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Major-General Patrick Guy Brooking CB CMG MBE DL (4 April 1937 – 22 January 2014) was a British Army officer who served as commandant of the British Sector in Berlin.
Patrick Guy Brooking | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 April 1937 |
| Died | 22 January 2014 (aged 76) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1990 |
| Rank | Major-general |
| Service number | 448524 |
| Commands | 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards 33rd Armoured Brigade British Forces in Berlin |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Member of the Order of the British Empire |
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]
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