Lieutenant Colin C. Cameron

Name Colin Campbell Cameron Date of Birth 1890 Place of Birth Jamestown, SA. Australia Occupation Stock and Station Agent Date of Enlistment 20th August 1914 Place of Enlistment Jamestown, SA. Australia Flying Unit 1 Sqn AFC Previous Unit Australian Lighthorse Service Australian Flying Corps Theatres Palestine AIF Rank Lieutenant Awards - Victories 0 Nickname "Cam" or "The Rascal" AIF Fate Died of Illness Date of AIF Fate 18th November 1918 Final Rank Lieutenant Date of Death 18th November 1918 Place of Death Port Said, Egypt Cause of Death Died of Illness Notes Colin Cameron is the subject of a chapter in Les Sutherlands book, "Aces and Kings"

Colin Cameron was a country larrikin born in South Australia but had been a stockman and horsebroker previous to enlistment. According to Sutherland, Cameron was one of the best horsemen in the Australian Lighthorse. Through Sutherland's portrait of Cameron we know him as a fun loving, easy-going stirrer who treated everyone as equals. He was as well known for describing Egypt to an English General as "the land of sand, sore eyes and syphilis" as he was for explaining to Richard Williams that his bumpy landing would be rectified by "taking the sting out of the bastard even if he has to put a flank rope on her (the aircraft)." Sutherland explains Camerons larrikin charm as, "Then he'd smile. And when Cam smiled, even C.O's forgot rules and regulations, and ham handed landings."

Cameron led the patrol that found the Turkish Seventh Army retreating in disarray through Et Tire including guns, cavalry and transport. The three aircraft on the patrol dropped their twenty bombs and fired 2000 rounds before reporting their findings to the Squadron. They estimated the numbers at 2000 cavalry, 5000 infantry and 600 wheeled vehicles. From Camerons report a 24 hour bombing relay began on the Turkish column which forced the retreating column to seperate, heading for Et Tire and Tul Keram.

Sutherland describes Cameron as a reliable pilot, "Cam was never a dashing pilot. But he was steady and dependable. You knew that if Cam was the pilot in your escort machine, you never had to worry as to whether the Hun would spring a surprise attack on you, or that if you had to go into action, you need have no qualms as to Cam's side of your machine. In all things we felt we knew, Cam would be there when you needed him."

Name Colin Campbell Cameron Number - Rank Lieutenant Aircraft - Squadron 1 Sqn AFC Unit Australian Flying Corps Service Army, Australian Imperial Force Conflict World War I Date of Death Monday, 18th November 1918 Cause of Death Died of Illness Memorial Panel 188 Memorial Details Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Grave Reference H.12 Next of Kin Son of John and Hannah Sophia Cameron, of Jamestown, South Australia Enlistment Jamestown,SA. Australia Source AWM 145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army. Commonwealth War Graves Roll of Honour Card. Notes Grave Inscription on wooden cross reads; "Lieutenant C.C.Cameron, 1st Squadron, AFC. Died on service, November 18th, 1918."

Lest We Forget