Name: GORDON CAMPBELL

Rank: Cdr

Regiment: Q Ship HMS Farnborough

Borough: London Borough of Croydon

Date of Action: 17-Feb 1917

Memorial Location: Croydon Town Hall,Katharine Street Croydon CR0 1EA

Cdr GORDON CAMPBELL

Croydon Town Hall,Katharine Street Croydon CR0 1EA

On 17 February 1917 in the north Atlantic, Commander Campbell, commanding HMS Farnborough (Q.5) (one of the "mystery" Q ships) sighted a torpedo track. He altered course and allowed the torpedo to hit Q.5 aft by the engine-room bulkhead. The 'Panic party' got away convincingly, followed by the U-boat. When the submarine had fully surfaced and was within 100 yards of Q.5—badly damaged and now lying very low in the water—the commander gave the order to fire. Almost all of the 45 shells fired hit the SM U-83 which sank. Q.5 was taken in tow just in time and was safely beached. On 22 March 1916, another U-boat, SM U-68 was sunk by Farnborough.