Jock Campbell ( VC ) Major - General John Charles " Jock " Campbell VC , DSO & Bar , MC ( 10 January 1894 – 26 February 1942 ) was a Scottish officer in the British Army , recipient of the Victoria Cross . History . Campbell was born in Thurso and educated at Sedbergh School . In 1915 , he was commissioned to the Royal Horse Artillery , becoming a first class horseman ( in the top flight at both polo and hunting ) and also a first class artillery officer as well as being awarded the Military Cross When World War II started , 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 column s . Campbell ' s brilliant command of one of these columns led to them being given the generic name " Jock column s " ( although it is unclear if the idea originated with Campbell or not ) . During Operation Compass Campbell ' s guns played an important role in 7th Support Group ' s involvement in the decisive battle at Beda Fomm in February 1941 which led to the surrender of the Italian Tenth Army . In April 1941 Campbell was awarded the DSO . In September 1941 Gott was promoted to command 7th Armoured Division and Campbell took over command 7th Support Group as an acting brigadier . In November 1941 during Operation Crusader , 7th Support Group was occupying the airfield at Sidi Rezegh , south of Tobruk , together with 7th Armoured Brigade . On 21 November 1941 they were attacked by the two armoured division ' s of the Afrika Korps . The British tanks suffered heavy losses but prevented the Germans taking the airfield . Brigadier Campbell ' s small force , holding important ground , was repeatedly attacked and wherever the fighting was hardest he was to be seen either on foot , in his open car or astride a tank . According to Alan Moorehead , Next day , under intensified enemy attacks , he was again in the forefront , encouraging his troops and personally controlling the fire of his batteries - he twice manned a gun himself to replace casualties . During the final attack , although wounded , he refused to be evacuated . His brilliant leadership was the direct cause of the very heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy , and did much to maintain the fighting spirit of his men . On 23 November the fighting continued but with 7th Armoured Brigade destroyed and the 5th South African Infantry Brigade ( which had been sent as reinforcements ) in the process of being destroyed , Campbell withdrew the remains of the Support Group to the south . For his actions during the battle Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross . He is purported to have received a letter of congratulation from General Johann von Ravenstein , commander of the one of armoured divisions 21st Panzer Division which Campbell had faced at Sidi Rezegh . A Prisoner of War since the battle , von Ravenstein expressed his " greatest admiration " for Campbell ' s skill on " those hot days " and recalled " all the many iron that flew near the aerodrome around our ears " . In February 1942 when Gott was promoted to lead XIII Corps Campbell was promoted major general and given command of 7th Armoured Division . He was killed three weeks later when his jeep overturned on a newly laid clay road surface . The driver of the jeep had been his Aide - de - Camp , Major Roy Farran who was thrown clear in the process and the other passengers knocked unconscious . Farran later admitted that he had considered suicide whilst awaiting rescue During the Western Desert Campaign Campbell was considered to be one of foremost commanders in the Eighth Army , an old desert hand who had been in North Africa from the start of the war . His loss was deeply felt by the soldiers of the Eighth Army . Further information . A memorial to Campbell stands in his old school , Sedbergh , commemorating his brave deeds . There is a plaque and bench on a seaside walk in his home town in his honour . Victoria Cross . His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum , Woolwich , England . The citation for the award was published in the London Gazette on 30 January 1942