Product Description
Brigadier JC 'Jock' Campbell (BR888)
with mounted & dismount Jock Campbell with cut-down Ford Station Wagon, Observer team with Universal Carrier & crew.
John Charles ‘Jock’ Campbell was born in Thurso, Scotland in 1894. As a young man he joined the Royal Horse Artillery. In 1940 he was in Egypt with the 7th Armoured Division, commanding the artillery.
During Operation Compass British forces pursued the retreating Italians back into Libya. Campbell was put in command of the Royal Horse Artillery units of the division and sent ahead of the tanks. He joined the armoured cars of the 11th Hussars near Beda Fomm and outflanked the retreating Italians. Campbell’s men held the roadblock, pouring fire onto the Italians, which eventually led to the destruction of the Italian 10th Army. For his part in the battle Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
In September 1941 Campbell took command of the division’s support group (all the non-tank units) as acting Brigadier. On 21 November, during Operation Crusader, the 7th Armoured Division was attacked by two panzer divisions while defending the airfield at Sidi Rezegh. Campbell’s gunners and riflemen held their ground under repeated attacks. Wherever the fighting was hardest Campbell was there encouraging troops and directing the defence. He would join his guns, even lending a hand manning them, directing fire against panzer attacks. On one occasion he was heard to cry, “Here they come, let them have it!” as another volley of 25 pdr shells was sent towards the attacking Germans tanks.
The following day Campbell, impatient with the lack of tank support, set off in his car to remedy the situation. He found the 4th Armoured Brigade making their way towards the fight. He led the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment’s ‘Honey’ Stuart tanks into the fray in his Ford car. During the day’s fighting he was wounded, but he refused to be evacuated. However, Campbell was forced to finally withdraw his men on 23 November after the Germans had destroyed nearby brigades. For his actions at Sidi Rezegh Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross.
In February 1942 Campbell was promoted to command the 7th Armoured Division. Unfortunately he was killed just three weeks later when his Jeep overturned on a newly laid road.
Characteristics
Brigadier Jock Campbell is a Warrior and a Higher Command Transport team rated as Fearless Veteran. He is mounted in a cut-down Ford Station Wagon car.
You may field Jock Campbell in any Jock Column or other British force containing a Royal Horse Artillery Battery for +60 points.
Special Rules
Where Are Those Reserves?: Jock Campbell would often round up reserves himself to get them quickly into battle.
Once per game Jock Campbell may be removed from the table at the beginning of a turn after Reserves dice are rolled. In the following turn no Reserves dice are rolled, instead Jock Campbell returns to the table with one Reserve platoon, which is placed on the table as if it had arrived from Reserves.
There’s the Enemy, There!: Jock Campbell was at home in his field car racing forward to discover the enemy’s positions.
Jock Campbell uses the Eyes and Ears rules (see the rulebook) as if he were a Recce team.
Incredibly Brave: Jock Campbell led his men from the front, with no concern for his own life, racing forward with the tanks, in his car, while bullets were whizzing about him.
Jock Campbell and any platoon he joins passes Motivation Tests on a 3+.
Gunner of the RHA: Jock Campbell is a man of the Royal Horse Artillery and lends a hand with the guns when needed.
If Jock Campbell joins any Royal Horse Artillery Battery that did not move in the Movement Step the battery may re-roll failed rolls To Hit when shooting their OQF 18/25 pdr or OQF 25 pdr guns at teams up to 16”/40cm away. This rule does not apply to Artillery Bombardments.
Models are supplied unassembled and unpainted.
