BATTLE OF BRITAIN ‘LACE’
Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch doesn’t just record history, he preserves it within the walls of his own home.
Currently serving as a photographer in the Royal Australian Air Force, Campbell balances capturing modern history behind the lens with preserving rare military artefacts.
The trajectory of Campbell’s life changed at age 12 in the quiet country town of Maryborough, Victoria. While rummaging through his father’s shed, he unearthed a dusty slouch hat. That single object sparked a curiosity for military history that quickly grew into a passion.
He began reading war books, watching documentaries and researching family history, before starting a collection of helmets, uniforms and equipment spanning conflicts from the late 1800s to Vietnam.
After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Air Force as an Imagery Specialist – a role that unexpectedly tied all his interests together.
Today he documents current operations across Australia and the region.
“We go wherever the Air Force goes,” Leading Aircraftman Latch said.
“It’s rewarding to know in 100 years’ time someone will be able to look at a photo I took. We are capturing history in the making.”
From sitting on the ramp of a C‑130J Hercules over the Northern Territory to documenting humanitarian missions in Timor‑Leste, Campbell said the experiences far exceeded anything his 12‑year‑old self could have imagined.
When off duty, Campbell is a dedicated researcher and collector, specialising in the World Wars. While his private collection includes rare artefacts such as a World War I German spiked helmets, the items he values most are those that tell a personal story.
His devotion to history has led to a strong connection with the Maryborough RSL and with Anzac Day in particular. Having marched with the RSL for a number of years, the occasion holds deep personal meaning for him, blending remembrance with a sense of duty to those who served before.
“I’m proud to put my uniform on every day,” he said.
“But on Anzac Day, it means even more.”
One of his most profound impacts through the RSL wasn’t captured on a memory card, but in the heart of a Vietnam veteran before Campbell joined Defence.
The veteran – who hadn’t marched in over two decades – found a renewed sense of pride through the aspiring historian’s genuine interest in his service. The pair marched side-by-side, with the veteran later donating his entire service kit – from boots to rations – to the then 14-year-old’s care.
Another widow later gifted Campbell her late husband’s World War II uniform after seeing his dedication to preserving history for younger generations.
“To be able to make a big enough impact on somebody for them to say, ‘I’m going to give this kid something that means a lot to me,’ was very special,” Leading Aircraftman Latch said.
Those moments shaped his belief that history must be kept alive.
“A lot of people my age aren’t aware of the sacrifices made for us to be here today.
“Having these tangible items – things people wore, things they carried – helps keep their stories alive. I hope that through my efforts, I can spark an interest in others to learn and pass that knowledge on.”
Leading Aircraftman Latch’s aspirations include higher education in military history, writing his own books and eventually displaying his collection in a museum for public education.
Until then, he continues to serve, collect and capture history – both behind the camera and through the artefacts he preserves. As for the origin of the slouch hat from his father’s shed?
The mystery of its owner remains unsolved – perhaps the only history Leading Aircraftman Latch hasn’t yet mastered.
Story and image courtesy of Department of Defence