"Lieutenant Evans ...ably seconded by Victor Campbell, first officer, commonly called The Mate, in whose hands the routine and discipline of the ship was most efficiently maintained.

After arriving in Antarctica in January 1911, his role was to lead an eastern party of six men to explore and carry out scientific work in King Edward VII Land, to the east of the Barrier.

After learning of the death of Scott and the entire Polar party, as the senior remaining naval officer, Campbell assumed command of the expedition for its final weeks.

During the First World War, Campbell fought as commander of the Drake Battalion in the Dardanelles campaign at Gallipoli—where he received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)—the Battle of Jutland and the Zeebrugge Raid on board HMS Warwick in 1918.

During the winter of 1918–1919, Campbell was posted to Murmansk in North Russia during the Archangel campaign, having been recommended by fellow Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton to help instruct British forces in the use of arctic equipment.