93 Year Old Irish Soldier describes World War One, 1988 

He was 93 in this interview and it's incredible how mentally alert and articulate he is.

He passed away at 97, four years after this interview. RIP jack

I love how he talks so quick and swift... most elderly at that age, the conversations are slow and often painfully slow... this guy is like a fire hydrant of recollections... a historical goldmine.

"Without favour, affection, malice or ill will". Rolled of the tongue of a man in his 10th decade. Wow

The interviewer did a great job of asking a question and then shutting up. I wish today’s hosts would learn from this guy.

You know why this is a great interview? He shuts up and lets the man talk. Some modern interviewers could learn a thing or two from him.

"War is War, you kill or be killed." This gentleman summed up the hells of war perfectly. Because across all generations, war is terrible. No ifs, ands or buts. I'm so happy and glad that there is a record straight from the mouth of someone who served over a century ago, live and in the flesh so that way we can all hear it. So many of his buddies didn't survive, and this gentleman does a great service in honoring their memories by sharing his story. He was living proof of the experiences so many experienced during WW1. Written and recorded records of things like this are so important. For it's videos like this that keeps not only this man's legacy alive, but to keep alive actual testimony and witness from someone who served his country and lived to tell the tale. May this gentlemen, as well as all of those who served in both World Wars, rest in heavenly peace. 🙏

My Great-uncle, the first visit to his grave was in 2016, for 100 years he had no visitor, a renamed street was the clue to find him and we did. He was injured previously was allowed to go home for a week because it was Lent (Catholic Holiday) and he got married, he returned to the front to be injured again and die from his wounds. He was 21, joined the army in 1913. Don't give up searching for the soldier if you have one missing. Private John Kelly, 11298, 8th Bat., Royal Irish Fusiliers, died on Friday August 11, 1916 and is buried in Chocques Military Cemetery (Grave 1. J. 37), Pas de Calais, France. He was born in Dublin.

When a man like this speaks, you stay silent and listen to every word.

I've never seen an interview with a real WW1 veteran before. Brilliant.

Excellent interviewer. Asks an intelligent question, shuts up and then listens to the answer. ✅ At 93 this hero and classy gentleman is laser sharp. He brings history of the Great War to real life. This man and his experience is priceless. Protect this interview like it is a treasure because it is. Bow with honour and respect to this great man. 🇮🇪 🇨🇦 🇬🇧.

this man saw things that could turn a human insane, the audience laughing about the rats eating your food, they just dont understand what this man went through neither do we, nothing but respect for this gentlemen.

I like the way the interviewer just let him talk.

Best line in the interview is when Jack talks about joining the Army, "I thought I was going to see the world but I damn near saw the second world". How dapper and smart he looked for a 93 year old, sharp as a tack, died in 1992, age 97. He was also an Old Contemptible which means he was one of the first soldiers in France in August 1914.

I could listen to this man for months...they don't make them like that anymore. My humble utmost respect to you Jack

A true soldier. As a combat veteran of Afghanistan, I’ve still seen nothing compared to these men. There are things that stick with you for life. He seems to have a sense of humor about the whole affair. Many soldiers use humor as a coping mechanism. Just talk to any medic to find out. This man was in a war that took place before my grandparents were born, yet a good soldier is a good soldier. A good man is a good man. The same now as it was over 100 years ago. Much respect.

Can you imagine how sparky this kid was back in the war if this is what he were like at 93?

"I went there to see the world and I dam near saw the second world." God bless him, at least he has a sense of humour about it.

I am almost 53 and in 1st grade about 1974 an American World War I Vet came to visit our class. A very tall thin man wearing his old uniform. He was soft spoken and humble. The other students asked him questions even then I found awkward. "are you a hero"? "did you kill anyone" ? He laughed it all off as kids who could not understand. He just said he was a kid and did what his country asked of him. He said he was no hero and just had a job to do". Looking back I wish I had the chance to ask him real questions with what I know now. He was just one of many men and women in that war, and now they are all gone. His story and name lost as far as I know. I live in the same town he came to visit our school all those years ago. Wish I could know where he is buried and leave something, flowers, note, candle. I will take his memory to my grave.

My great-grandfather, Private McComb, fought in Ww1. He was a Roman Catholic, and his mother was from Ireland. 23 May 1916. Unit name - Anzac Cyclist Battalion, Reinforcement 3 AWM Embarkation Roll number 12/2/3 Embarkation details. Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on 1 August 1916. He survived the war and passed away in December 1958. Buried in Hamilton, Victoria Australia. Rest easy Pops

This is the sort of person you want on your side. They should never be forgotten.

