Robert Laycock

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Sir Robert Edward Laycock , KCMG , CB , DSO , KStJ (born April 18, 1907 in London - † March 10, 1968 ) was a major-general in the British Army who became famous for his service in British commandos during World War II .

Early years

Laycock was born as the eldest son of Brigadier General Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock and his wife Katherine Mary Hare (1872-1959) in London. Laycock was a half-brother of the seventh Marquess of Downshire. Laycocks father was for his service in the First World War to defeat Knight .

Laycock went to Lockers Park School and later attended Eton College . He then began officer training at the Royal Military College Sandhurst , which he completed as an extremely well-read, young man with a strong, scientific understanding. In the meantime he worked in a factory.

Military career

In 1927 he became a member of the royal bodyguard. During World War II, he served as a lieutenant colonel with British commandos in North Africa , Crete , Sicily and Italy before being promoted to major general and chief of combined operations in 1943 . He held this office until 1947.

R. Laycock in 1943
Laycock inspects naval commands shortly before they land in Normandy

Governor of Malta

In 1954 Laycock was appointed Commander-in-Chief and Governor of Malta by his old friend and then Secretary of War, Anthony Head . This happened during a tense period in Great Britain , in which Dom Mintoff launched a campaign to give Malta independence and to end the British occupation. Laycock served until 1959 after his term was extended twice.

Late years

Laycock suffered from circulatory problems caused by war-related, chronic leg pain throughout his life. In 1962 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. In his last years he was known as a respected rider, sailor and book collector. He was said to have had no enemies. After going to church on Sunday March 10, 1968, he suffered a heart attack, which resulted in his death. His considerable fortune at the time was estimated at £ 279,910 .

family

Laycock was married in 1935 to Claire Angela Louise Dudley Ward (1916-1999), the youngest daughter of The Right Honorable and Liberal William Dudley Ward, Member of Parliament of Southampton. Laycock and his wife had two sons and three daughters. His wife Angela, Lady Laycock, died in 1999.

Awards

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Liddell Hart Center for Military Archives
  2. ↑ Anonymous. obituary for her cousin Bindy Lambton, or the former Countess of Durham , published in The Daily Telegraph on February 18, 2003.
personal data
SURNAME Laycock, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Laycock, Robert Edward (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British officer
DATE OF BIRTH April 18, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH London , England
DATE OF DEATH March 10, 1968