The life of Thurso native General John 'Jock' Charles Campbell, 80 years after his untimely death
Thurso's Heritage by a Thirsa Loon
This month is the 80th anniversary of the death of General John “Jock” Charles Campbell, VC, DSO & Bar, MC. So I thought I would take a look at his family background and a brief look at his life.
John’s grandfather, Daniel, had moved to Thurso during his youth and began an apprenticeship with George Dunnet, a draper. Daniel would start his own successful drapers and marry George’s daughter Catherine in 1851. Walter Budge later owned the shop, and it is now used by Pentland Housing Association.
Their son, Daniel, a Commission Agent, married his wife Marion (née Mackay), a sister of Provost William Mackay, on December 29, 1890 in Calcutta, India. The couple’s son, John Charles, was born on January 10, 1894 at 12.15pm in the back bedroom of the house above what was Sinclair’s Shoe Shop in Traill Street.
John’s education began at the Miller Institution. Reminiscing, Provost William Brims said that John was a “very popular boy and made many friends here [in Thurso] in his youth”. He also worked the family business until he went to Evans House, Sedbergh School in Cumbria from 1907 to 1912. Here he played in the Evans house rugby and cricket teams. At the beginning of the First World War in August 1914, he joined the Honourable Artillery Company and, the following year, was commissioned in the Royal Artillery.
Campbell would go on to have a remarkable career in the army. His bravery during the war deserves its own separate article. Still, to summarise briefly, he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1915 during World War I.
Then the bar to the DSO in 1940, the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1941, and the Victoria Cross (VC) in 1942. His brilliant command of one of the mobile all-arms flying columns, when greatly outnumbered during fighting with Italians, led to them being named “Jock Columns”.
The “idol of every man in the Eighth Army” would lose his life because of an accident. In February 1942, he had been promoted to Major-General and given command of the 7th Armoured Division. Just three weeks later, on the February 26, the Jeep he was travelling in overturned on a newly laid clay road. Major Roy Farran, who was driving and Campbell’s Aide-de-camp plus the other passengers, were thrown clear of the wreck and knocked unconscious.
Campbell, who had been at the forefront of military action on various occasions, was the only one killed. He was survived by his wife, Rosamond (née Rhodes), whom he married in 1922, and two daughters, Rosita and Diana.
On March 9, the news broke with regret that was “felt more poignant in his native town of Thurso”. It seemed somewhat strange that through everything he had survived, including 17 bomber and 24 fighter attacks in one day in an open truck, that he would lose his life in such a way.
In 1950, Provost John Sinclair was appointed chair of a committee to raise money for seats to commemorate Sir William Smith, Robert Dick and John Campbell. The seats were designed by Hugh MacDonald, architect, and paid for by the public.
The seats still overlook Thurso Bay from Victoria Walk, a small reminder of their achievements. And, with John, his bravery, like so many others, during times of conflict.