One can only hope to have this level of mental clarity at his age

The saddest part of his story is not how sharp he is after all that time, but in how long he has had to keep these horrid memories. 75 years+ to keep these memories. Don't know if I could ever be as strong.

This interview needs to be preserved for all of history...

To be killed in action is one thing, but when he described the young man who died from the rat bite, that got to me. No one deserves to die like that.

He was in the war from the very beginning and it was amazing that he survived. Life in the trenches sounded like hell on earth.

From a UK veteran thank you and others Ireland veterans for your service

People throw the word “hero” today like confetti..this is what it means to be a hero

Imagine how fast he spoke when was a young lad

An absolute legend of a man, like so many from that generation.

My Gramps was in WW1 and came back without a scratch....but what he saw in the trenches blew his mind and he turned to drink.I'm told he never talked about what he witnessed until he'd had a lot to drink.Those brave folks that did what they did for our freedom will never be forgot, God Bless you Gramps xx

In 1982, I was 9 years old, I met a man who was 93. He was born in 1889. He was an old cowboy. I’m blessed to have met someone who was born in the 1800s in my lifetime.

This guy is more of a man than I could ever dream of being.

What a hero this fella is, we really do have it so easy compared to real men like him, hats off to you and rip Jack

93 and still remembers vivid details. Amazing. Glad they got this on film.

When enemy soldiers reach a mutual agreement not to attack supply lines you know they are both in living hell

As he’s talking it’s as if he’s alive today. It brings history closer. So fortunate this interview was taken.

How sharp this man is at 93, wow. These horrors he could never forget, my god. It's so awful. He really gives you a depiction, but without any sense of drama. That's incredible. I keep thinking about his poor parents having all their boys in the the fight...

God bless this man. What an important interview to keep for the historical record.

It’s crazy to think - this gentleman, when younger, would have interacted with older folk born in the early 1800s :O and we’re watching this in 2021…

Has anyone noticed how vivid and detailed this guy's memory is as he recalls things that happened 74 years prior? It all must have been literally burned onto his brain.

I found this by accident.. This interviews worth transcends the questions surrounding WW1 and its futility. Mr Campbell's lucid recollection of his personal experiences permits a rare glimpse into the past. I was impressed by his polite side stepping of Gay Byrne's invitation to sum it all up as "senseless" by his reference instead to "loyalty", I suspect Mr Campbell, very aware he was a survivor, did not wish to break loyalty with his many dead comrades by dismissing their deaths as meaningless or pointless. This I found impressive, and quietly moving.

What an incredible human being this gentleman was ! Lest we forget

“The lice ate the flesh of the living while the rats gorged themselves on the dead. It was just sheer punishment”. This generation experienced things I hope never are experienced again

My generation truly doesn't know how lucky we are

Hearing about WW1 was horrifying. This man was a hero just for surviving.

As a Canadian I like to thank Jack for his service!!! 🙏 rip jack

I am deadly serious, I could sit and listen to that man for days and days and days.. I’d love to have known Jack or any of the old generation from that time. There were many young Irish men like Jack that fought in both World wars, many paid the ultimate sacrifice and it’s a shame they were left in Limbo by their own government and the British government.. It doesn’t Matter if you’re an Irish nationalist or a British unionist or anything in between. Those boys need to be honoured & remembered. Most were young lads looking for adventure and earnings, it wasn’t political for the lads in the trenches.. Total respect from a Belfast Nationalist.

I'm an ex royal marine and I've done the battlefield tours in France,Belgium but hearing this gentleman talking about ww1 brings it all to life a born story teller is old Jack

“You kill them or they kill you. What the hell, it was just a game.”

I'm speechless he volunteered no less at 16 and at 93 he is so alert not te mention remembers it so perfectly 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

This guy is a true hero. Unfortunatly not many around like Jack these days. God bless him

Best history is from men like this... What a privilege to hear this man.

"Without favour or affection, malice or ill will." A fine quote and epitaph, from a universal soldier. RIP.

“War is a game, it’s kill or be killed, so we didn’t have any remorse for things like that.” Holy shit when he said that the one thought that popped into my head was “holy shit this guy is stone cold”

Every child and politician needs to hear this

What an incredible video. I cannot imagine the stress, trauma and pain those soldiers had to deal with. We are so lucky to live in the time that we do.

I love how he still says “Tommy’s” to describe the British troops and Jerry to describe the Germans. Best time on RU-vid I’ve ever spent.

Phenomenal interview. He really paints a picture of how terrifying it must have been for the young men on both sides that had to experience trench warfare. RIP to him and all the others.

This is a monumental historical record. What a wonderful man. His account will be talked about for a thousand years or more.

Even at 93, he is still mentally so sharp and present. Its amazing.

