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8
Early Life
George’s father, Matthew Campbell, was a native of Armagh. A veteran of the Boer War,
Matthew met Margretta (Gretta) Bowen
4
from Harbour House on the North Circular Road,
Dublin while he was working as a clerk in the Royal Irish Rifles. Following their marriage in
Dublin, 1907, the Campbells lived in Belfast. However, Matthew’s catering business meant
the family had to move several times. The Campbells had three sons. Arthur (1909) and
Stanley (1911) were both born in Belfast. The family moved to Dublin
5
in 1911 and George
was born in Ferrybank, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, in 1917. The family finally returned to Belfast
in 1921.
6
Following her husband’s sudden death in 1925, Gretta Campbell ran a launderette and
took lodgers into her home at Magdala Street, Belfast. Aged fifteen Arthur Campbell left
school
7
and found employment with W&G Baird printers and moved into the advertising
department until 1945. Older than George by nine years he attended night classes at the
Belfast College of Art in the 1930s and later developed a keen interest in photography.
8
Stanley was sent to relatives in Melbourne, Australia, and George remained at home until, in
1929, he was sent to the Masonic Boys’ School
9
in Clonskeagh, Dublin.
4
In 1904, Gretta Bowen was working as a typist in a solicitors office, Dame Street.
5
Arthur and Stanley Campbell attended a primary School in Rathmines.
6
George Campbell referred to being at ‘Clandeboye for a spell’ in a BBC interview in 1973. The location
was more likely linked to Matthew Campbell’s catering business. Arthur Campbell also noted travelling to
Clandeboye with his father. Correspondence with Francis Campbell, 28 October 2014.
7
Awarded a Scholarship, Arthur Campbell was due to attend Methodist College Grammar School, Belfast.
8
Two photographs, ‘New Street, Killarney’ and Scene in County Down’ by Arthur Campbell were illustrated in
Now in Ulster
, 1944.
9
Matthew Campbell had joined Masonic Lodge No. 278 in 1907. Correspondence with the Grand Lodge of
Freemasons, Dublin, 11 July 2014.
fig.3: Arthur and George Campbell,
1927.
fig.4: George Campbell as a young
boy
fig.5: Stanley Campbell and his
mother, Gretta Bowen