Brigadier GeneralJohn Vaughan Campbell, VC,CMG,DSO (31 October 1876 – 21 May 1944) was a senior British Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest 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, Ronald George Elidor Campbell (1848–1879), was the second son of the 2nd Earl Cawdor and an army captain, was killed at the Battle of Hlobane in the Zulu War in 1879.
Campbell was 39 years old, and a temporary lieutenant colonel commanding the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards 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]
Not mentioned in the citation but much reported in the popular press, by which he was dubbed the "Tally-Ho VC", is that he rallied his men under fire by blowing a hunting horn and giving the traditional hunting cry.[3]
^"County heroes who won the Victoria Cross". Shropshire Star. 1 July 2016. p. 36.Battle of the Somme – 100 Years supplement, compiled by Toby Neal. He was then living at Oswestry.