Allan Campbell was born in Strathroy, Ontario on July 12, 1918, the son of Postmaster William Allan (born in Lobo, Middlesex) and “Ena” (Christina, nee McNeil, born in Strathroy) Campbell, of Strathroy. Allan had one sister and one brother, Kenneth D. Campbell (born 1923) who, at the time of Allan’s death, was serving overseas as a Pilot Officer in the R.C.A.F. Prior to joining the military, Allan Campbell was an accountant in the Stratford branch of the Royal Bank. Allan Campbell enlisted for service in 1941, graduating at Aylmer on April 10, 1941 in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
After graduating from Aylmer, Allan would spend over 1 ½ years on Pacific coastal duties. Allan married Miss Viola Garside, a registered nurse and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Garside of Sarnia on May 14, 1942. After the ceremony at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, the couple resided at 257 Nelson Street, Sarnia. In June 1943, before going overseas, Allan and Viola would return home to Sarnia to visit Mr. and Mrs. Garside. Four months later, in October 1943, Allan Campbell would proceed overseas. Allan Campbell became a member of RCAF #263 Squadron “Ex Ungue Leonem” (By his claws one knows the lion), attaining the rank of Flying Officer-Pilot.
Allan’s squadron was one of the first to go into Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. About 2 ½ months later, on August 25, 1944, Allan was on a mission flying his Typhoon aircraft MN883 during the Battle of Normandy. He was attacking barges on the Seine River in France when his Typhoon aircraft was hit by enemy flak. The aircraft was last seen in a dive at 4,000 feet. Not long afterwards, Viola Campbell in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing her that her husband, Flying Officer Allan W. Campbell was reported missing on August 25 after air operations overseas. In mid-October of 1944, Allan Campbell would be officially listed as, Killed during air operations, overseas (France). Allan left behind his parents, his brother and sister, and his wife of just over two years, Viola. Twenty-six year old Allan Campbell was buried at Theillement, France, exhumed, and reburied in the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France, Grave XXVI.C.7. On Allan Campbell’s headstone are inscribed the words, To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die. On the Sarnia cenotaph, his name is inscribed as A.J. Campbell.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D