Sir Ronald Brockman
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral
Sir Ronald Vernon Brockman, KCB
, KStJ, CSI, CIE
, CVO
, CBE
(8 March 1909 – 3 September 1999) served under Lord Mountbatten of Burma
and participated in accepting the surrender of the Japanese Fleet in 1945. Sir Ronald was the elder son of Engineer Rear-Admiral Henry Stafford Brockman CB
. He was descendant of the English Brockman
family, and was Gentleman Usher
to the Queen from 1967 to 1979.
in Dorset
and joined the Royal Navy
in 1927 as a Paymaster
Cadet
(later Supply Officer
). He served as the Assistant Secretary to the First Sea Lord
, Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Roger Backhouse from 1938 to 1939 and was promoted to Paymaster
Lieutenant-Commander in 1939. He was the Admiral's Secretary to Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Dudley Pound during World War II
from 1939 to 1943. Promoted to Paymaster
Commander in 1943, he served as Admiral's Secretary to Admiral of the Fleet
Lord Louis (Francis Albert Victor) Mountbatten
(Lord Mountbatten of Burma from 1946) from 1943 to 1959 and he was the Private Secretary to Mountbatten as Governor General of India from 1947 to 1948. Finally, he served as the Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff within the Ministry of Defence
from 1959 to 1965. He had been promoted to Captain (S) in 1953, to Rear-Admiral on 6 April 1963 with further promotion to Acting Vice-Admiral later the same year. Sir Ronald Brockman retired from the Royal Navy
in 1965 with the rank of Vice-Admiral. He was appointed KCB in 1965, CSI
1947, CIE
1946, CVO
1979 and CBE
1943. He was made a KStJ in 1985 and among his foreign awards were the Special Rosette of Cloud and Banner
(China) 1946, Chevalier Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre (France) 1946 and Bronze Star Medal (USA) 1947.
and also of the Order of the Indian Empire
. At his death, the Queen was represented by Sir Carron Grieg and the Duke of Edinburgh
was represented by Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Woodard
at a service of thanksgiving for Sir Ronald’s life and service. The Prince of Wales was represented by Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Morgan
.
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
Sir Ronald Vernon Brockman, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KStJ, CSI, CIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(8 March 1909 – 3 September 1999) served under Lord Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
and participated in accepting the surrender of the Japanese Fleet in 1945. Sir Ronald was the elder son of Engineer Rear-Admiral Henry Stafford Brockman CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
. He was descendant of the English Brockman
Brockman
The Brockman surname is not common, but has spread to several countries around the world. The name can be a topism combining "wet/water" and "man". However, in Old English and in heraldry a "brock" is also a badger, and some have claimed it to mean "broker". Thus, there may be multiple meanings of...
family, and was Gentleman Usher
Gentleman Usher
Gentleman Usher is a title for some officers of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. See List of Gentlemen Ushers for a list of office-holders.-Historical:...
to the Queen from 1967 to 1979.
Military service
Sir Ronald was educated at Weymouth CollegeWeymouth College
Weymouth College is a Further Education college located in Weymouth, England.The college has over 7,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many different subjects...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1927 as a Paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
(later Supply Officer
Supply Officer
Supply Officer was a specialisation in the British Royal Navy which has recently been superseded by the Logistics Officer, recognising the need to align with the nomenclature and function of similar cadres in the British Army and Royal Air Force...
). He served as the Assistant Secretary to the First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
, Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir Roger Backhouse from 1938 to 1939 and was promoted to Paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
Lieutenant-Commander in 1939. He was the Admiral's Secretary to Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir Dudley Pound during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1939 to 1943. Promoted to Paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
Commander in 1943, he served as Admiral's Secretary to Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Lord Louis (Francis Albert Victor) Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
(Lord Mountbatten of Burma from 1946) from 1943 to 1959 and he was the Private Secretary to Mountbatten as Governor General of India from 1947 to 1948. Finally, he served as the Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff within the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
from 1959 to 1965. He had been promoted to Captain (S) in 1953, to Rear-Admiral on 6 April 1963 with further promotion to Acting Vice-Admiral later the same year. Sir Ronald Brockman retired from the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1965 with the rank of Vice-Admiral. He was appointed KCB in 1965, CSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
1947, CIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
1946, CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
1979 and CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
1943. He was made a KStJ in 1985 and among his foreign awards were the Special Rosette of Cloud and Banner
Order of the Cloud and Banner
The Order of the Cloud and Banner is a military award of the Republic of China. It was instituted on June 15, 1935 and is awarded in nine grades for contributions to national security. It is also sometimes referred to as the Order of the Resplendent Banner....
(China) 1946, Chevalier Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre (France) 1946 and Bronze Star Medal (USA) 1947.
Personal life and death
Sir Ronald died on 3 September 1999, aged 90. He was the last surviving Companion of the Order of the Star of IndiaOrder of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
and also of the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
. At his death, the Queen was represented by Sir Carron Grieg and the Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
was represented by Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Woodard
Robert Woodard
Rear Admiral Sir Robert Woodard, KCVO, DL is a former Commander of the Royal Yacht Britannia.-Naval career:Educated at Lancing College, the school founded by his great-grandfather, Rev Nathaniel Woodard, Woodard joined the Royal Navy and specialised in aviation...
at a service of thanksgiving for Sir Ronald’s life and service. The Prince of Wales was represented by Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Morgan
Christopher Morgan (Royal Navy officer)
Vice Admiral Sir Christopher Morgan KBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary.-Naval career:...
.
Sources
- National Army Museum, London: The papers of Gen Sir Roy Bucher include correspondence with Brockman 1961-1972
- Times Newspapers Limited, Edition 1FWED 17 November 1999, Page 24 Vice-Admiral Sir Ronald Brockman;Memorial services;Court & Social
- Who's WhoWho's WhoWho's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
1998