Lieutenant John GRAHAM-CAMPBELL
1/8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Date of birth: 12th February 1888
Date of death: 20th September 1969

Died aged 81
Unknown
John Graham-Campbell was born at 42 India Street, Edinburgh on the 12th of February 1888 the only son of Robert Charles Graham-Campbell 9th Laird of Shirvan and Stronachullin, an advocate, and Alexandra (nee Mackintosh) Graham-Campbell of Castleton House, Glassary in Argyllshire.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1901 where he was a member of the Football XI in 1899 and 1900 and of the Cricket XI in 1901. The school wrote the following on his 1899 football season: - "Outside right. Has the look of a footballer about him, and will be useful when he can take a pass more neatly, and give up his trick of passing behind his man."

Of his 1900 football season they wrote: - "Right wing. Owing to his unfortunate lameness has been quite unable to do himself justice."

They wrote the following on his 1901 cricket season: - "A hard working and deserving cricketer, much improved in batting, and does his best in the field."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "... goes to Eton. He has been a useful member of both Elevens, and a valuable member of our theatrical troupe."

He went on to Eton College where he was in the Reverend S.A. Donaldson’s and Mr P.V. Broke’s Houses from September 1901 to July 1906. He went on to Trinity College Cambridge in the same year. On the 15th of May 1912 he was appointed as an Assistant Inspector to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

He applied for a commission in the 3/8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the 10th of May 1915. At a medical examination, which was held at Dunoon on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet eleven inches tall and that he was somewhat short sighted. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the battalion on the 13th of May 1915. He embarked for France on the 11th of January 1916 where he joined the 1/8th Battalion of his regiment along with three other officers in billets at Villers Bocage on the 15th of January.

At 6pm on the 17th of May 1916 the 1/8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders relieved the 1/6th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in trenches at Labyrinthe near Bray. On the 23rd of May the battalion suffered casualties of ten other ranks wounded during the day and John Graham-Campbell was badly wounded by the explosion of an enemy trench mortar and was evacuated to the rear. He was evacuated to England from Le Havre on board the Hospital Ship "Delta" on the 8th of July 1916 and landed at Southampton the following day.

A Medical Board was convened on the 19th of July 1916 to report on his case: -

"He sustained the following wounds from a trench mortar bomb: - 1) In the right leg of such severity as to necessitate amputation below the knee June 8th. Stump not yet healed. Some more bone may have to be removed. 2) In the right eye necessitating enucleation of the eyeball on May 30th. Socket nearly healed. 3) A slight flesh wound on left shin. Now healed. Recovery has been complicated by attack of pleurisy on the left side."

He was promoted to temporary Lieutenant on the 29th of November 1916 and relinquished that rank on the 27th of May 1917. A Medical Board which sat on the 4th of May 1917 reported that he was "permanently unfit. Recommended invalided out of the service." He resigned his commission due to his wounds on the 1st of July 1917 and left the army with the rank of Lieutenant.

He was married to Marjorie MacLaine (nee MacNair) of Kensington on the 12th of February 1920 at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square; they had a son, Dugald, born on the 11th of January 1921.

He later served as Chairman of the South Argyll Agricultural Executive Committee and was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute. During the Second World War he served as a co-opted member of the Argyll Territorial Army Association. He was awarded the CBE in 1950.

When his father died on the 22nd of October 1952 he became the 10th Laird of Shirvan and Stronachullin.
Went on to Eton College

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