2597: John Campbell
Iain Dhòmnaill Ruairidh
John (1906-1949) was a son of Donald Campbell and Mary Matheson, 13 Gravir.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal for skill and seamanship in manoeuvring a ship's lifeboat in heavy seas and for saving the lives of his companions when the tanker he was sailing on was torpedoed in 1942. Forming a sail by stitching blankets together, they kept the vessel afloat for 12 days until they were rescued by an American seaplane, which landed beside them and took the nine surviving seamen to Bermuda. His name is mentioned in Roll of Honour: Pairc, Second World War.
John remained in the Merchant Service after the war and was sailing as Quartermaster on board the Port Chalmers when he was killed by a shunting railway wagon in Lyttleton Docks, New Zealand
Details
- Record Type:
- Person
- Also Known As:
- Iain O
- Date Of Birth:
- 30 Aug 1906
- Date of Death:
- 13 Jan 1949
- Gender:
- Male
- Brothers Keeper Reference:
- CEP 443
- Occupation:
- Merchant Seaman
- Record Maintained by:
- CEP
Related Media
Iain Campbell with nephew Donald