Duncan Lorne Campbell was commissioned into The Argylls in 1934. He later transferred to the Sudan Defence Force and at the outbreak of war he was in Kordofan Province. On 20 November 1941 Campbell led his company in an assault on an enemy which was well-entrenched near the Italian stronghold of Gondar. After the end of the campaign Campbell was keen to see more action and transferred to the Greek Section of Force 133 (SOE). In August 1943, he landed in the Nasia area of the Peloponnese. For the next 12 months he was involved in sabotage and training resistance groups. Campbell then moved to Italy and was dropped in the Ligurian Alps. His party, which arrived just as the Germans were beginning a major offensive against the partisans and SOE, was on the run for several days before being captured and sent to the PoW camp at Moosburg. After repatriation and the end of the war, Campbell returned to the SDF. He commanded the Camel Corps until 1949, when he retired from the Army. Lt Col Duncan Lorne Campbell MBE MC appears 2nd from right in the image above.
About the Speakers
Our speaker, Angus Campbell CVO is the son of Lt Col Duncan Campbell. After several years working in New Zealand he returned to the UK and joined the Army Air Corps serving as a helicopter pilot on a short service commission. He retired from the Army to farm in Dorset. He has been active as a local councillor in Dorset and was Leader of North Dorset District Council from 1999 – 2003 and Leader of Dorset County Council from 2006-2013. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant for Dorset in 2014 and retired in September 2024. He was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year’s Honours List.