This cap has been in my collection for some time and originally came from John Campbells family. The cap belonged to John Vaughan Campbell , VC, GMG, DSO (31 October 1876 – 21 May 1944).
Campbell was born in London. His father, Ronald George Elidor Campbell (1848–1879), was the second son of the 2nd Earl Cawdor and an army captain, was killed at the Battle of Hlobane in the Zulu War in 1879.
He was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before entering the Coldstream Guards in 1896. He served through the Second Boer War, in which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and twice mentioned in despatches.
Campbell was 39 years old, and a temporary lieutenant colonel commanding the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 15 September 1916 at Ginchy, France, during the Battle of the Somme, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell took personal command of the third line when the first two waves of his battalion had been decimated by machine-gun and rifle fire. He rallied his men and led them against the enemy machine-guns, capturing the guns and killing the personnel. Later in the day he again rallied the survivors of his battalion and led them through very heavy hostile fire. His personal gallantry and initiative at a very critical moment enabled the division to press on and capture objectives of the highest tactical importance.
Not mentioned in the citation but much reported in the popular press, by which he was dubbed the "Tally-Ho VC", is that he rallied his men under fire by blowing a hunting horn and giving the traditional hunting cry.
Later in November 1916, he achieved the temporary rank of brigadier general when he succeeded Major General Hugh Bruce Williams in command of the 46th (North Midland) Division's 137th (Staffordshire) Infantry Brigade.
In 1919 he was appointed aide-de-camp to King George V, a post held until he retired from the army in 1933, and was subsequently a member of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms until his death.
In the Second World War he was an honorary flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from 1939 to 1940, then from 1941 until his death commanded the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Home Guard. He died, aged sixty-seven, at his last home in Woodchester near Stroud, on 21 May 1944, and was cremated at Cheltenham Crematorium.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Coldstream Guards RHQ) in Wellington Barracks, London.
Citation- Victoria Cross
For most conspicuous bravery and able leading in an attack. Seeing that the first two waves of his battalion had been decimated by machine gun and rifle fire he took personal command of the third line, rallied his men with the utmost gallantry, and led them against the enemy machine guns, capturing the guns and killing the personnel. Later in the day, after consultation with other unit commanders, he again rallied the survivors of his battalion, and at a critical moment led them through a very hostile fire barrage against the objective. He was one of the first to enter the enemy trench. His personal gallantry and initiative at a very critical moment turned the fortunes of the day and enabled the division to press on and capture objectives of the highest tactical importance.
The cap itself has clearly been stored in a box for many years suffering from a few moth nicks and deteriorating leather to the exterior. However with the being said, the history behind this cap is second to none. Attributed to one of the most famous Victoria Cross recipients the 'Tally Ho' VC with his name clearly written on a paper label that was once inside the cap. Overall the cap is one of those once in a life time opportunity purchases where the provenance over rules some slight condition issues.
