The Death of Sergeant Camp

Sunday 27th June 1915: A touching letter has been received by Mr and Mrs Camp of 61 Hastings Street, Luton with reference to the death of their son, Sergeant Alfred Albert Camp at the Front. Sergeant Camp had served with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment for about eight years and went to the Front in October last. He was recently fatally wounded(1) and his parents have now received the following letter from a chaplain at the Highland Casualty Clearing Station.

“I have sad news for you. Your son, Sergeant A. Camp, 9127, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was brought into this hospital severely wounded in lung and shoulder about 36 hours ago. Everything possible was done for him by doctors and nurses and a most attentive orderly and he suffered little pain. I was beside his bed, praying quietly, once or twice yesterday. Sister tells me he was most patient, very cheerful and always said he was very comfortable and rather better. In fact, she was evidently quite fond of him, and of his brave smile. He passed to his rest in the night, peacefully. May God grant him peace and rest in Paradise, after the turmoil of this war and to you may God grant the support of His Holy Spirit in your bereavement. I shall bury him today in a grave marked H18 in Lillers Cemetery. The cemetery is carefully kept and his grave will soon be marked by a cross, bearing his name and regiment”.

Before joining the Regulars, Sergeant Camp was in the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and played in the band. Very shortly after he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment the battalion went out to South Africa. They were there when war was declared and arrived in England at the end of September, leaving for France in October. Sergeant Camp had two days’ leave on arrival in England and that is the only time his parents have seen him in the last eight years. He would have been 30 years of age next November and was very popular with his comrades.

Source: 8th July 1915

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(1) He died on 19th June suggesting he was wounded in the action at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée from 15th to 17th June, where the 2nd Battalion fought side by side with the Gordon Highlanders. He is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery - his grave plot is now marked II.A.5 rather than H18.