Maj.-Gen. John Charles Campbell, V.C

Maj.-Gen. John Charles Campbell, V.C. was born on 10 January 1894 at Thurso, Caithness, Scotland.

He died on 26 February 1942 at age 48 at Halfaya Pass, Libya, killed in a car accident.

He was buried at Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt.

He was decorated with the award of Military Cross (M.C.).

He was decorated with the award of Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) (and bar).

He was decorated with the award of Victoria Cross (V.C.) on 3 February 1942, for his actions on 21-22 November 1941.

He was commanding the troops, including one Regiment of tanks, in the area of Sidi Rezegh ridge. The small force holding this important ground was repeatedly attacked by large numbers of tanks and infantry. Wherever the situation was most difficult and the fighting hardest he was to be seen with his forward troops, either on his feet or in his open car. In this car he carried out several reconnaissances for counter-attacks by his tanks, whose senior officers had all become casualties earlier in the day. Standing in his car with a blue flag, this officer personally formed up tanks under close and intense fire from all natures of enemy weapons. On the following day the enemy attacks were intensified and again he was in the forefront of the heaviest fighting, encouraging his troops, staging counter-attacks wirh his remaining tanks and personally controlling the fire of his guns. On two occasions he himself manned a gun to replace casualties. During the final enemy attack on the 22nd he was wounded, but continued most actively in the foremost positions, controlling the fire of batteries which inflicted heavy losses on enemy tanks at point-blank range, and finally acted as loader to one of the guns himself in spite of his wounds. He refused to be evacuated and remained with his command.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_Campbell_%28VC%29