Brian Horrocks

An Army officer with more than 35-years-service, Brian Horrocks was educated at Uppingham School and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment in 1914. He took part in the opening battles of World War I and, within three months of the commencement of hostilities, he was captured during the Battle of Ypres and taken prisoner in October 1914. He stayed in captivity in Germany until his release in 1918. Shortly afterwards, however, Horrocks was back fighting again, this time against the Bolsheviks in Russia. He was subsequently injured in action, which resulted in him receiving a Military Cross.

In between the two World Wars, Horrocks enjoyed several military staff appointments. He also found time to compete in the modern pentathlon at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He returned to active service in 1939 and commanded his own regiment until 1942 when General Montgomery called him to command the 13th Corps of “Monty’s” 8th Army in the Western Desert. Towards the end of the war, Horrocks was seriously wounded and was hospitalised for many months in. He never fully recovered and, despite returning to action, eventually succumbed to his injuries and was invalided out of the Army in January 1949 with the rank of lieutenant-general. He was then appointed Gentleman Usher of Black Rod in the House of Lords (known simply as Back Rod). Horrocks held the post, which was inaugurated in the 14th century, for 14 years until June 1963.

Needing more in his life, Horrocks started writing articles and stories on military matters for newspapers and magazines, and later became a television personality talking on the same subject. His autobiography A Full Life was first published in 1960, with a second, revised, version in 1974.