Date of birth:

April 18th, 1907 (London, Great Britain)

Date of death:

March 10th, 1968 (Wiseton/South Yorkshire, Great Britain)

Service number:

37258

Nationality:

British

Robert Laycock, the son of a knighted WW1 veteran, was educated at Eton College and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
He joined the Royal Horse Guards in March 1927 and became an instructor on anti-gas and air defence measures. He was sent to France, but when war broke out, his qualities were of little use and he was sent back to England and missed the Battle of France.
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes, appointed as Head of Combined Operations then asked Laycock to form a Commando unit and was put in charge of it. He formed three Service Battalions who were collectively named Layforce and were deployed in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Laycock's personal assistant was the novelist, Evelyn Waugh.
Laycock also led the 1941 Operation Flipper raid to capture General Erwin Rommel which failed with significant casualties, including Roger Keyes' son, Geoffrey Keyes, VC. Afterwards he was forced to hide in the desert behind enemy lines for two months
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.
In October, 1943 he replaced 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.
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.Laycock served until 1959, having had his term extended twice.
He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire in 1962.
While walking back from Sunday church services on March 10, 1968, Laycock had a heart attack and died.

January 29th, 1927: 2nd Lieutenant
January 29th, 1930: Lieutenant
June 2nd, 1934: Captain
October 11th,1940: Major (war sub)
January 29th, 1944: Major
May 6th, 1942: Lieutenant-Colonel (war sub)
October 22nd, 1943: Major-General (temp)
October 22nd, 1944: Colonel (war sub)
January 1st, 1946: Colonel

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Brigadier (temporary)

Unit:

Royal Horse Guards (Doncaster)

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1943

Recommendation:
"He led his Commando Brigade with great courage and drive on his left flank of a Canadian assault on the beaches. The spirited action of his Brigade flank a big part in the success of the Canadian operations – The personal courage under fire and calm leadership of Brigadier Laycock on his leaders was an inspiration to all ranks of his Brigade which contributed greatly to the success of this Commando."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Colonel (temporary Major-General

Unit:

Royal Horse Guards

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major-General (temporary)

Unit:

Royal Horse Guards

Awarded on:

January 16th, 1948

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major-General (temporary)

Unit:

late Royal Horse Guards

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1948

With Star.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major-General (temporary)

Unit:

late Cavalry

Awarded on:

November 19th, 1948

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36180 published on the 21 September 1943
  - Copy of the original recommendation signed by General Harold Alexander - Stiwot-archive
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36866 published on the 29 December 1944
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38178 published on the 13 January 1948
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38240 published on the 16 March 1948
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38288 published on the 11 May 1948
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38459 published on the 16 November 1948
  - Lord Alanbrooke - War Diaries 1939-1945
  - The Peerage
  - Unithistories