James Pinkerton CAMPBELL

CAMPBELL, James Pinkerton

Service Number: 193
Enlisted: 12 September 1914, Mansfield, Victoria
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: AIF Headquarters (Egypt)
Born: South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, 4 July 1865
Home Town: Malvern, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Photographer
Died: Natural causes, Murrumbeena, Victoria, Australia, 5 September 1935, aged 70 years
Cemetery: Yallourn Cemetery
Church of England Portion
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World War 1 Service

12 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 193, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Mansfield, Victoria
25 Feb 1915: Involvement Private, 193, 8th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: ''
25 Feb 1915: Embarked Private, 193, 8th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of Victoria, Melbourne
21 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 193, 8th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
13 Aug 1915: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 193, 8th Light Horse Regiment, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, Bomb wound right knee
1 Dec 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, Army Pay Corps (AIF)
1 Dec 1915: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Army Pay Corps (AIF)
1 Sep 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, Army Pay Corps (AIF)
13 Mar 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, AIF Headquarters (Egypt), Honorary Rank - AIF Official Photographer
15 Jan 1919: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, AIF Headquarters (Egypt), HT Berrima, Suez for return to Australia - arriving 17 February 1919
18 Apr 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, AIF Headquarters (Egypt)

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Biography contributed by Michael Silver

Born in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra in 1865, James Pinkerton Campbell was to have an extraordinary life, driven by his overwhelming passion for photography.

He was raised in the Gippsland region of Victoria and after leaving school worked as a mostly clerk. In the 1890s he studied bookkeeping at the Working Men's College and during this time became involved with the College's photographic club. He quickly showed an aptitude for photography.

Developing his skills, he won numerous amateur photographic competitions. In 1909 photography became his profession - working in the private sector and also for governmment.

When war broke out in 1914 he was one of the first to enlist, despite being 49 years of age. Assigned to the 8th Light Horse Regiment he carried his camera throughout the war capturing images of regimental life during active service. 

Landing at Gallipoli in late May 1915 he was wounded in the right knee at Lone Pine just prior to the ill fated charge by the 8th Light Horse at the Nek in August. Evacuated to Eygpt, he recovered from his wounds and was transferred to the AIF Pay Corps. His skills as a photographer were also utilized by the War Records Section on a part time basis.

In early 1918 he was appointed official AIF photographer in Egypt and given the honary rank of Lieutenant. Despite his skill he fell out with his superiors and ultimately was removed from the position. In January 1919 he returned to Australia his papers marked 'for other reasons'.

After the war James Campbell was employed by the Electricity Commission of Victoria at Yallourn as a clerk. He continued with his interest in photography and documented the development of the electricity industry in Victoria under Sir John Monash.

James Pinkerton Campbell died in 1935 - his legacy being his enormous photographic record which is of national significance, particularly his wartime photography.

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