THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

CAMPBELL Thomas Coats

5953, temp Colonel, 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade

CITATION

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Military

Gazetted 28 December 1956, Supp 40960, p9

" lately Commander, Fiji Military Forces and Representative of the New Zealand Chiefs of Staff in Fiji"

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 18 September 1945, Supp 37274, p4675

For distinguished service to 2NZEF, Colonel Campbell left New Zealand with the main body of 2NZEF early in 1940, and has served in most campaigns in which 2 NZ Div has been engaged since then. He was appointed to command 22 NZ (Motor) Battalion in July 1942 and was appointed to command 4 NZ Armoured Brigade in November 1944. In the fighting on the Sangro towards the end of 1943, Colonel Campbell handled his Battalion skillfully and courageously in what was at that time to them an entirely new front of fighting. He took command of 4 NZ Armoured Brigade during the fighting on the Adriatic Coast and in November/December 1944 and January 1945 and displayed outstanding skill and leadership in fighting tanks under the most adverse conditions. He has at all times displayed outstanding coolness and gallantry under fire, and the example of his personality, skill and bravery has been a big factor in the successful armoured fighting by the NZ Armoured Regiments

Military Cross

Gazetted 19 March 1942

"The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Campbell, Thomas Coats. (Ref. WO 373/19/392). Military Cross."

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted

KNOWN AWARDS

Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Distinguished Service Order

Military Cross

1939-45 Star

Africa Star

       8th Army

Italy Star

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

       Mention in Despatches

New Zealand War Service Medal

Coronation Medal 1953

Efficiency Decoration

NOTES

Born 20 December 1911, Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Died 26 September 1984, Christchurch, New Zealand