated at Hertford Grammar School, and was one of the first to join the Cadet Corps on its establishment in 1905. Shortly after the outbreak of war he joined the Artist's Rifles, and was kept on home service for instructional duties until 1917, when he obtained a commission in the Royal Fusiliers.
"Proceeding to France on February 2 of this year, he was in the front-line trenches within 48 hours of leaving home. His unit suffered severely from gas shells and high explosives during the bombardment preparatory to the great German attack, and he himself was in a rest camp, recovering from the effects of gas, when the news was received that the attack had begun.
"Although he had been ordered a month's rest, he begged to go back into the line, and was sent up in command of a supporting platoon. On the renewal of the assault, the Fusiliers were surrounded by hordes of Germans, and Lieutenant Campkin was last seen with a small remnant fighting desperately until every man had fallen.
"The gallant officer was 27 years of age, and leaves a widow, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. M. K. Hargreaves, of Cavendish Square, W., and Merton Park, Surrey, and two children."
Additional Information
He appears to have a home address of at Bedford Park Middlesex when he died. This might be his parents address, however this was recorded after his death as The Limes, Datchworth, Herts.
His mother is later referred to as a widow living at 80 Lyndhurst Rd.
War Gratuity of £100 & Effects of £75 4s 10d paid to widow.
His Victory Medal was lost and handed in to Police in Hove, Brighton and reissued in 1922.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Derry Warners
June Colegrove, Adrian Pitts, Pat Bird, Sheila Stonehill
