William John Campbell was the son of William and Ellen Campbell. He was born in Cookstown on 19th May 1894. He was the youngest of six children. The family lived in Killymoon Street and latterly in Blue Doors in Killymoon Demesne, Cookstown. His father and mother were mill and factory workers. William was wounded in May 1916. Lance Corporal William John Campbell was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the Saturday 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, next to the village of Thiepval, off the main Bapaume to Albert road (D929). Each year a major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1 July.
