John Vaughan Campbell

John Vaughan Campbell
Born 31 October 1876
London, England
Died 21 May 1944 (aged 67)
Woodchester, Gloucestershire, England
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1896 - 1933, 1939 - 1944
Rank Brigadier-General
Unit Coldstream Guards
3rd Guards Brigade
Home Guard
Battles/wars Second Boer War
World War I
World War II
Awards Victoria Cross
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Officer Legion of Honour (France)
Croix de guerre (France)

Brigadier-General John Vaughan Campbell VC CMG DSO (31 October 1876 – 21 May 1944) was an English-born Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Campbell was born in London. His father, second son of the 2nd Earl Cawdor and an army captain, was killed in the Zulu War in 1879.

He was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before entering the Coldstream Guards in 1896.[1] At the time of his VC award he had served through the Boer War, in which he was awarded the DSO and twice mentioned in despatches.[1]

World War I

Campbell was 39 years old, and a temporary lieutenant-colonel commanding the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, British Army, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 15 September 1916 at Ginchy, France, during the Battle of the Somme, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell took personal command of the third line when the first two waves of his battalion had been decimated by machine-gun and rifle fire. He rallied his men and led them against the enemy machine-guns, capturing the guns and killing the personnel. Later in the day he again rallied the survivors of his battalion and led them through very heavy hostile fire. His personal gallantry and initiative at a very critical moment enabled the division to press on and capture objectives of the highest tactical importance.[2]

In 1916, he achieved the rank of brigadier-general.

Later life

Campbell addressing troops of the 137th Brigade (46th Division) from the Riqueval Bridge over the St. Quentin Canal, 2 October 1918

In 1919 he was appointed ADC to King George V, a post held until he retired from the army in 1933, and subsequently a member of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms[1] until his death.

In the Second World War he was an honorary Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from 1939 to 1940, then from 1941 until his death commanded the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Home Guard.[1] He died, aged sixty-seven, at his last home in Woodchester near Stroud, on 21 May 1944, and was cremated at Cheltenham.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Coldstream Guards RHQ) in Wellington Barracks, London.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes. 1944. p. 379.
  2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29802. p. 10393. 26 October 1916. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
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