The only son of the late Campbell of Baleveolan, Argyllshire, he entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in September 1904 and served as a Midshipman in HM Ships MAJESTIC and RUSSELL alongside his subsequent CO in A3 Frank Ormand.  He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in 1907 and to Lieutenant in 1909 in which rank he served in HM Ships BERWICK and ROXBURGH.

In January 1912 he was appointed to HMS ARROGANT ‘..for training in submarines.’  He was one of four officers under training who died when HMS A3 was lost with all hands.  His funeral was conducted at Oban by the Dean of Argyll where he is interred at Pennyfuir cemetery.  There is also a tablet to his memory in St John’s Cathedral Oban.