Q-BOAT COMMANDER NOW REAR-ADMIRAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 27

Q-BOAT COMMANDER NOW REAR-ADMIRAL

V.C.’S PROMOTION SECRET OF WAR HEROISM One of the most interesting romances of the war is recalled by the announcement that Captain Gordon Campbell, V.C., D. 5.0., R.N., has been promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral. Rear-Admiral Campbell is the famous “mystery” V.C. whose exploits were necessarily so secretive that even when his superb bravery brought him his many decorations, no mention dared be made of his deeds. It was because he was commanding one of those deceptive Q-boats, whose deadly business it was to lure enemy submarines to the surface by their innocent appearance. The often re alised expectation was that the submarine would discharge a torpedo «t the inoffensive-looking “tramp” before coming to the surface. This happened early in February, 1917, when RearAdmiral Campbell was cruising in the Irish Sea. His ship began to sink, and then it was the coolness and resource of its commander came to the rescue. A faked “panicky” desertion was staged while the gunners prepared for action. In a few moments the submarine came to the surface only 300 yards away, and in another few moments it sank, riddled by shot from the commander’s six-pc/.ider guns. To save his own ship he beached her. For this brilliant exploit he reeived the V.C. His first ship was the Prince George, in which he served as a midshipman, 1903. His promotion in the Service was rapid. When made commander in 1915 he advanced over the heads of over 700 lieutenant-commanders, and when promoted to captain he passed over more than 500 commanders. There is nothing known to exceed these jumps in promotion in the whole history of the Navy.