Robert Laycock
Sir Robert Laycock | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Laycock by William Timym, c.1943 | |
| Birth name | Robert Edward Laycock |
| Nickname(s) | Lucky |
| Born | 18 April 1907 Westminster, London, England |
| Died | 10 March 1968 (aged 60) East Retford, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1927–1965 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Service number | 37258 |
| Unit | Royal Horse Guards |
| Commands held | Layforce Special Service Brigade Combined Operations |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| 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 |
| Alma mater | Royal Military College, Sandhurst |
| Spouse(s) | Claire Angela Louise Dudley Ward
(m. 1935) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relations | Joseph Frederick Laycock (father) |
| 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 senior British Army officer, most significant for his service with the British Commandos during the Second World War.
Early life[]
Laycock was born in Westminster on 18 April 1907, the eldest son of Brigadier General Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock (died 1952)—an officer of the Royal Regiment of Artillery knighted for his services during the First World War—by his marriage on 14 November 1902 to Katherine Mary (Kitty) Hare (1872–1959), who was previously married to and divorced by the 6th Marquess of Downshire (died 1918),[1] and herself a granddaughter of William Hare, 2nd Earl of Listowel. Laycock was thus a half-brother of the 7th Marquess of Downshire; their sister Josephine (died 1958) married Edward Greenall, 2nd Lord Daresbury, and is grandmother of the present Baron.[citation needed] Through his father's relationship with the married Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick, issue occurring before and during his marriage with Kitty, Robert Laycock was half-brother to the Countess of Warwick's son Maynard Greville (1898-1960), and daughter, Mercy Greville (1904-1968).[1]
Laycock was educated at Lockers Park School and Eton College, followed by officer training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from which he emerged as a well-read young man with a scientific bent.[according to whom?] He also briefly worked in a factory.[citation needed]
Military career[]
In 1927, he was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards.[2] He served in the Second World War as a lieutenant-colonel with the commandos in North Africa, Crete, Sicily and Italy before being promoted to major-general and becoming Chief of Combined Operations in 1943.[2] He held that position until 1947.[2]
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.[2] This was during a period of tensions surrounding a drive for independence, with Prime Minister Dom Mintoff leading a campaign for "Integration (with Britain) or Self-Determination", and the Nationalist Party looking for a "Quasi-Dominion Status. Prior to his assuming the position of Governor, Queen Elizabeth knighted Laycock in the drawing room of Sledmere House, Yorkshire whilst staying as fellow house guests of Sir Richard Sykes, Baronet. Laycock served until 1959, having had his term extended twice.[citation needed]
Later years[]
Laycock suffered from severe circulatory problems, which meant constant pain in one leg. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire in 1962. A noted horseman, yachtsman and historical book collector, his interests made him a man who could enjoy life. It was said by many[by whom?] he had no enemies. While walking back from Sunday church services on 10 March 1968, Laycock suffered a massive heart attack and died. His estate was probated at £279,910.[citation needed]
Family[]
Laycock married Claire Angela Louise Dudley Ward (1916-1999) on 24 January 1935 at St Margaret's, Westminster. Dudley Ward was the younger daughter of William Dudley Ward, Liberal MP for Southampton by his wife Freda Dudley Ward, granddaughter of Sir Thomas Isaac Birkin, 1st Baronet. Laycock and Dudley Ward had two sons and three daughters.[3]
Children[]
- Edwina Ottilie Jane Laycock (born 1936) has been twice married, and has issue by both marriages.
- 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 (born 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.
- Benjamin Richard Laycock (born 1947); married 1971, and has issue 1 son and 2 daughters.
- Emma Rose Laycock, now Lady Temple (born 1943), married 1964 Sir Richard Chartier Carnac Temple, 5th Bt. (born 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.[4]
- Katherine Martha Laycock (born 1949); married 1969 David Mlinaric (born 1939), interior designer and decorator,[5] has three children.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Anand, Sushila (2008), Daisy: The Life and Loves of the Countess of Warwick, Piatkus. ISBN 978-0-7499-5169-6
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ^ Anonymous. obituary for her cousin Bindy Lambton, or the former Countess of Durham, published in the Daily Telegraph on 18 February 2003. [1]
- ^ Michael Rhodes, with supplements by Brooke. " Sir Richard Antony Purbeck Temple, 4th Baronet, MC (1913–2007)". "Peerage_News" group on Google, 8 December 2007. The baronetcy was created 1876 for Sir Richard Temple, 1st Baronet, a British India colonial administrator.
- ^ Portrait of David Mlinaric, National Portrait Gallery. Mlinaric notably redecorated Spencer House (Princess Diana's ancestral home in London) as well as all of Lord Rothschild's private residences. See Christopher Bagley, "The Rothschilds, photographs by Derry Moore, W Magazine, January 2008, p. 2
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
| show Civil Commissioners, Governors and Governors-General of Malta |
|---|
| show Authority control  |
|---|
- 1907 births
- 1968 deaths
- People from Westminster
- People educated at Eton College
- People educated at Lockers Park School
- Royal Horse Guards officers
- Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
- Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley
- British Army Commandos officers
- British Army generals of World War II
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Knights of the Order of St John
- Lord-Lieutenants of Nottinghamshire
- Commanders of the Legion of Merit
- Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur
- Grand Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Governors and Governors-General of Malta
- Military personnel from London