VICTORIA CROSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1942, Page 2

VICTORIA CROSS

AWARDED TO BRITISH BRIGADIER CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AT SIDI REZEGH. CAPABLE AND INSPIRING LEADERSHIP. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, February 3. An artillery officer, who, during one month last year, was awarded both the D.S.O. and bar, has now received the V.C. for: “Most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Sidi Rezegh on November 21 and 22, 1941." He is Acting-Brigadier J. C. Campbell, of the Royal Horse Artillery. Already, during the last war period, he had won the M.C. and was mentioned three times in dispatches. The action which gains him the V.C. began on November 21, when his small force, including one regiment of tanks, holding important ground in the area of the Sidi Rezegh ridge and the aerodrome, was attacked by a large number of tanks and infantry. “Wherever the situation was most difficult and the fighting hardest,” the citation states, “he was seen with his forward troops, either on his feet or in an open car, in which he carried out several reconnaissances for counterattacks by his tanks, whose senior officers had all become casualties earlier in the day. Standing in the car with a blue flag, he personally formed up the tanks under close and intense fire from all natures of enemy weapons. “On the following day the enemy attacks were intensified, and again Brigadier’ Campbell was always in the forefront, encouraging his troops, staging counter-attacks with 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 November 22, he was wounded, but continued most actively in 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 gun. “His magnificent example and utter disregard of personal danger were an inspiration to his men and to all who saw him,” the citation concludes. “His brilliant leadership was a direct cause of the very heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In spite of his wound he refused to be evacuated, and remained with his command, where his outstanding bravery and consistent determination had a marked effect in maintaining the splendid fighting spirit of those under him.”