GALLANT OFFICER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 5

GALLANT OFFICER

HOW V.C. WAS WON FIGHTING AT SIDI REZEGH RUGBY. Feb. 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 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. During the last war he won the M.C. and was mentioned three times in despatches. The action which gained him the V.C. began on November 21, when his small force, including one regiment of tanks, which was holding important ground in the area of Sidi Rezegh ridge and aerodrome, was attacked by a large number of tanks and infantry. Wherever the situation was most difficult and the fighting the hardest he was seen with his forward troops. He was either on his feet or in an open car in which he carried out several reconnaissances >for counterattacks by his tanks, the senior, officers of which had all become casualties earlier in the day. Standing in a car with a blue flag, he personally, formed up the tanks under close and intense fire from all kinds of enemy weapons.' The • following day the enemy attacks were intensified, and again Acting Brigadier Campbell was always in' I 'the " forefront, encouraging his troops, staging counter-attacks, 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 the foremost positions, controlling the fire of the batteries, which inflicted heavy losses on enemy tanks at point-blank range, and he finally acted as leader to one gun. His magnificent example and utter disregard of personal danger were an inspiration to the men and all who saw him. His brilliant leadership was the direct cause of very heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In spite of his wounds, he refused to be evacuated and remained with his command, where his outsanding bravery and consistent determination had a marked effect in maintaining the splendid fighting spirit of those under him.