# Victor Campbell — The Worst Journey in the World character guide

> Victor Campbell in The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Victor Campbell, Campbell, Victor, Good old Victor, poor old Victor, Priestley, Campbell Priestley

**First appearance:** 0003-the-worst-journey-in-the-world

## Snapshot

Leader of the Northern Party, a naval officer whose separate command became a story of survival in its own right.

## Who they are

Campbell took his party north along the coast while Scott drove south, and the two groups lost contact with each other for long stretches of the expedition. Cherry writes of him with the warmth of shared ordeal, calling him 'good old Victor,' and the Northern Party's separate struggle becomes a parallel narrative of endurance. His fate matters because it keeps the reader aware that the polar drama was only one of several desperate stories unfolding at once.

## In the story

### [I: From England to South Africa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/i-from-england-to-south-africa)

Campbell served as first officer and sighted South Trinidad Island from the fore yardarm.

### [II: Making Our Easting Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/ii-making-our-easting-down)

Campbell is trusted by Scott to lead the Northern Party. He calmly handles a squall that threatens the mast, pacing the bridge with a smile while the crew waits.

### [The Return of the Dog Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/the-return-of-the-dog-party)

Leads the Eastern Party, discovers Amundsen's camp at the Bay of Whales, and interviews the night watchman.

### [XIX: Never Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/xix-never-again)

Mentioned as the leader of a party that self-extricated and survived, contrasting with the polar party's fate.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

A photograph of Campbell with Raymond Priestley is listed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/characters/campbell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/characters