234420 Pte. Wilfred Lawson Campsall British Army 1/5th Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.5th June 1915) Private Wilfred Campsall served with the 1/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, he was killed in action on 5th June, 1915, aged 19. Wilfred was born at Medge Hall in 1895, to George and Emma Campsall (nee Singleton).
Around 1899 the family moved to Scunthorpe. His father was an iron ore inspector at the blast furnaces, whilst Wilfred was a press-boy at a brickworks.
Wilfred enlisted as a territorial soldier in the Lincolnshire Regiment at Scunthorpe, possibly before the outbreak of war and most likely with the 5th Battalion who were the nominal territorial battalion for the north of the county.
He was transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Manchester Regiment. The 1/5th Manchester moved to Gallipoli on 6th May when they landed with 42nd Division at Helles Beach. On 26th May they became part of 127th Brigade in 42nd Division.
On 4th June, the 42nd Division, alongside the 29th Division, attacked the Turkish trenches in the hills above Cape Helles in an attempt to break out from Helles Beach. Consolidating their position over the next two days, the 1/5th Manchesters defended it against several Turkish counterattacks.
Wilfred was one of the casualties of these counter-attacks. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. Wilfred is also remembered on the Scunthorpe Roll of Honour.
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