Bob was also looked up to by his subordinates. He was much less classconscious than many of his background and always got on well with the other ranks. He certainly had his difficulties with some officers, Lovat being the supreme example, but was nevertheless respected by them. It was said of him that he lacked personal ambition, although there seems little doubt, in spite of his denials, that his opposition to the reorganization of the Commandos under what was effectively Royal Marine control in 1943 was motivated in part by its impact on his own career. He certainly did not put himself forward to succeed Mountbatten as CCO; indeed, his appointment came as much of a surprise to him as to everyone else.
As CCO, Bob found himself in a difficult position. He was over twenty years younger than Brooke and Cunningham but, although he did not have the same status on the Chiefs of Staff Committee as Mountbatten, he nevertheless had to ensure that his views were heard and his recommendations acted upon. He earned their and Portal’s respect by mastering his brief and by standing up for what he believed was the right course of action.
Bob was not infallible and, in particular, there must be a question mark over his selection of some subordinates. His choice of officers for 8 Commando was based on his assessment of what this totally new type of unit would require, together with his belief that war was, for the most part, a boring affair, so that one might as well wage it amongst friends. Those selected certainly turned out to be amusing, but too many were to prove completely unsuitable for special service, although there were some notable exceptions amongst the junior officers, notably Stirling, Lewes, Courtney and Jellicoe. Bob’s tolerance of Randolph Churchill is understandable given his longstanding relationship with Randolph’s father and, although there is no specific evidence to support this other than the fact that Randolph was in frequent contact with the Prime Minister, it may well have helped his own career. His patronage of Evelyn Waugh is more puzzling: Bob clearly found him an amusing companion, but Waugh was a fish out of water in all other respects, and his retention for so long in the Special Service Brigade did not go down well with many of its officers. It may, however, be said that Bob gave loyalty just as much as he received it.
Bob has certainly not been immune from criticism, and not just over Crete. Tommy Macpherson, who served in 11 Commando and was captured whilst carrying out a reconnaissance for Operation FLIPPER, wrote much later that Bob ‘developed a reputation for endeavouring to take the credit for anything that was successful and distancing himself for anything that was not.’2 This is puzzling, as there was little to take credit for at the time. One exception was 11 Commando’s action on the Litani, and Bob was subsequently quite explicit that he himself had nothing to do with it, although he did use it as an example of what Commandos could achieve. Bob’s report on FLIPPER, whilst certainly inaccurate as to the events in Beda Littoria, made no attempt to exonerate himself; indeed, it makes it clear that he himself was taking the decisions and was thus responsible for the outcome.
With the exception of the five years in Malta, where he did well in very difficult circumstances, Bob’s post-war life was somehow wasted. Forty was far too early an age at which to retire, as he had skills, experience and connections which could have been put to full-time use in any number of ways. His choice, however, was not an unusual one at that time in the stratum of society to which he and Angie belonged, and it would have provoked no criticism. It did enable them to spend a lot of time with their friends, and friendship was always highly valued by Bob.
Bob was sustained throughout his life by his family, which was exceptionally close. His father was the dominant influence up to the time of his marriage. From then onwards, however, this role passed to Angie. Their marriage could hardly be described as turbulent, but there were moments of difficulty, as both had strong characters, attractive personalities and an occasionally roving eye. Bob voiced his concerns on several occasions about some of Angie’s friendships, but, in spite of the difference in their ages, the marriage proved to be robust, and Angie went on to make a particularly important contribution to Bob’s role as Governor of Malta.
Bob took his professions as soldier and colonial administrator very seriously, but not life as a whole; indeed, he was able to find the humorous or the ridiculous in most situations, even if they were very difficult ones. His wit can be clearly seen in his memoirs and even more so in the letters to his children, often written in verse. By way of example, after Angie had nearly caused a domestic disaster, he wrote to Martha:
She failed to see the consequences dire,
Which must result if sofa, stuffed with hair,
Is placed some inches from th’electric fire
And this is then turned on – Oh Woe! The air
Was filled with flames and smoke. We had to shout
For help to put the conflagration out.3
Another example was his custom at Christmas of sending anonymously 200 cigarettes and a bottle of whisky to the person who had bored him most that year. One of Bob’s favourite authors was P. G. Wodehouse, and he accepted Evelyn Waugh in 8 Commando largely on the strength of his enjoyment of Waugh’s early novels. On the other hand, he described Officers and Gentlemen as ‘screamingly funny in parts, but pretty bloody on the whole’,4 regretting that the author no longer stuck to comic themes but ‘always has a mission’.5
As Bob never went on to higher command in the field or in grand strategy, it is impossible to include him amongst the truly great soldiers of the Second World War. His position in history instead derives from his contribution to the evolution of the Commandos from their uncertain beginnings into the elite and highly specialized force we know today. From the early 1940s, when the Army Commandos were struggling to identify their proper function, often against vigorous opposition from those in high places who deplored their unorthodoxy, to 1946, when it was decided to retain a force of Royal Marines to continue the role at which all the Commandos had subsequently proved so adept, Bob was intimately involved, as a unit and then a formation commander and later as the man in overall control of the whole force.
