John Vaughan Campbell

John Vaughan Campbell VC CMG DSO (October 31,1876 - May 21, 1944) was a 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.

He was 39 years old, and a T/Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, British Army, Commander 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, 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.

He later (1916) achieved the rank of Brigadier General.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Grenadier Guards RHQ) "(London, England)".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
*VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)