Page 126 - They Also Served

In December 1942, Horrocks took command of X Corps, commanding it in the pursuit of the Afrika Korps and outflanking the German defences on the Mareth Line. Finally, in command of IX Corps, he captured Tunis and accepted the surrender of the remainder of Rommel’s forces. However, in June 1943, he was severely wounded during a surprise German air attack and spent 14 months in hospital. In August 1944, Horrocks returned to action in command of XXX Corps in the battle for Falaise and the advance on Antwerp. During the Battle of Arnhem, the corps failed to reach the besieged forces in
time, although the commander of the US 82nd Airborne Division wrote: ‘He was the finest general officer I met during the war and the finest corps commander’.
Horrocks was invalided in 1948 due to the effects of his wounds in both world wars. In 1949, he became Gentleman Usher of The Black Rod, overseeing the ceremonial aspects of the House of Lords, a position he held until 1963. In later life, Horrocks became the ‘go-to’ general for comments on military matters. He wrote extensively, presented television programmes on a wide variety of subjects, including interviewing veterans in Men in Battle and on medieval warfare in British Castles. He was also interviewed extensively for the series The World at War. In 1977, Horrocks acted as a consultant for the film A Bridge Too Far in which he was played by Edward Fox. Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks KCB KBE DSO MC died on 4th January 1985.
120