Draft:James Dobson Campbell
| Submission declined on 17 June 2025 by Timtrent (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources are required so that information can be verified. If you need help with referencing, please see Referencing for beginners and Citing sources.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
Comment: This appears to be a memorial. Please see WP:NOTMEMORIAL 🇵🇸🇺🇦 FiddleTimtrent FaddleTalk to me 🇺🇦🇵🇸 10:26, 17 June 2025 (UTC)
James Dobson Campbell | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1891 Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland |
| Died | 13 November 1970 (aged 79) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Branch | New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Rank | Lieutenant (Army), Flying Officer (RNZAF) |
| Battles / wars | Gallipoli Campaign |
| Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Silver Wolf (Scouts NZ) |
James Dobson Campbell (June 1891 – 13 November 1970) was a New Zealand military officer, aviation trainee, civic leader, and Scouting pioneer. He served at Gallipoli during World War I, trained in early aviation, and later held civic and veterans’ leadership roles in the Cook Islands. He was a key figure in developing Scouting in the South Pacific and was awarded the MBE in 1968.
Early life
[edit]Campbell was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland, in June 1891. He emigrated to New Zealand as a young man, settling with his family in Ponsonby, Auckland.[1]
Military career
[edit]World War I
[edit]Campbell joined the Auckland Senior Cadets and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1912, promoted in 1914. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in December 1914 and was posted to the Auckland Infantry Regiment.[1]
He departed with the 3rd Reinforcements aboard HMNZT No. 18 Tahiti in February 1915 and was deployed to Gallipoli in May. As acting officer of the 16th (Waikato) Company, he was wounded in a grenade attack on 7 June 1915 and evacuated to England.[1]
Aviation and home service
[edit]While recovering, Campbell trained in aviation at the Lakes Flying School (Windermere) and Hewlett & Blondeau in England. Returning to New Zealand in 1916, he served as Area Officer (Hamilton), Adjutant (Waikato Regiment), and Instructor at the NZ Flying School.[1]
Civic service in the Cook Islands
[edit]In 1919, Campbell became Manager of the Cook Islands Native Association (CINA), promoting economic cooperation among returned servicemen. He formed a lifelong partnership with Upokotiao Nicholas (Manavaroa) of Titikaveka, with whom he had two daughters.[2]
He founded the Cook Islands RSA and served as its president for over a decade, organizing commemorations and parades.[3]
Scouting involvement
[edit]Campbell was involved with the Moreporks Scout group in Ponsonby before the war. He helped establish Scouting in the Cook Islands, served as Commissioner, and was appointed Camp Chief for the 1926 Dunedin Jamboree.[4]
He was awarded the Silver Wolf for exceptional service to Scouting.[5]
World War II
[edit]At the outbreak of WWII, Campbell proposed a local defence force for Rarotonga. In 1942, he was commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and served in non-combat roles until his retirement in 1951.[6]
Honours and later life
[edit]Campbell relocated to New Lynn, Auckland, in the 1960s. In the 1968 Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Scouting. Due to ill health, the Governor-General presented the award at his home.[7]
He died on 13 November 1970 and is memorialised on the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph and at St Stephen’s Church, Ponsonby.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Files – James Dobson Campbell, National Library of New Zealand
- ^ "Pacific Islands Monthly Vol. 40, No. 2". Trove. February 1, 1969. p. 122. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Dixon, Rod. RSA in the Cooks. Cook Islands News, 2019.
- ^ Otago Witness, Jan 1926
- ^ Scouting NZ records; Pacific Islands Monthly, Feb 1969
- ^ New Zealand Gazette, 1951, p.2239
- ^ London Gazette, 8 June 1968
- ^ Online Cenotaph, Auckland Museum