Ma Fleur

Sir Robert Edward Laycock
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1927 – 1947
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Combined Operations Special Air Service Brigade Layforce
Battles/wars	Second World War Battle of France North African Campaign Battle of Crete
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Knight of the Venerable Order of St John
Other work	Governor of Malta Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire

Major General Sir Robert Edward Laycock KCMG, CB, DSO, KStJ (18 April 1907 – 10 March 1968) was a British soldier, most famous for his service with the commandos during World War II. Laycock is probably the model (in some respects) for Tommy Blackhouse in Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy.

Early life

Laycock was born in London on April 18, 1907, the eldest son of Brigadier General Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock (d. 1952), a Royal Artillery officer. His mother was Katherine Mary Hare (1872-1959), divorced wife of the 6th Marquess of Downshire (d. 1918), and herself granddaughter of the 2nd Earl of Listowel. (Katherine Laycock's great-grandson is the present Marquess). A sister Josephine (d. 1958) married 1927 the 2nd Baron Daresbury, and is grandmother of the present Baron.

Laycock was very fond of his father, who was knighted for his service in World War I.

Lockers Park and Eton College were followed by the Royal Military College Sandhurst and a commission in the Royal Horse Guards in 1927. Laycock was an intelligent man, well read.

Marriage followed in 1935, to Angela Claire Louise, daughter of William Dudley Ward, MP They had two sons and three daughters.

When World War II broke out a scientific bent caused Laycock to be appointed to the chemical warfare section of the British Expeditionary Force in France. This was a dead end position, and Laycock was sent back to Britain to staff college and missed the Battle of France.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes was appointed by Winston Churchill as head of Combined Operations in the summer of 1940, and he soon sent for Laycock, whom he knew by reputation. Academy award winning actor David Niven claimed that he introduced Laycock to the Commandos, as Laycock was a relative of his by marriage to Primula Susan Rollo. Laycock was a Captain in the Royal Horse Guards and had just received a posting to India. Niven claimed to have helped arrange an interview between him and Dudley Clarke, which resulted in another individual being assigned to India and Laycock forming Number 8 Commando.

Commandos: early days

Laycock was appointed by Keyes to the Commandos and was put in charge of raising one unit. He raised and trained a body of men, often drawing on his wide circle of friends. From the first, the outfit attracted men with initiative and enterprise, often those who could think along unorthodox lines. Mostly, the choices were good, but regular units sometimes used the opportunity to get rid of those who did not fit in. Much of the training was done in Western Scotland.

Troops from 3, 4, 7, 8 and 11 Commandos, organised as three 'Special Service' Battalions and collectively named Layforce) were sent to the Middle East in February 1941 under the command of Laycock in the rank of full Colonel. A fourth 'Special Service' Battalion formed from locally raised Commando (No 50 and 52 (Middle East) Commando) was added to the force on arrival and came under command of the newly raised 6 Division. An attack on the Italian island of Pantelleria was planned. This would have given Britain airfields to protect convoys passing through the central Mediterranean Sea. However the plan was overtaken by events.

Looking for a role, the Commandos were assigned to raid the Axis held port of Bardia in the Italian Colony of Libya. The raid produced few material results, but taught valuable lessons, especially about the need to move quickly. One indirect result was that the Germans temporarily pulled back a brigade sized battle group from the forward area to guard against future attacks.

The Greek island of Crete was under attack by German airborne troops and the British garrison was in danger of capture. Layforce was the only general reserve available to General Sir Archibald Wavell, the British Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East. It was sent to Crete at a time when the issue was in doubt, but when it arrived its mission was to cover the evacuation of British and Imperial forces.

Layforce arrived at Suda Bay on Crete on the night of April 26/27, 1941. They held a defensive position blocking the main road inland to Sphakia. They attracted heavy air attack. Laycock's personal assistant was the novelist, Evelyn Waugh, a personal friend who showed conspicuous bravery throughout.

Laycock's leadership throughout the Crete campaign was exemplary, on one occasion personally routing a night-time German attack on his headquarters, by jumping in a tank that happened to be nearby and driving over the invaders.

Both Waugh and Laycock were on the last British ship out of Crete, before it fell. The force lost 600 men in the campaign, a casualty rate of 75%.