The final words belong to one who was undoubtedly a great wartime figure, Admiral of the Fleet the Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope. As C-in-C Mediterranean and subsequently as a member of the Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee, Cunningham was the most senior officer who had seen Bob in his two main roles, as a Commando leader and as Chief of Combined Operations, and he clearly recognized his quality. On his retirement as First Sea Lord in 1946, Cunningham wrote in reply to Bob’s valedictory letter:
It is pleasant to look back on those stirring times in the Middle East. I well remember my first meeting with you and how highly I regarded your exploits in those days. May I say that I am very proud to have been associated with you then & later in conference, there is no one I know of who deserves better of his fellow countrymen than one I shall always regard as a ‘very parfait gentle knight’.6
Appendix
Directive to the Chief of Combined Operations 28 November 1943
1. You are appointed Chief of Combined Operations.
General Responsibility
2. Under the general direction of the Chiefs of Staff you will:-
(a) Study practical and technical problems of combined operations including small scale raids and formulate doctrine and staff requirements.
(b) Advise on all aspects of planning and training for combined operations.
(c) Co-ordinate basic training policy for amphibious operations for all three Services, and control Combined Training Centres in the United Kingdom.
(d) Direct and press forward research and development in all forms of technical equipment including craft peculiar to Combined Operations.
(e) Co-ordinate the development of communications material and intercommunication technique in amphibious warfare.
(f) Control the Special Service Group except during such times as the whole or part of it is handed over to a Force Commander for operations.
3. In order to fulfil these responsibiliti
es you will give advice to the Chiefs of Staff on matters set out in paragraph 2 above and will be available to attend the Chiefs of Staff Committee when required. In addition you will have direct access to the Minister of Defence on all matters for which you are responsible.
Planning
4. You will be available to give technical advice upon all planning for Combined Operations at all stages. Commanders and Staffs will be informed of your functions and will be requested to take advantage of the facilities you provide.
5. In the case of operations in North-West Europe which are carried out by the Special Service Group only, you will appoint the Commander of the Special Services Troops, who will prepare detailed plans, with your advice, for submission to S.A.C. or COSSAC.
Training
6. You will:-
(a) Be responsible for co-ordinating the teaching of such Combined schools of instruction or Combined training establishments as it may be found necessary to set up in the United Kingdom, except those established by Force Commanders when your functions will be advisory.
(b) Command the Combined Training Centres at which the basic training of formations and units in combined operations will be carried out under their Commanders, and with the technical advice of the staffs of the Centres. This advice will be your responsibility.
(c) Advise, as required, Force Commanders, subsequent to their appointment for an operation, on the technical training of their forces. It is equally incumbent on them to seek your advice on this matter.
Special Service Group
7. The Special Service Group will be under your control. The appropriate Service Ministries will, however, continue to provide through your Headquarters the necessary administrative facilities. Beyond such tasks as you may allot to them, e.g. at the various centres of instruction, these troops will be available for specific combined operations when you will place them under the Commander appointed for that operation.
Co-ordination and Liaison
8. In addition to your responsibilities in the United Kingdom, you will also be responsible for the co-ordination of development in combined assault training and techniques among British authorities overseas, and for ensuring so far as possible the adoption of a common doctrine by Allied authorities both in the U.K. and overseas.
Abbreviations
AA Anti-Aircraft
AA&QMG Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General
ACIGS Assistant Chief of the General Staff
ADC Aide-de-Camp
AFHQ Allied Forces Headquarters
AFV Armoured Fighting Vehicles
AGRM Adjutant-General Royal Marines
ALFSEA Allied Land Forces South-East Asia
BEF British Expeditionary Force
BGS Brigadier General Staff
BOAC British Overseas Airways Corporation
CAS Chief of the Air Staff
CB Companion of the Order of the Bath
CBF Commando Benevolent Fund.
