Brian Horrocks

Sir Brian Horrocks, (September 7, 1895 - January 4, 1985) was a British military officer. He is chiefly remembered as the commander of British XXX Corps in Operation Market Garden.

Horrocks was born the son of an Indian army officer and, like many sons of officers, received his education in a boarding school in England. When the First World War broke out he enlisted as an officer and was posted to France. Horrocks was wounded and captured at the Battle of Ypres and spent the next four years as a prisoner of war.

After the war Horrocks was posted to Russia as part of the British mission during the Russian Revolution. Horrocks was again captured by the Red Army and spent the next ten months as a prisoner, narrowly surviving a severe case of typhus. Horrocks spent the remainder of the inter-war years in a variety of postings.

When war broke out Horrocks was again sent to France and commanded a Battalion during the retreat to Dunkirk as part of the British 3rd Infantry Division under Bernard Montgomery.

In 1942 Horrocks was given command of the 9th Armoured Division and was sent to North Africa as part of the Eighth Army, where he again served under Montgomery. He served as XIII Corps commander during the Second Battle of Alamein.

Horrocks was injured during an air raid in North Africa and spent the next 14 months recovering. On his return to service Montgomery requested him to take commmand of the British XXX Corps during the battle around the Falaise gap. During Operation Market Garden Horrocks narrowly failed to reach Arnhem to relieve the British 1st Airborne Division.

XXX Corps were ordered to advance as part of Operation Veritable, during which the German Army was forced back over the Rhine. XXX Corps fought through Germany and eventually captured Bremen, exposing the Sandbostel concentration camp.

After the war Horrocks continued to serve in the Army until 1949 when he was invalided out. After this he served as Black Rod, wrote his memoirs and was a director.

Horrocks is remembered as one of the most dependable British Generals of the Second World War and was well regarded by soldiers under his command and by his superiors.

References

• Churchill's Generals, Edited by John Keegan. ISBN 0349113173
• A Full Life, by Sir Brian Horrocks. ISBN 0850521440