McCORMACK Major (Doctor) Campbell McNeill MC and 2 bars

liverpool annie · Aug 22, 2009

In Memory of
Major CAMPBELL McNEILL McCORMACK

M C and 2 Bars

5th Field Amb., Royal Army Medical Corps
who died age 27
on 22 September 1918
Son of William McCormack, of Hillhall House, Lisburn, Co. Down, Ireland.
Remembered with honour
BARASTRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

In Memory of
Lieutenant Colonel FREDERICK HOYSTED BRADLEY

D S O

Royal Army Medical Corps
attd. 15th Field Amb
who died age 34
on 22 September 1918
Son of the Rev. Canon W. H. and Mrs. Bradley, late of Monaghan, Ireland; husband of the late Ellen Lacey Hargreaves, of Liverpool.
Remembered with honour
BARASTRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

McCORMACK, Major (Doctor) Campbell McNeill MC and 2 bars.

Educated initially at the Carr and Ballymacbrennan National Schools, he won a scholarship to Lisburn Intermediate School, subsequently Wallace High School, where he won exhibitions in the junior, middle and senior schools, and then an entrance scholarship of £30 to QUB to study medicine. He qualified as a doctor in June 1914 and, having been in the OTC at Queens, (where he was the best shot in his Company and won four bronze medals for training), joined the Reserve of Officers (RAMC) going to Aldershot at the end of June for preliminary training. On completion of this he expecting to be able to return home to Drumbo for a short holiday but the outbreak of war intervened. Posted briefly to Dublin, he subsequently embarked for France, with the medical contingent of the Aldershot Division on the night of the 7.8.14. Heavily involved in the retreat from Mons, he “came to prominence for good work bravely performed at Hill 60” a heavily contested area of high ground outside Ypres. Writing home afterwards, he commented that it was, “a miracle more of them did not get knocked out”. He was also mentioned in dispatches, “for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field” in Sir John French’s last dispatch, by which time he had been promoted to the rank of Captain. Awarded the MC in September 1916, the citation published in the London Gazette read, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. He directed the stretcher-bearers under heavy shellfire with the greatest coolness and courage. He succeeded in entering a village which had been heavily shelled, and, with another captain, a sergeant and four men, collected the wounded into a dug-out and succeeded in getting them back later. He has frequently shown great courage.”

He was married to Ella Todd Warnock of Fernleigh, Endsleigh Drive, Belfast, in Drumbo Presbyterian Church on Wednesday the 12 September 1917. She was the only daughter of the late Rev. James Warnock formerly minister of of Drumbo and of Kroonstad, South Africa. One of the ministers officiating was the Rev. Joseph Cordner who may have been the father of James Cordner above, who was KIA in April 1918. The best man was Hugh McCormack the bridegroom’s brother who was later to have Campbell’s death commemorated on his own headstone. The reception was held at Fernleigh, the home of the bride and Mrs. Crail, her aunt, before the couple left for their honeymoon at Mallarannhy, Co. Galway and Recess and Co. Galway. The gifts which the couple exchanged were a gold ring set with diamonds and a leather travelling case with solid silver fittings, while the officers and men of 15 Field Ambulance gave them a silver salver. From Campbell McCormack’s parents, they received a hand embroidered bedspread.

Slightly wounded in late August or early September 1918, he was KIA in France on the 22.9.1918 two days after coming out of hospital and just over a year after his marriage. He was 27 years old and was serving in the 5th (or possibly 15th) Field Ambulance RAMC. He is buried in Barastre Communal cemetery, Pas de Calsis, France, grave 11. (Barastre lies about 6 Km. SE of Bapaume between the Somme and Cambrai battlefields). He was the youngest son of William McCormack, a farmer, and Mrs. McCormack of Hillhall House, Lisburn, Co. Down. His death is also commemorated on his brother’s (H.H. McCormack’s) headstone in Drumbo Presbyterian church graveyard. He (H.H. McC) died on the 12.8.80.

Writing to his parents shortly after his death, Major F.R. Thornton (RAMC) wrote, “I think by this time you will have received news of Major McCormack’s death yesterday morning. A shell hit the shelter in which he and Colonel Bradley were sleeping and both were killed at once. He was buried yesterday afternoon in the cemetery close by in the presence of all the men of his ambulance who could be spared, and detachments from the other ambulances of the division. The General commanding the Division and many other officers were present. At the special request of the men his body was carried to the grave by the N.C.O.’s of the unit. It is difficult for me to express to you the deep sympathy that I feel, as I realise what a terrible loss it must be to you all. We all feel it most deeply, as he was beloved by officers and men. Of his unselfishness and courage it is needless to speak, for the men would follow him anywhere, or do anything which he asked them to do. I wonder if you have any small photographs of him, I should, myself, so much like one and the other officers are asking for it; in addition if you could let us have a few, I know how deeply some of our N.C.O.’s and men of his section would appreciate them. With my very deepest condolence”.

Frederick Hoysted Bradley DSO, Lieutenant Colonel attached to the 15th Field Ambulance RAMC who was killed with Campbell McCormack on the 22 September 1918, was 34 years old. He was the son of the Rev. Canon W. H. and Mrs. Bradley of Monaghan and husband of the late Ellen Lacey Hargreaves of Liverpool. He is buried beside McCormack in Barastre Communal Cemetery, France grave 10.

The announcement of the first bar to his MC was made soon after his death. The citation read. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an important engagement he organised the evacuation of the wounded with great skill and devotion to duty, proceeding frequently himself in charge of bearers, through heavy shelling, to the rear aid posts. It was largely due to his able organisation and fine example of self-sacrificing gallantry that the numerous casualties were evacuated so expeditiously”.

News of a second bar followed shortly after and was reported in the Lisburn Standard on the 25 October. The circumstances surrounding the award were, at that time unknown, although according to the paper, “it is believed he won it when he was wounded about eleven days before his death”. More poignantly though news of it arrived, “on the day that Major McCormack’s infant (still born) and only child was being buried”
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Adrian Roberts · Aug 23, 2009

Tragically, both men had served virtually right through the war and were killed by a random shell.

They must have saved the lives of hundreds if not thousands of men in that time.

liverpool annie · Aug 24, 2009

You're right Adrian ! they were both so close to the end ...... such a shame !

http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/LostCMcNMcCormack.htm

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McCORMACK Major (Doctor) Campbell McNeill MC and 2 bars

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