Campbell, T (Thomas)

Lance Corporal Thomas Campbell transferred to the RASC[1] on the 6th March 1918. Previously he was in the 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Records though also state he was in the 10th Inniskillings, it is unknown when. His brother John Campbell (23647)[2] was killed in action on the 16^th of August 1917, whilst serving with the 9^th Inniskillings.

Thomas Campbell was wounded at the end of May 1918, details of this are unknown, he did though, unfortunately pass away later in Strabane’s Fever Hospital which was in Newtown Street in the same town. He was suffering from acute pneumonia. Thomas was more than likely a victim of the Spanish flu pandemic.[3]

The Spanish flu is rather deceiving as it did not originate in that country of its namesake. Spain though was the first country to openly report on the pandemic due to its neutrality in the war. Therefore, the illness received its name by this association.

The outbreak began around January 1918 and ended at the end of 1920. There were three major outbreaks, each deadlier than the previous. Great efforts were made to suppress the news, but so many people were affected that it became pointless as the flu crept through the armies and into the villages, towns, and cities of Europe. There were no vaccines to protect against this flu virus or the infections, no antiviral drugs to treat it and no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. The only tools that authorities could implement was the promotion of good personal hygiene, isolation, and quarantine of the ill, along with the closures of public places.

There are several servicemen in the county’s cemeteries who possibly died of the illness, most of whom were diagnosed with meningitis, flu, or pneumonia. It especially affected young adults.

Thomas was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

Date of Death: 13/07/1918 (Aged 23)

Service: Lance Corporal, 9th and 10th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers also the Royal Army Service Corps.

Service Number: 28741 & M/380641

Burial Location: South West corner.

[1] RASC is the Royal Army Service Corps.

[2] Private John Campbell, service number 23647, has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. He was initially reported missing, but later confirmed killed.

[3] Spanish Flu: 50 to 100,000,000 deaths.