The Mildura Cultivator published the following report on 30 June 1917:
We regret to-announce the death of Private R. F. Campbell, who died from wounds on the 17th April at a dressing station in France. He was particularly well known in Irymple, where he was employed with the Co-operative Fruit Co. at their branch shed for over three years.
In April 1915 he embarked at Melbourne, went home to Glasgow and enlisted in The Royal Scots Regiment. The following October he left for France and in May 1916 was severely wounded in the back by the explosion of a mine at Hulluch Quarries. He was discharged from hospital in December and again proceeded to the front in February last. Whilst carrying rations to the front line he was badly wounded by shell fire, dying later in the dressing station without regaining consciousness.
Bob, as he was best known, was of a very unassuming nature and a great favourite of the Co-operative clients He was one of the little band of Soccer players in Mildura and a member of the Caledonian Society and the Working Man’s Club. The sympathy of the residents will go out to the bereaved parents, sister and two brothers, one of whom, Private Jas. Campbell, 24th Batta-lion, A.I.F., resided in Irymple for four years before enlisting.
Scottish-born Robert Fife Campbell moved in his teenage years to Australia with his family, one of whom was James Campbell, a fellow Irymple player and Soccer ANZAC. Robert played for Irymple before returning to Scotland to enlist with the Royal Scots.
Robert died in service of the 15th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, killed in action in France on 17 April 1917. Only a few weeks later James too became a casualty of war.
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