VC hero who deliberately got himself torpedoed
Medal fetches record £840k
WITH a German U-boat bearing down on his ship in the North Atlantic, Lieutenant Commander Gordon Campbell took a bold decision that would win him the Victoria Cross.
Rather than flee, the Scottish naval hero deliberately allowed his ship, HMS Farnborough, to be torpedoed – so he could lure the enemy submarine close enough to sink it.
Having left himself open to attack, Campbell changed course at the last moment to prevent a direct hit on the engine room. After an impact that caused only moderate damage, he ordered his crew to look panicked and abandon ship.
U-83 captain Bruno Hoppe observed the ‘emergency’ through his periscope and steered his sub to within 30ft of the ship to finish it off and pick up any survivors.
At that moment, Campbell gave the order to open up the ship’s hidden guns and fired off 45 shells at point blank range. Hoppe was decapitated as he climbed out of the conning tower and the submarine sank with the loss of 35 of its crew. There were only two survivors, one of whom later died of his wounds.
Campbell, who would later rise to the rank of Vice Admiral, was awarded the VC for his cool thinking and bravery on that February day in 1917.
A century later, his decoration – Britain’s highest award for valour – has sold for a world record £840,000, way above its £300,000 estimate.
The medal was bought by Campbell’s great-nephew, Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza, who announced his intention to offer it and his relative’s other awards to a museum.
He said: ‘These medals have enormous historic value for the UK, as well as personal value to me and my family. Behind every medal is a human story and an example to generations to come.
‘Gordon Campbell was an oldfashioned hero who was recognised for conspicuous gallantry, consummate coolness and skill in his command of Q Mystery Ships, decoys for German U-boats.
‘I am offering the medals for display
in a UK museum, where I hope as many people as possible will have the opportunity to learn about Gordon and his incredible story.’
Campbell successfully used the same tactic twice more to sink German submarines. His fellow officers nominated him for a second VC, with the backing of King George V – but he declined it, although he did receive the Distinguished Service Order three times.
After his death at 67 in 1953, his medals – which also included France’s Legion d’honneur and Croix de Guerre – were left to his only son David, a priest.
He bequeathed them to the Fellowship of St John Trust Association, which has now sold them. The charity will spend the proceeds of the sale on various missions it is involved with across the world, including hurricane relief in the Caribbean.
David Kirk of London auctioneer Morton & Eden, which sold Campbell’s VC, said: ‘We thought it would exceed its pre-sale estimate but never expected it to make what it has. Gordon Campbell was both a national hero and a true “celebrity” of the Great War.’
Mr Kirk described Campbell’s medal collection as ‘without doubt of the highest national importance,’ adding: ‘The fact that Campbell was nominated by his fellow officers for a second Victoria Cross, but out of modesty declined, places him among the very greatest names in British military history.’
Campbell – whose grandfather was Sir John Campbell, Seventh Baron of Ardnamurchan and Airds in Argyll – joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1900.
In 1915, he was given command of Q ship HMS Farnborough, an old merchant vessel decked out with hidden guns. The Q ships were designed to act as decoys and tempt German vessels in close so they could then attack them.
The previous VC auction record was £678,000 for the medal awarded to Australian infantryman Private Edward Kenna during an action in New Guinea in 1945.
‘Enormous historic value’