Laycock also led the 1941 raid to capture General Erwin Rommel which failed with significant casualties, including Roger Keyes' son, Geoffrey Keyes, VC. Laycock escaped and made his way overland with Sergeant Jack Terry (Later awarded the MM and served with further distinction in the SAS and post-war in the British Metropolitan Police) to British forces, after two months behind enemy lines.

In 1942, Laycock returned to England as commander of the Special Air Service Brigade. He led his brigade in the assault on Sicily in 1943 and in the brutal Salerno campaign where his forces held the bridgehead for 11 days and suffered 50% casualties. He received the Distinguished Service Order for this service.

Chief of Combined Operations

In October, 1943 Laycock was promoted to major-general and succeeded Lord Louis Mountbatten as chief of Combined Operations, a position he held until 1947.

He then retired to his family home at Wiseton, Nottinghamshire, England where he managed his property.

Governor of Malta

In 1954, his old friend, Anthony Head, now Secretary of State for War appointed Laycock to the position of Commander-in-Chief and Governor of Malta.

This was during a period of tensions surrounding a drive for independence, with Dom Mintoff leading the campaign to remove the British presence. Laycock served until 1959, having had his term extended twice. His tenure has been judged a success.

Last years

Laycock's last years were good, though circulation problems meant constant pain in one leg. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire in 1962.

A noted horseman, yachtsman and book collector, Laycock's varied interests made him a man who could enjoy life. It was said that he had no enemies.

While walking back from Sunday church services on March 10, 1968, Laycock had a heart attack and died.

His estate was probated at 279,910 pounds sterling.

Family

Laycock was married in 1935 to Claire Angela Louise Dudley Ward (1916 - 1999), or Angela Clare Louise, or Angie,, younger daughter of The Right Honourable William Dudley Ward, Liberal MP for Southampton by his wife Freda Dudley Ward nee Winifred May Birkin, granddaughter of Sir Thomas Isaac Birkin, 1st Baronet. By his wife, he had two sons, and three daughters. His wife Angela, Lady Laycock, died in 1999.

Issue

1. Joseph William Peter Laycock (1938-bef. 16 December 1980), accidentally drowned with his eight-year-old daughter Flora in a boating accident on the river Thames, and was survived by two children. He married 1971 Eve Lucinda Fleming (b. 15 May 1947), better known as the actress Lucy Fleming, younger daughter of Peter Fleming, otherwise Lt. Col. (Robert) Peter Fleming, OBE (1907-1971) by his wife Dame Celia Johnson, actress (1908-1982). Lucy Fleming is a niece of Ian Fleming, creator of "James Bond", and has remarried.
2. Benjamin Richard Laycock (b. 1947); married 1971, and has issue 1 son and 2 daughters.
3. Edwina Ottilie Jane Laycock (b. 1936) has been twice married, and has issue by both marriages.
4. Emma Rose Laycock, now Lady Temple (b. 1943), married 1964 Sir Richard Chartier Carnac Temple, 5th Bt. (b. 1937), elder son and heir of Sir Richard Antony Purbeck Temple, 4th Bt., of The Nash, MC ( 1913- 5 December 2007) by his first wife Lucy Geils de Lotbinière, dau of Alain Joly de Lotbinière, of Montreal; they have issue, three daughters.
5. Katherine Martha Laycock (b. 1949); married 1969 David Mlinaric (b. 1939), interior designer and decorator , and has issue three children.

External links

• Leo Van Der Pas. Robert Laycock's Descendants, for an incomplete version of Laycock's descendants. Last accessed 18 January 2008.

Decorations

• Knight Commander Of The Order Of St Michael And St George; 1954
• Companion Of The Order Of The Bath; 1945
• Distinguished Service Order; 1943
• Knight Of The Order Of St John
• Commander Of The Legion Of Merit (United States)
• Commandeur Légion d'Honneur (France)
• Grand Officer Of The Order Of Orange Nassau With Swords (Netherlands)
• Commander With Star Of The Order Of St Olav (Norway)

Bibliography

• Dictionary of National Biography
• Commando, Peter Young; Ballantine Books, New York, 1969
• The Lost Battle, Crete 1941, Callum MacDonald, Pan Books, 2002