Final Gallipoli veteran passes last post

Australia's last surviving Gallipoli veteran, Alec Campbell, has died, aged 103.
After a short illness Mr Campbell died this evening with his wife by his side.

Mr Campbell enlisted with the army as a 16-year-old. He served with the 15th Battalion for six months before the evacuation of Gallipoli in December 1915. He then returned to Egypt where he was discharged as medically unfit. After being discharged at the age of 18, he worked as a jackaroo, carpenter, carriage builder and economist. Mr Campbell attended Hobart's Anzac Day parade almost every year, proudly wearing the medals he earned for his war efforts. He was awarded the 1914-15 star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and in later years, the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal. This year, accompanied by his 11-year-old great grandson, Mr Campbell led the Anzac Day parade in front of 5,000 people. He also sailed in six Sydney to Hobart yacht races. The state secretary of the Tasmanian RSL, Tony Scott, says it is important Mr Campbell's service to Australia is not forgotten.

"I'd like to remember Alec Campbell the same way as we should remember all our World War I veterans - they were the ones that put this country on the map and made it what it is today," Mr Scott said. He is survived by his wife Kathleen.

Gisele Mesnage (UniversoBeing) Sydney Australia