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LT COL JOHN VAUGHAN CAMPBELL, VC,CMG,DSO.
John Vaughan Campbell was born in London on the 31st
October 1876. He was commissioned into the Coldstream
Guards on 5th September 1896.
He served in the Boer War where he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order, and was Mentioned in
Dispatches twice.
He went to France with the 3rd Battalion, and he was
awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry at Ginchy
on 15th September 1916. He was promoted to Brevet
Colonel and Aide de Camp to The King in Jun 1919.
He was the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel Commanding the
Regiment between 1923 and 1927, and he retired on 31st
October 1933. He was a member of the Honourable Corps of
Gentlemen at Arms from 1934 to 1944, and during the
Second World War he commanded the 8th Battalion,
Gloucestershire Home Guard until his death on 22nd May
1944.
It is of interest to note that his father, Captain
Ronald Campbell, was killed in the Zulu Wars in 1879
whilst committing an act of gallantry that would have
almost certainly won him the Victoria Cross if
posthumous awards had then been allowed. His only son,
Captain J R Campbell was killed whilst serving with the
Regiment in France in 1940.
In addition to the VC, he was also awarded the Companion
of the Order of St Michael & St George (CMG), DSO,
Queen’s South Africa Medal with six clasps, King’s South
Africa Medal with two clasps, 1914-15 Star, British War
and Victory Medals, the 1911 and 1937 Coronation Medals,
1935 Silver Jubilee Medal, French Legion of Honour (2nd
Class), French Croix de Guerre (with Palm). His medals
were bequeathed to the Regiment by his second wife on
her death in 1985.
EXTRACT FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE
26 Oct 1916
 Victoria Cross
Major & Brevet Lieutenant Colonel (Temp Lieutenant
Colonel)
John Vaughan CAMPBELL, DSO 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards
For most conspicuous bravery and leading in an attack.
Seeing that the first waves of his battalion had been
decimated by machine gun and rifle fire he took personal
command of the third line, rallied his men with the
utmost gallantry, and led them against the enemy machine
guns, capturing the guns and killing the personnel.
Later in the day, after consultation with other unit
commanders, he again rallied the survivors of this
battalion, and at a critical moment led them through a
very hostile fire barrage against the objective. He was
on of the first to enter the enemy trench.
His personal gallantry and initiative at a very critical
moment turned the fortunes of the day and enabled his
division to press on and capture objectives of the
highest tactical importance.
His medal(s) is on display at Regimental Headquarters
RELATED IMAGES/INFORMATION
More information on Campbell can be found below:
Wikipedia External Link
Spock Search Site
Image
An artists impression of how the VC was won.
MEDAL
ENTITLEMENT OF:
Lieutenant Colonel John Vaughan CAMPBELL (Coldstream
Guards)
Victoria Cross
Companion, Order of St Michael & St George ( CMG )
Distinguished Service Order ( DSO )
Queen's South Africa Medal ( 1899-1902 )
6 clasps:
"Belmont" - "Modder River" - "Driefontein"
"Johannesburg" - "Diamond Hill" - "Belfast"
King's South Africa Medal ( 1901-02 )
2 clasps:
"South Africa 1901" - "South Africa 1902"
1914 - 15 Star
British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
Victory Medal ( 1914-19 ) + MiD Oakleaf
King George V Coronation Medal ( 1911 )
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1935 )
King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
Grand Officer, Legion of Honour ( France )
Croix de Guerre ( France ) |
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