Canada. A Erii Memorial Cross, To Sergeant Campbell, Crew Commander With The Sherbrooke Fusiliers, Operation Tractable Wia

In sterling silver, obverse bearing the cypher of Queen Elizabeth II, reverse engraved "F-29856 SGT. R.W. CAMPBELL", maker marked with the C. Lamond Fils of Montreal insignia and marked "STERLING", measuring 32 mm (w) x 35 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, suspended from a 32 mm (w) x 10 mm (h) hanger bearing two maple leaves, the hanger with pinback, tarnishing evident on the reverse, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Papers, Service Records, Medical Records, Discharge Certificate and Medals Award Card.

Footnote: Robert Webster Campbell was born on February 7, 1921 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of Daniel Campbell and Charlotte Campbell. His father was a Commercial Traveller by trade and he had four brothers and three sisters, one of his brothers serving in the Army. He finished Grade Nine and part of Grade Ten at Chebucto High School, enjoying football and most outdoor sports, along with being a member of the Trail Rangers. Robert Campbell enlisted with the Halifax Rifles on September 10, 1939, at the age of 18 and was a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia when he signed his Canadian Active Service Force Attestation Paper with the Halifax Rifles (F29856), on October 17, 1939 in Halifax, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Charlotte Campbell of Halifax, stating that he had three years' service with an Active Militia, the 1st Battalion Halifax Rifles, that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Student. He would train as a Rifleman with the Halifax Rifles until August 1941. He attended the Royal School of Infantry and Machine Gunners during July and August 1939, qualifying as a Sergeant. In addition, he attended a Platoon Weapons Course at Long Branch, Ontario in July 1941, was briefly hospitalized in May 1941 at Montmagny (or Montreal, Mulgrave) Military Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, then returned to Halifax. This was followed by a transfer to No. 11 District Depot in Victoria, British Columbia on November 1, 1941. He was briefly in hospital at Esquimalt, qualified as a Motorcycle Driver in August 1942 and attended a course in P1 Weapons and qualified Q1. Sergeant Campbell was posted as an Instructor in Small Arms, Drill and Motorcycle Course at Officer Training Centre at Gordon Head, British Columbia until December 1942. He rejoined the Regiment, now known as the Canadian Armoured Corps in April 1943. In his Officer Cadet Training Unit Application Form, dated August 2, 1943. Sergeant Campbell stated that he desired to be commissioned in the Canadian Armoured Corps, that he had joined the Halifax Rifles in August 1937 and the 23rd Army Tank Regiment (Halifax Rifles) on September 28, 1939 in Halifax, that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Student. He trained as a Crew Commander at Camp Borden, Ontario in March and April 1943. Sergeant Campbell proceeded overseas from Halifax on June 18, 1943, arriving in the United Kingdom on the 24th. In England, he attended a Gunnery Course in January 1944, where he qualified as a Gunner Operator in April 1944. He was taken on strength of 3 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit on January 29, 1944. Sergeant Campbell embarked the United Kingdom for service in the European theatre, on July 18, 1944, arriving in France the same day.

Upon arrival in France, Sergeant Campbell became a Crew Commander with the Sherbrooke Fusiliers on July 21, 1944. Twenty-four days after joining the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, Sergeant Campbell was Wounded in Action during Operation Tractable on August 14, 1944, suffering multiple shrapnel wounds from a German 88 mm anti-tank artillery gun, to his right foot, left leg and back (between the scapulae) causing considerable disability. Operation Tractable was the final attack conducted by Canadian and Polish troops, supported by a British tank brigade, during the Battle of Normandy. The operation was to capture the tactically important French town of Falaise and then the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois. This operation was undertaken by the First Canadian Army with the 1st Polish Armoured Division and a British armoured brigade against Army Group B of the Westheer, in what became the largest encirclement on the Western Front during the Second World War. Despite a slow start and limited gains north of Falaise, novel tactics by the 1st Polish Armoured Division during the drive for Chambois enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by August 19, 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket. Although the Falaise Gap was narrowed to a distance of several hundred metres/yards, attacks and counter-attacks by two battle groups of the 1st Polish Armoured Division and the II SS Panzer Corps on Hill 262 (Mont Ormel) prevented the quick closing of the gap and thousands of German troops escaped on foot. During two days of nearly continuous fighting, the Polish forces assisted by artillery-fire, managed to hold off counter-attacks by seven German divisions in hand-to-hand fighting. On August 21st, elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish survivors and sealed the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the Third U.S. Army. This led to the surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army in the pocket. Operation Tractable began at 12:00 on August 14, 1944 (the day Sergeant Campbell was wounded) when 800 Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers of RAF Bomber Command struck German positions along the front. Many of the bombers mistakenly dropped their bombs short of their targets, causing 400 Polish and Canadian casualties. Covered by a smoke screen laid down by their artillery, two Canadian divisions moved forward. Although their line of sight was reduced, German units still managed to inflict severe casualties on the Canadian 4th Armoured Division, which included its Armoured Brigade commander Brigadier Leslie Booth, as the division moved south toward Falaise. Throughout the day, continual attacks by the Canadian 4th and Polish 1st Armoured Divisions managed to force a crossing of the Laison River. Limited access to the crossing points over the Dives River allowed counterattacks by the German 102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion. The town of Potigny fell to Polish forces in the late afternoon. By the end of the first day, elements of the Canadian 3rd and 4th Divisions had reached Point 159, directly north of Falaise, although they had been unable to break into the town.

