ABSTRACT
Campbell, John Charles (1894-1942) British brigadier. One of the most dashing British leaders of the war in the desert, “Jock” Campbell was born in Thurso, Scotland, on 10 January 1894. He originally was commissioned in the Royal Horse Artillery. In the early stages of the campaign in North Africa, the British were numerically pain fully weak. Under Campbells command they de veloped a tactic of attacking in brigade-sized or smaller groups of tanks and infantry in trucks, supported by towed field guns. These so-called
“Jock Columns” were highly mobile and ideally suited to hit-and-run warfare. On 21 November 1941, at Sidi Rezegh (q.v.), Campbell won the Victoria Cross while in command of the 7 th Armoured Division. He was killed in action on 26 February 1942.
