Ronald Campbell

Ronald Campbell was educated at Bedford school where he was a good all-round sportsman. As a youngster, he served with the Canadian Militia and first saw active service in the South African War at the end of the 19th century. Campbell then accepted a commission into the Duke of Cornwall’s light Infantry before moving to the Gordon Highlanders in 1902. He left his regiment in 1910 and became superintendent of Gymnasia, Southern Command. Following the outbreak of World War I, he went overseas with the British Expeditionary Force, but was injured in the early part of the war and returned to England.

Campbell eventually returned to France, and in 1916 set up what later became the School of Physical, Bayonet, and Recreational Training. This new school incorporated competitive and combative games into training, and this would serve as the basis for Army training for many years to follow.

Campbell retired from the Army in 1924 with the rank of Colonel. He was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) in 1917, was three times mentioned in dispatches, and in 1923 was honoured with the OBE. At the time of his retirement he was Inspector of Army Physical Training. Between 1928-30 Campbell was joint honorary secretary of the National Association of Boys’ Clubs, and between 1930-46 was Director of Physical Education at Edinburgh University.

As a fencer, Campbell competed in the épée and sabre competitions at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics. The following year he captained the Great Britain team that travelled to the United States for the match against their American counterparts for the American Challenge Cup. When Campbell won his only British title, the Sabre Championship in 1929, he was regarded as a veteran and was in his 51st year.