Jock Campbell (British Army officer)

John Charles Campbell
Campbell after being presented with the VC by General Sir Claude Auchinleck
Nickname(s)	"Jock"
Born	(1894-01-10)10 January 1894 Thurso, Scotland
Died	26 February 1942(1942-02-26) (aged 48) near Halfaya, North Africa
Buried at	Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1915–1942
Rank	Major General
Unit	Royal Horse Artillery
Commands held	7th Armoured Division (1942) 7th Support Group (1941–42)
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches

Major General John Charles Campbell, VC, DSO & Bar, MC (10 January 1894 – 26 February 1942), known as Jock Campbell, was a British Army officer and a Scottish 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.

Campbell was born in Thurso and educated at Sedbergh School. In 1915, he was commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery. He became a first class horseman (in the top flight at both polo and hunting) and also a first class artillery officer. He was awarded the Military Cross in the First World War.

When the Second World War broke out Campbell was 45 years old and a major commanding a battery in the 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Egypt. When Italy declared war in June 1940, Campbell, by then a lieutenant colonel, was commanding the artillery component of 7th Armoured Division's Support Group under Brigadier William Gott. The British Army was heavily outnumbered by the Italians, so General Archibald Wavell formulated a plan with his senior commanders to retain the initiative by harassing the enemy using mobile all-arms flying columns. Campbell's brilliant command of one of these columns led to them being given the generic name "Jock columns" (although it is unclear if the idea originated with Campbell or not).