To bolster his offensive, Simonds ordered the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division to move toward the front, with the hope that this reinforcement would be sufficient to enable his divisions to capture the town. Although the first day's progress was slower than expected, Operation Tractable resumed on August 15th, with both armoured divisions pushing southeast toward Falaise. Sergeant Campbell was admitted to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on August 14th, then transferred to No. 6 Battalion General the same day. He was evacuated to the United Kingdom on the 15th and admitted to Botley Park Hospital on August 16th. After one week, he was transferred to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital on the 22nd, then admitted to Roman Way Convalescent Home on November 24th, where he would recuperate for two weeks, before being posted to No. 4 Canadian Convalescent Depot on December 8th. After five weeks, Sergeant Campbell was discharged from No. 4 CCD on January 30, 1945. In Campbell's Medical History of an Invalid Report, dated February 5, 1945 at Brookwood Hospital, Crookham, Hants, the attending physician stated that: "This NCO was wounded by an 88 (mm) on 14 Aug 44, and was discharged from 4 CCD on 30 Jan 45. He has shell wounds involving right heel, both legs, and between scapulae. After a long period of hospitalization, he was troubled with numbness and pain through his left heel. Can only walk short distances and can only wear his boots a few days at a time."

The following week, he was admitted to No. 17 Canadian General Hospital on February 8th. It was here that he was re-assessed by a Medical Board. After twenty days' assessment, the Board deemed Campbell to be "Suitable for Base Duties only" and was discharged on February 28th. While still in England, Campbell's current state of affairs was reviewed in his Selection of Personnel Report, dated March 28, 1945: "He states that due to wounds (to his) legs (it) bothers him considerably. No feeling in (the) bottom of (his) left foot and right foot, disabled due to shrapnel wound in heel" He was a "single man but engaged to a girl in Vancouver who he intends to marry on return to Canada" and that he "finds his present job in charge of (the) kitchen to be too tiring on his legs". Campbell was "a soldier with 5 years and 6 months in the Army, of which 21 months has been spent overseas. A man who has matured in the Army and has proven his ability on being a capable Instructor. He still feels that he would like to be an Instructor and if his disabilities preclude instructing in Basic, he feels that he is very interested in Motor Transport, with a course could develop into an Instructor and this is concurred in." Sergeant Campbell was struck off strength of the Canadian Army (Overseas) and No. 1 Non-Effective Transport Depot (NETD) on April 21, 1945, returning to Canada, where he was posted to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax. In his Department of Veterans Affairs Report, dated October 16, 1945 at No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, the attending Medical Officer stated that "Sgt. Campbell is a stocky built veteran who is 24 years of age and single. Has a pleasant manner and appears quite energetic. Before joining the service (he) was a student and now feels that due to his disability (that) he is not fit for anything else but clerical work. Campbell states that he has a preference for this type of work and due to the fact that he will be at D.V.A.'s for treatment suggest that he be given Civil Service employment in clerical work at Camp Hill Hospital (Halifax). This veteran is capable and steady and has proven ability as a sergeant. It is felt that if Campbell was employed in suggested capacity that he would give satisfactory service and would be happy in his employment." Sergeant Robert Webster Campbell, Halifax Rifles, Sherbrooke Fusiliers was discharged upon demobilization at the Rehabilitation Wing at No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, on October 22, 1945, credited with having served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France & Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. Campbell was also a recipient of the Efficiency Medal, which had been approved in November 1944 and had been forwarded to his mother for safe keeping while he was overseas. After the war, Sergeant Campbell was a resident of Halifax when he signed his Canadian Armed Forces Attestation Re-Engagement Paper as a Sergeant (F-547690, Trooper) with the 23rd Armoured Regiment (Halifax Rifles), on November 6, 1947, to re-engage for three years' service, at the age of 26, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Joan Margaret Campbell of Halifax, stating that he had served with the Halifax Rifles NPAM (Non-Permanent Active Militia) and six years with the Canadian Active Service Force (Armoured Corps), that he was Married and that his religion was Church of England. Sergeant Robert Webster Campbell was struck off strength of the Halifax Rifles at his own request on April 12, 1952. He died on October 26, 1957, at the age of 36, the Department of Veteran Affairs determining that his premature death was attributed to his war wounds. A Memorial Cross was subsequently dispatched to his mother, Charlotte Campbell of Halifax on January 15, 1960. Although his status was as a married man when he died, he was Single when he was discharged from the Army on October 22, 1945 and therefore, his wife was not entitled to a Memorial Cross.