loopy 0 Posted May 16, 2002 Last Anzac dies The last Anzac and last known veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, Alec Campbell, died in Hobart on Thursday, aged 103. His wife Kathleen was at his side when he died peacefully just after 6pm (AEST) in a nursing home, his granddaughter Jo Hardy said. Mr Campbell had appeared in good health when he took his normal place at the front of the Hobart Anzac Day parade only three weeks ago. Although his sight, hearing and short term memory had deteriorated, he appeared to enjoy being the centre of attention at the Cenotaph. Prime Minister John Howard said Mr Campbell's family would be offered a state funeral for the late Anzac. "Not only is he the last Australian Anzac, he is also the last known person anywhere in the world who served in that extraordinarily tragic campaign," Mr Howard told parliament. Opposition Leader Simon Crean delayed the start of his first Budget reply speech to offer his own thoughts. He said Australians had to thank and honour Mr Campbell and his generation for their service to the country. Mr Campbell became Australia's last living Gallipoli veteran when Roy Longmore died in Melbourne in June last year. Although his wife dreaded the attention she knew he would receive, Mr Campbell appeared to take it in his stride - although by then he could converse only with great difficulty. His last known comments about war suggested that he thought it was futile. In his last year he made occasional public appearances. He attended an RSL lunch with the even older fellow Tasmanian Frank Macdonald, who didn't get to Gallipoli, but is Australia's last surviving WWI veteran to be decorated for bravery. When he turned 103 last February, Mr Campbell sipped champagne at a family party at the Mary Ogilvy nursing home, which is run by Ms Hardy. Mr Campbell, who was born in Launceston, lied about his age so he could enlist at the age of 16. He landed at Gallipoli with the 15th Battalion on November 2, 1915 and for about six weeks braved heavy fire to carry ammunition and water from the boats to the front line. He became ill and was evacuated to Egypt and finally Australia, where he was medically discharged. After working as a jackaroo and carpenter, Mr Campbell took an economics degree, joined the Commonwealth public service and became a JP. He sailed in six Sydney to Hobart yacht races and, until very recently, was a regular at the Royal Hobart Yacht Club. He is survived by Kathleen, his second wife, nine children, 30 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. His death leaves only 16 known Australian WWI veterans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DVII 0 Posted May 16, 2002 Be happy with your 16 veterans cuz Belgium has only 3 WW1 veterans left Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Major Fubar 0 Posted May 17, 2002 My great-grandfather was an Anzac, at the Galipoli landing. He died about 20 years ago. To him and all the other brave, noble Anzacs, R.I.P. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tex -USMC- 0 Posted May 17, 2002 Well, he lived a long life, and he made a difference. Now he gets to rest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
