Patrick Brooking

Brooking was born on 4 April 1937. He was educated at Charterhouse School, a public boys boarding school.[1]

As part of National Service, Brooking was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps as a second lieutenant on 23 June 1956.[2] On 4 April 1958, he transferred to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and was promoted to lieutenant.[3] On 4 April 1964, he was promoted to captain.[4] Having attended the Staff College, Camberley,[1] he was promoted to major on 31 December 1969.[5]

He served with 39th Brigade in Belfast from 1974 to 1975 when he became commanding officer of his regiment.[6] He became an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley, in 1978,[6] Chief of Staff of 4th Armoured Division in 1979 and commander of 33rd Armoured Brigade in 1982.[6] He was appointed assistant chief of staff for UK Land Forces in 1984 and commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1985.[6] Finally he became director-general of Army Manning & Recruiting in 1989.[6]

He retired in 1990.[6]

In retirement, Brooking became chairman of the British-German Association, a not-for-profit organisation devoted to forging links between the two countries.[7] He also became deputy lieutenant of Wiltshire,[8] and served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Broderers from 2003 to 2004.[9]

Brooking died on 22 January 2014 at the age of 76.[10]

In 1964 he married Pamala Mary Walford: they went on to have one son and one daughter.[6]

He was known as the 'Singing General' for his involvement in choral music. While stationed in Germany, he sang with the Berlin Philharmonic Choir.[1]

On 25 March 1975, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) 'in recognition of distinguished services in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August 1974 to 31 October 1974'.[11] In the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[12] In the 1997 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 'for services to UK-German relations in Berlin'.[13]

He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards on 22 March 1991,[14] transferring on 1 August 1992[15] following the amalgamation of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards[1] to become the first Honorary Colonel of the resultant Royal Dragoon Guards.[15][16] On 3 February 1997, he became deputy lieutenant (DL) of the County of Wiltshire.[17]