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In memory of:

Major Alexander Railton Campbell

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Military service

Age: 33
Rank: Major
Force: Army
Unit/Regiment: Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Birth: March 10, 1910 Halifax, Nova Scotia
Enlistment: April 3, 1940 Picton, Ontario
Death: December 25, 1943

Burial/memorial information

Grave reference: V. G. 12.
Additional information

Son of Harry Davies and Sarah Jane Railton Campbell of Perth, Ontario.

His father, Captain Harry Davies Campbell, died while serving with the Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment).

Prayer before Battle
By Major Alex Campbell

When 'neath the rumble of the guns,
I lead my men against the Huns,
'Tis then I feel so all alone and weak and scared,
And oft I wonder how I dared,
Accept the task of leading men.

I wonder, worry, fret, and then I pray,
Oh God! Who promised oft
To humble men a listening ear,
Now in my spirit's troubled state,
Draw near, dear God, draw near, draw near.

Make me more willing to obey,
Help me to merit my command,
And if this be my fatal day,
Reach out, Oh God, Thy Guiding Hand,
And lead me down that deep, dark vale.

These men of mine must never know
How much afraid I really am,
Help me to lead them in the fight
So they will say, "He was a man".

This prayer was written by Major Alex Campbell, during a lull in battle. Major Campbell was O.C. of "A" Company, Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment. He was killed in the Battle of Ortona.

Commemorated on the Wall of Valour.

Additional citations

Mentioned in Despatches

In the Books of Remembrance

Commemorated on:

Page 143 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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