My son, Archibald John Campbell is of Scots/Belgian parenthood and born in Belgium in 2011.

My grandfather, John Kinsella (where Archie got middle name from) was born in 1900.

Even though I was born in 1970, I grew up with a large part of my family from the WWI generation, and the wider community around me was a traditional Scots heavy industry town.

I used to see the old WWI gents in the local "old folks" homes, or the fair few who still made it to the British Legion bar across from my house.

It always struck me that whenever I read the names on the commemoration monuments in the surrounding towns and villages, they were all names I knew from my school etc, and especially when I got to my mid teens, how 70 years earlier lads just like me were rushing off to war.

As far as I know, I have no direct link with either Archibald Campbell - both remembered at Loos. 

The first - a 19 year old gunner from London (Service No. 87017), whose mother was Margaret Campbell (like mine)  - or the other of the Cameron Highlanders (Service No. S/21050, age unknown) - and a fellow Scot I presume. 

Still, I'd like - in my son's name - to pay my tribute to both these lads who never came home to their family, friends, loved ones and communities.

Lest we Forget.

clark campbell