TARBAT WAR MEMORIAL

Archie Campbell was born in Forres, Morayshire. His father was a farm worker and a maltman at Arboll Farm. Archie was a regular soldier from the age of 20 and is said to have taken part in the Spanish Civil War between 1936-39; he was already in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders when war broke out.

Archie married Mary Dougherty in the Caledonian Hotel, Portmahomack in November 1942; his home address was given as 20 Eliot Road, Invergordon. Mary was the sister of Jack Dougherty, who was lost at sea during the war.

During the North Africa campaign Archie was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the 1^ST Battle of El Alamein, he was captured with his unit but with 2 others he escaped and captured a German gun post. He received his medal from King George VI at Buckingham Palace in April 1943, Mary travelled down from Portmahomack to be present at the ceremony.

2nd Camerons moved into Italy in February 1944 in time for the attack on the German Gustav Line, the Germans were retreating to the north in Italy but while doing so were building strong defensive positions across Italy to hold back the Allied advance.

The Gustav Line was one of these positions, commanded by the monastery of Monte Cassino situated high on a hill and heavily defended; the Camerons lost 250 casualties in a month of bitter fighting in trying to break through the Gustav Line.

Archie Campbell was one of these casualties, killed on the 9^TH of March, shot by a sniper while talking to his men and was buried in the Cassino War Cemetery.

Archie Campbell was the son of Lachlan and Helen Campbell of Invergordon and husband of Mary Campbell of Rockfield.