CCO Chief of Combined Operations
CIGS Chief of the Imperial General Staff
C-in-C Commander-in-Chief
CMG Companion of the Order of St Michael & St George
CO Commanding Officer
COHQ Combined Operations Headquarters
COS Chief of Staff
COSSAC Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander (Designate)
COXE Combined Operations Experimental Establishment
CRA Commander Royal Artillery
CTC Combined Training Centre
DAA&QMG Deputy Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster General
DCIGS Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff
DCO Director of Combined Operations
DSO Distinguished Service Order
DUKW 6-wheeled amphibious vehicle
GCB Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
GHQ General Headquarters
GOC General Officer Commanding
GOC-in-C General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
GOCO General Officer Combined Operations
GSO1 General Staff Officer Grade 1
GSO2 General Staff Officer Grade 2
GSO3 General Staff Officer Grade 3
HCTR Household Cavalry Training Regiment
HMAS His Majesty’s Australian Ship
HMS His (or Her) Majesty’s Ship
HMT Hired Maritime Transport
HQ Headquarters
IA Inter-Allied
IO Intelligence Officer
ISTDC Inter Services Training & Development Centre
JSM Joint Staff Mission
KCB Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
KCMG Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael & St George
LCA Landing Craft (Assault)
LCI(L) Landing Craft Infantry (Large)
LCM Landing Craft Mechanised
LCP(L) Landing Craft Personnel (Large)
LHA Liddell Hart Archives
LRDG Long Range Desert Group
LSI Landing Ship Infantry
MC Military Cross
MNBDO Mobile Naval Base Defence Organization
MP Member of Parliament
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NCO Non-commissioned Officer
NLO Naval Liaison Officer
OCTU Officer Cadet Training Unit
OTC Officers Training Corps
PIAT Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank
psc Passed Staff College
PT Physical Training
RA Royal Artillery
RAMC Royal Army Medical Corps
RAOC Royal Army Ordnance Corps
RASC Royal Army Service Corps
RAF Royal Air Force
RE Royal Engineers
RHA Royal Horse Artillery
RM Royal Marines
RMC Royal Military College
RMS Royal Mail Ship
RN Royal Navy
RNVR Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
RTU Returned to Unit
SACSEA Supreme Allied Commander South-East Asia
SAS Special Air Service
SBS Special Boat Squadron
SEAC South-East Asia Command
SO Staff Officer
SOE Special Operations Executive
SRS Special Raiding Squadron
SS Steam Ship
TEWT Tactical Exercise Without Troops
VC Victoria Cross
VCIGS Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff
WAAF Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Acknowledgements
My thanks must go first and foremost to Bob’s children, Emma Temple, Ben Laycock and Martha Mlinaric, who have been consistently supportive whilst at the same time accepting that I would have a free hand in writing a biography of their father. As well as giving me their personal reminiscences of Bob and Angie and some very useful background on the family, they unearthed a treasure trove of diaries, memoirs, letters, privately published books and other papers which have never been in the public domain. They also produced many of the photographs which I have used to illustrate Bob’s life. Some of the most valuable material was produced by Michael Davis, Tilly Davis’ son, who lives in the United States and arranged for it to be brought over to the UK, for which I am most grateful.
I regard it as a great honour that Major General Julian Thompson has agreed to write the Foreword. Julian is not only an eminent historian in his own right, but probably the most famous living Commando soldier, having led 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands campaign in 1982 and, indeed, acted as ground force commander for the initial landings and engagements. By that time 3 Commando Brigade was no longer an exclusively Royal Marine formation, but included army units in the shape of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers. However, it was also reinforced for the duration of the campaign by two battalions of the Parachute Regiment and, most pertinently, by two reconnaissance troops of the Blues and royals, the successor to Bob’s own regiment.
> For information on Bob’s early schooldays I must thank Roger Stephens, whose career of over fifty years at Lockers Park has left him with an encyclopedic knowledge of its Old Boys. The Library at Eton College was as efficient as always and I would like to thank the Archivist, Eleanor Cracknell, for making my visit there so successful. Anthony Morton, Curator of the Sandhurst Collection, helped me to find the relevant information on Bob’s time at the RMC.
Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner, who was himself commissioned into the Blues and Royals and is the author of the definitive book on the Household Cavalry, answered a number of queries on the Royal Horse Guards between the two world wars and helped me to correct some misconceptions. Stuart Madden and Ted Land of the Household Cavalry Museum and Archives at Combermere Barracks directed me towards the few sources of information on Bob’s early career in the Army, other than his diary.
I am most grateful to Viscount Head, the son of Antony Head, whose career path kept crossing Bob’s and who was probably his closest friend both in and out of the Army, for his help and particularly for allowing me to use a number of photographs.
As far as the Commandos were concerned, the outstanding contributor was Desirée Roderick, to whom I am deeply indebted for allowing me to interview her and following this up with a number of letters. Mrs Roderick’s first husband, Captain R. F. Broome, served initially in 2 Commando under Bob at Salerno, where sadly he became one of the many fatalities. Her brother, Captain Joe Houghton, also of 2 Commando, was the second-in-command of Operation MUSKETOON in Norway, but although the operation was successful, he was taken prisoner and later executed under Hitler’s Commando Order. Mrs Roderick’s second husband, Captain, later Doctor John Roderick, also served in 2 Commando and was taken prisoner at St Nazaire.
Mrs Roderick’s mother was one of the founders of the No. 2 Commando Next of Kin Association and subsequently became a Trustee of the Commando Benevolent Fund. Mrs Roderick herself became a Trustee of the CBF in 1973 and its Honorary Secretary in 1986; her daughter Angela, who was Angie’s god-daughter, followed her mother and grandmother as a Trustee in 1983. Mrs Roderick was thus able to talk from personal experience about many of the leading figures in the Commandos and was also most helpful in referring me to some useful sources.
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