Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Michael Patrick Campion
In memory of:
Warrant Officer Michael Patrick Campion
December 4, 1943
Military Service
536451
Air Force
Royal Air Force
220 Sqdn.
Warrant Officer Campion in 1940 was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal, which was automatically exchanged for the George Cross by the terms of the institution of that award in September 1940. The London Gazette of 5th July, 1940, gives the following details: L.A.C. Michael Campion displayed great courage in rescuing an unconscious pilot from an aircraft which caught fire as the result of a collision between two Blenheim aircraft while taking off. Aircraftman Campion was one of the first to arrive on the scene. With Aircraftman Frost, he worked heroically, despite the imminent danger of the petrol tanks exploding, and extricated the pilot from the burning wreck. Shortly afterwards the petrol tanks exploded and the whole aircraft was rapidly burnt out. Unfortunately the pilot died later.
Additional Information
Husband of Frances Rosina Campion, of Battersea, London, England.
Commemorated on Page 609 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom
Panel 134.
During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.
The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:
IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE
In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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