Tributes after death of Leeds war hero

Jack Camidge, 92, of Boston Spa, died at St James’s Hospital on August 21 after a short illness.

Mr Camidge fought with the 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards during World War Two and was sent home injured after suffering a shrapnel wound in his leg while on active service in Arras, northern France.
He was a founder member of the Leeds branch of the Coldstream Guards Association, a former chairman of the Collingham branch of the Royal British Legion and a Freemason at the Calcaria lodge in Wetherby.
His son David, 58, said: “He was a man of integrity and was highly regarded in everything he did.

“He was proud to be a member of the Coldstream Guards. He was quite a private fella. He went off to serve at quite a young age and just got on with it. He used to mention it (his injury) on occasion but he never made a thing about it.”

David Camidge, who works as a solicitor based in Scarborough, added: “He was well-regarded in the police force. In my career I used to come across lots of police officers who said he was their first inspector.”

Jack Camidge’s wife Audrey died aged 89 in January. He leaves two sons, David and Richard, 57, and four grandchildren: James, 19; Lucy, 23; Victoria, 22 and Rosie, 20.

David Camidge said: “It would be fair to say he was somewhat diminished earlier this year after her death in January, but nevertheless he kept going until the end.”

Peter Throp, 69, chairman of the Leeds branch of the Coldstream Guards Association, said: “When they took the piece of shrapnel out of his leg they put it in his pyjamas and he said when he came round he had lost it.

“He said he wanted it as a keepsake. I think losing it annoyed him more than actually getting the shrapnel wound.”

Jack Camidge’s funeral service is due to be held at 10.20am tomorrow (Weds Sept 7) at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate.