2ND-LIEUTENANT TIMOTHY CAMPBELL
15th July 2011

This week we received a letter from Robert Pattison and a photograph of 2nd-Lieutenant Timothy Campbell, 1 Platoon 'A' Company who died in a tragic car accident along with Major Michael O'Sullivan and Capt Charles Alderson-Smith.

All three officers had just returned from a 4-week operational tour in Northern Ireland. They were in the same Company and their deaths were a very great loss to the Regiment as they were all first-class and promising officers with bright futures before them. Major O'Sullivan was due to attend the Staff College at Camberley and Charles Alderson-Smith (a direct descendant of General the Hon. Sir Charles Howard) was due to be married.

Robert Pattison is keen to reunite the photograph he has of 2nd Lt Timothy Campbell with his next of kin as he writes that, 'This is the last photo ever taken of him and I was the last Private solider to speak to him'.

Tim Campbell was born in Guildford on 24th July, 1955. He joined the Army in 1975 and while at R.M.A., Sandhurst, he became the Commandant's Stick Orderly.  He was commissioned into the Regiment on a Short Service Commission only 5 months before he was so tragically killed.

In the very short time Tim was with the Regiment he established himself as an officer of great potential. He was an enthusiast but at the same time was blessed with good judgment. He was also a fine athlete. He was determined to be a successful platoon commander and it was very much in character that he pressed to be allowed to go to Northern Ireland on attachment to 3 Infantry Brigade in February 1976 to gain first-hand experience. He further proved himself during the Battalion's Spearhead tour there during April and May.

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