Private Hardie Campbell Memorial Desk, Alstonville

The memorial is an oak reading desk dedicated to Private Richard Henry Blunden (Hardy/Hardie) Campbell, who was killed in the First World War. It has distinctive carved features, with Norman arches and four turned columns. Across the centre of the piece are four simple crosses, set within four circles. Inset between the two centre columns is a metal plaque inscribed with the dedication to Campbell. 

The desk is located in St Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Alstonville. It was dedicated by Archdeacon Tress on 20 March 1921 (Northern Star, 18 March 1921). Also on site are the St Bartholomew's Anglican Church First World War Altar Cross and St Bartholomew's Anglican Church First World War Roll of Honour, on which Campbell is also listed. 

The A.I.F. Project database states Campbell was born at Bathurst, NSW. As a newspaper proprietor and single man of 39 years, he enlisted on 23 February 1917 as a private in the 25th Battalion. His unit embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 14 June 1917. He was killed in action on 17 July 1918 and was buried in the Adelaide Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux, France. He was proprietor of the Alstonville and Rous Record newspaper.

Read more about Private Richard Henry Blunden (Hardie/Hardy) Campbell on the NSW War Memorials Register.

Notes:

• Information on the inscription was provided by the Alstonville Anglican Church. 
• The inscription gives Campbell's rank as Corporal, however, his record on the A.I.F. Project indicates he was a Private.