FivemiletownEileen Hester Louisa Knox-Browne was the daughter of Lt.-Col. John Hervey Knox-Browne and Louisa Elizabeth Knox-Gore. She was born in1876 in Bunclody, Co Wexford. The family lived at
Aghintain Castle near Fivemiletown. She married George Colin Campbell on 22nd March 1911 in the district of Dungannon. They had one child. Eileen Elizabeth Campbell was born in 1914 in Dublin. By 1918 they were living at The Poplars in Langley, close to Colin’s work in Slough, England. They were returning to England on the 10th October 1918 on RMS Leinster when it was torpedoed. All three of the family perished.
Further Information
Eileen Hester Louisa Knox-Browne was the daughter of Lt.-Col. John Hervey Knox-Browne and Louisa Elizabeth Knox-Gore.
Eileen was born on the 5th November 1876 in Bunclody, Co Wexford She was the fourth of five children and the youngest daughter.
Family: Hervey John Knox-Browne, Louisa Knox-Browne, Sarah Hannah Madeline Knox-Browne (born about 1869, Dublin City), Thomas Arthur Hervey Knox-Browne (born 29th May 1870), Augusta Caroline Knox-Browne (born about 1876, County Wexford), Eileen Hester Louisa Knox-Browne (born 5th November 1876, Bunclody, County Wexford), Mervyn William Charles Knox-Browne (born 21 Apr 1880).
Eileen is believed to be second from the left in the photo, although there is no confirmation.
Lt.-Col. John Hervey Knox-Browne inherited Aghintain Castle in County Tyrone on the death of his father in 1882, and was High Sheriff of Tyrone in 1887.
George Colin Campbell and Eileen Hester Knox Browne were married on 22nd March 1911 in the district of Dungannon. Eileen gave Aughentaine as her address.
They had one child. Eileen Elizabeth Campbell was born in 1914 in Dublin.
By 1916 Colin had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the Admiralty Compass Department, rising to become Superintendent of the Magnetic Compass Branch.
By 1918 they were living at The Poplars in Langley, close to Colin’s work in Slough, England.
In October 1918 he had travelled to Belfast on Admiralty business and his family accompanied him, presumably to visit their family.
They were returning to England on the 10th October on RMS Leinster when it was torpedoed.
All three of the family perished. Their bodies were recovered, with Eileen tightly clasping her daughter in her arms.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 10 October 1918
While talking of peace on the one hand on the other, the Germans continue their brutal submarine attacks on defenceless boats, the latest being that of the Dublin Steampacket Company’s Royal Mail Steamer Leinster (RMS Leinster), which was sent to the bottom with the loss of about 500 men, women and children as she sailed from Kingstown to Holyhead in broad daylight on Thursday. She was struck by two torpedoes, and sank in twelve minutes. It was impossible in that short time to launch many of the boats, and most of the casualties were due to boats that got out, overturning. The survivors numbering about 200 together with numerous dead bodies were brought back to Kingstown, during the afternoon, and the scenes witnessed at the harbour where relatives eagerly sought news of their loved ones were beyond description.
They were brought to the mortuary of St Michael’s Hospital, Kingstown, (now Dun Laoghaire), County Dublin where Colin’s father, the Rev Edward Campbell identified them.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 10th October 1918:
Among the Tyrone victims who perished with the Leinster were Lady Alexander Phyllis Hamilton, only sister of the Duke of Abercorn, and Lieutenant Commander Colin Campbell, Royal Navy, and his wife and only child. Commander Campbell was a son of Rev E F Campbell, M.A., Rector of Killyman, and a member of a family which has rendered distinguished service in the war. His wife, Mrs Eileen Hester Louisa Campbell, was the youngest daughter of Colonel Knox-Brown, D.L., Augentaine Castle, Fivemiletown and a sister of Captain T A H Knox-Brown, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who is at present recruiting officer in Dungannon.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 24th October 1918: The Late Lieutenant Commander Colin Campbell, Royal Navy
Rev Edward F Campbell, M.A., Killyman Rectory, Moy, has received the following message in connection with the death of his son, Lieutenant Commander Colin Campbell, R.N.:- ‘The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Navy have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow.’ At a special meeting of Killyman L.O.L. No. 206, held on Tuesday evening (Mr Henry Annesley, W.M., presiding), a resolution of sympathy with Rev E F Campbell, M.A., Killyman Grand Chaplain (Ireland), on the death of his son, Lieutenant Commander Colin Campbell, R.N., his daughter-in-law, and grandchild, was adopted in silence on the motion of the W.M., seconded by Rev T P Rose.
All three are buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin.
Their grave has a headstone with a sculpted ships anchor. It reads:
Lieutenant Commander George Richard Colin Campbell, RN. Compass Dept, (Slough), HMS President. Born Ballyeglish, Moneymore, County Londonderry. Aged 34. Son of Rev Edward and Lydia Campbell, Sheskburn, Ballycastle, County Antrim.
Eileen Hester Campbell, (nee Knox-Browne), Aughentaine, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone. Wife of George Richard Colin Campbell. Mother of Eileen Campbell.
Eileen Elizabeth (four and a half) only child of George and Eileen Hester. of Sheskburn, Ballycastle, County Antrim.
Neither Eileen nor her child are listed with the CWGC.
