John Lindsay Cameron

Role: Grandson of John Telfer (1840–1913) & Martha Allen (via daughter Martha "Mattie" Telfer Cameron) — Lieutenant, killed in action at El Alamein, WWII
Born: 21 December 1907 — Mount Gambier, South Australia
Died: 22 July 1942 (aged 34) — Egypt, at El Alamein; killed in action
Father: Malcolm Duncan Cameron
Mother: Martha Telfer Cameron (1873–1964)
Branch: Tantanoola Telfer line (John Telfer 1840–1913 & Martha Allen)

War Service

Lieutenant John Lindsay Cameron (Service No. SX7306), 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion (9th Division, 2nd AIF) — one of the celebrated "Rats of Tobruk". Killed in action 22 July 1942 in Egypt during the fighting at El Alamein. He was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 30 Jun 1942, p.2857).

Commemorated at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt, Plot III. Row H. Grave 21. His name is on the Roll of Honour, panel 62, in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, and on the Glencoe West (SA) Roll of Honour. Two AWM portraits survive (P10296226 roll-of-honour portrait; P10113806, a "Rats of Tobruk" commemoration).

Known to his family simply as "Jack" — one of five children of Malcolm & Mattie Cameron (Murray, Ivan, Lorna, Mavis and Jack). The earlier family book From the Borders to the Bush named him only as "Jack" among the five and never recorded his death; the later Supplement 2008 and official war records reveal his full story.

Sources

• Source: Australian War Memorial — Roll of Honour: John Lindsay Cameron, R1692924 — accessed 7 Sep 2026 (verified: Service No. SX7306, Lieutenant, 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, killed in action 22 July 1942, Roll of Honour panel 62, commemoration Glencoe West)
• Source: Find A Grave — Lt John Lindsay Cameron (1907–1942), memorial 55967975 — accessed 7 Sep 2026 (verified: b. 21 Dec 1907 Mount Gambier, d. 22 Jul 1942; son of Malcolm Duncan Cameron (1873–1935) & Martha Telfer Cameron (1873–1964); El Alamein War Cemetery, Plot III.H.21; "Rats of Tobruk"; Mentioned in Despatches; Roll of Honour panel 62)
• Source: Rats of Tobruk Association — Honour Roll register — accessed 7 Sep 2026 (verified via registered entry: CAMERON John Lindsay, Lt, KIA 21/12/1907 22/07/1942, SX7306, 2/43 Bn, MID, El Alamein A III.H.21)
• Source: Australian War Memorial — portrait P10296226 (Lt John Lindsay Cameron) — accessed 7 Sep 2026 (verified: Roll of Honour portrait, SX7306, d. 22 Jul 1942 Egypt, 2/43rd Bn; also portrait P10113806)
• Source: Clan Cameron Genealogies — John Lindsay Cameron, personID I47942 — accessed 7 Sep 2026 (verified: b. 21 Dec 1907 Mount Gambier, d. 22 Jul 1942 El Alamein, Lt 2/43 Bn, unmarried; father Malcolm Duncan Cameron, mother Martha Telfer) — corroborating compiled tree
• Source: A Telfer Family Tree (Supplement to From the Borders to the Bush, 2008), p.250 — family book record of birth (21 Dec 1907, Mount Gambier) and death (location phrasing superseded by official records above)