First World War Silver War Badge – Gunner Duncan Cameron, 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery
Silver War Badge - 30899
Duncan Cameron was born on 14 February 1895 at Longrow Street, Campbeltown, Argyll, the son of Donald Gilchrist Cameron and Christina Johnston. Raised in the west of Scotland, he enlisted in the Argyll Mountain Battery, 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) on 23 December 1913, aged just eighteen, receiving the service number 376.
The Argyll Mountain Battery was one of Britain's Territorial mountain artillery units, equipped with 10-pounder mountain guns designed to be dismantled into mule loads for transport across rough terrain. Following the outbreak of the First World War, the battery was mobilised for overseas service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Cameron entered the theatre of war on 25 April 1915, landing with the battery on the opening day of the Gallipoli Campaign. Throughout the campaign, the battery provided close artillery support to the infantry under extremely difficult conditions, hauling its guns across the steep ridges and gullies of the peninsula while enduring enemy shellfire, sniping, disease and the intense summer heat.
Like many Gallipoli veterans, Cameron's health suffered badly during the campaign. Hospital records show that in April 1916 he was admitted suffering from neurasthenia, a condition commonly associated with the physical and psychological strain of prolonged active service. He spent time at the Convalescent Depot, Mustapha, Algeria, before returning to duty. Later that year he was again admitted to hospital, this time suffering from gastritis, having been transferred from Harley Hill Hospital. Although discharged back to duty in September 1916, his health continued to deteriorate.
On 2 October 1916, Cameron was discharged from the Army as "No Longer Physically Fit for War Service" under King's Regulations Paragraph 392(xvi), the cause being recorded as N.D. of Aortic. Having been honourably discharged through disability attributable to his service, he was awarded the Silver War Badge (No. 30899), worn by men invalided from the armed forces to demonstrate that they had fulfilled their duty and had not avoided military service.
For his wartime service Cameron received the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, his Medal Index Card confirming his entry into the Gallipoli theatre on 25 April 1915.
Returning to civilian life, Cameron married Agnes Clephane at Govan Parish Church, Glasgow, on 7 July 1920. The couple went on to raise three sons: Duncan (1921–1972), Joseph John Clephane Cameron (1923–2002) and Ronald J. Cameron (1930–2013). By the outbreak of the Second World War he had settled in East Dulwich, London, where the 1939 Register records him employed as a Pharmacist Manager, a profession he continued after the war.
Duncan Cameron died at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on 20 October 1972, aged 77.
Several period photographs of Duncan Cameron are available on Ancestry.
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