John Vaughan Campbell

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.

V.C. Award
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.

Early Life and Career
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. 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.

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

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 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. 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.