LAYCOCK, Robert Edward
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Born 1907; educated at Eton College and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; joined Royal Horse Guards, Mar 1927, 2nd Lt, 1927; Lt 1930; Capt 1934; married Angela Claire Louise (née Dudley Ward), 1935; instructor on anti-gas and air defence measures, School of Military Engineering, Chatham, Dec 1937; General Staff Officer, Grade 3 (passive air defence) in department of Chief of Imperial General Staff, Dec 1938; General Staff Officer, Grade 2, chemical warfare section, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters, France, 1939-1940; joined Combined Operations, 1940; Lt Col 1941; commanded Special Service Brigade LAYFORCE, Feb-Aug 1941 and Middle East Commando, Aug 1941-Aug 1942; Brig, 1942; commanded Special Service Brigade, organizing and training all commandos in Britain, 1942-1943; Maj Gen 1943; Chief of Combined Operations, Oct 1943-1947; retired 1947; Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Malta, 1954-1959; Col Commandant, Special Air Service (SAS) and Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, 1960-1968. Died 1968.
Written by Maj. Gen. J.C. Haydon CB, DSO, OBE.
"Bob Laycock died in March 1968 at the age of only 60, with so much still to give to life and to people, and with so much yet to do had he been spared to us. He is a grevous loss.
Liddell Hart Military Archives, King's College Collection, ref. GB0099 KCLMA Laycock.
DSO: London Gazette 36180.
Order of St John: London Gazette 36866.
KStJ : London Gazette 40378.
Colonel Commandant SAS: London Gazette 42004.
Obituary in Commando Association newsletter 47 issued September 1968.
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