I was born the year this was filmed. I'm a veteran of Iraq, but thank God in heaven I never had to experience anything like WW1. Men of iron right there.

What a treasure. R.I.P. Jack Campbell

They need to show things like this in school. Hearing real experiences from over 100 years ago is important for our psychology

"without favour, affection, malice or ill will" Really hit me this finishing line. Can hardly think of a better way of putting it

He certainly doesn’t sound like he’s in his 90s in this interview. It’s good to see and hear these interviews of people that served over 100 years ago.

Man was born to talk,could listen to his stories all day, fascinating

The man's mental clarity, and memory are incredible.

for 11 minutes, I sat there and listened to every word with no distraction or allowance of distraction for the first time since the inception of RU-vid. He deserved that much, and so much more.

That was 11.24 minutes of my life that was worth every second . Utterly engrossing, what a man .

Wow, I don't have words for how mentally strong this man is

Thank you, Jack - from Canada 🇨🇦🇮🇪

Fucking incredible. Man, pure history from the mouth of a man with eyes and hands and ears and nose that smelled saw felt and held it all. 16 years old in the trenches.

When a man like this speaks you damn well let him speak. He deserves every minute of time to share his experience of hell. I love that the interviewer didn’t rush him along.

My great grandfather served in ww1, he did a similar interview here in Canada but for the life of me I can’t find it anywhere😢. He told me horror stories of the trench warfare and the Rats! He would wake up in the middle of the night screaming about rats running over and all around his body. I woke him up once when he was screaming and jerking his hands and arms and kicking, when he awoke he said never do that again. I loved that man, 80 years after the war and he was still traumatized by the horrors.

"you shouted because it kind of helps ye" understand this so much . What a great man. Pleasure to watch.. as you get older you get wiser and you see things differently year after year. To get to that age and be fully alert like that after everything he's been through is nothing short of a miracle. These old people were just built differently. Every single one of his brothers including him had a major part in the army (crazy)

Me 12 minutes ago, I won’t watch all of this.... hung on every word

This made me cry my grandfather was in the K.O.S..B at the Somme and Yrpes . He rarely spoke, did not like noise. Only time I saw him talk was with men his age playing dominoes I asked him once about the war and he said " Rich men start them , poor men fight and die in them. " .

One of the most captivating videos on the internet.

They don’t make them like this anymore, thanks for your service jack , big respect to all the men that just get on with it regardless of what they face ❤️🇮🇪🇬🇧

The story of the Irish who fought for the allies in both wars is one which isn't told enough. They should be remembered for their sacrifice. thank you Irish brothers from a grateful Brit.

The breadth of this man's recollection of events 70 years past, is astounding.

What an outstanding man. I hope he had a great life after the war. Respect Sir, deepest respect. RIP.

Thank you Jack Campbell. They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condem At the going down of the Sun and in the morning We will remember them . . . Lest We Forget.

That is one of the finest 11 minutes on RU-vid

A privilege to hear this man speak.

My Grandfather served with the Leinster regiment.......he survived being gassed, dysentery, a bullet to his left chest in France/Belgium, ended up in Palestine and got malaria.........he died in 1973. I remember him well........... Jack Campbell & James Cummins may you RIP.

This man is so articulate for 93 years old. Young people could learn a lot from him.

“Kill or be killed, there was nothing more than you can do.” Again, the fact and reality of war.

93 years old and he`s more eloquent than most 23 year olds today.

What an incredibly articulate and emotionally intelligent man. My deepest respect goes out to him and all the other soldiers across the world that fought for the freedom I have today 🌎❤️ Lotta love from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I could sit and listen to this fine man for hours.

“Well, I thought I was going to see the world, but I damn near seen the second world, the other world.” What a great quote. How this guy still had a sense of humor in his 90s and after seeing everything he saw is beyond me.

The interviewer did a good job allowing Mr. Campbell take the conversation wherever he wanted. He'd ask a question and Campbell would tell a story, then his next question wouldn't be to direct him back to the opening topic, but an encouraging question to simply get him to say more if he wanted. It felt like the right way to conduct an interview on a subject like this.

The bravery of those boys who signed up is astounding.

Thank You Sir for sharing my Grandad served in the trenches in WW1 he made it home but a changed man and sadly died from ill health very young. This gave me an insight into what he experienced God bless you all.

His mind was very, very healthy at that age. Being in his late 80s/90s with an ability to communicate as if you were still in your 20s is a rare thing of people reaching his age group.

He's being deadly serious, yet the audience laughed. They soon stopped laughing as he carried on describing how awful it was.

"The Master class has always declared the Wars, the Subject class has always fought the battles."

wow, sharp as a tack, and brutally honest. what a man. and what a story, he remembers those times over 50 years ago like they were yesterday.