Patrick Brooking

Brooking was born on 4 April 1937. He was educated at Charterhouse School, a public boys boarding school.{{cite news|title=Major-General P. G. Brooking|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/major-general-p-g-brooking-8frtq6h98tn|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Times|date=29 January 2014}}

As part of National Service, Brooking was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps as a second lieutenant on 23 June 1956.{{London Gazette |issue=40863 |date=24 August 1956 |page=4908 |supp=y }} On 4 April 1958, he transferred to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and was promoted to lieutenant.{{London Gazette |issue=41389 |date=16 May 1958 |page=3168 |supp=y }} On 4 April 1964, he was promoted to captain.{{London Gazette |issue=43287 |date=31 March 1964 |page=2889 |supp=y }} Having attended the Staff College, Camberley, he was promoted to major on 31 December 1969.{{London Gazette |issue=45013 |date=5 January 1970 |page=216 |supp=y }}

He served with 39th Brigade in Belfast from 1974 to 1975 when he became commanding officer of his regiment.Debrett's People of Today 1994 He became an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley, in 1978, Chief of Staff of 4th Armoured Division in 1979 and commander of 33rd Armoured Brigade in 1982. He was appointed assistant chief of staff for UK Land Forces in 1984 and commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1985. Finally he became director-general of Army Manning & Recruiting in 1989.

He retired in 1990.

In retirement, Brooking became chairman of the British-German Association, a not-for-profit organisation devoted to forging links between the two countries.{{cite news|last=Tryhorn|first=Chris|title=Desmond seemed 'deranged'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/apr/23/pressandpublishing.dailyexpress2|accessdate=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 April 2004}} He also became deputy lieutenant of Wiltshire,{{cite news|title=Courageous officers receive police awards|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2003/5/22/154923.html|accessdate=29 January 2014|newspaper=Swindon Advertiser|date=22 May 2003}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Broderers from 2003 to 2004.{{cite web|title=Major General Patrick Brooking CB CMG MBE DL|url=http://www.broderers.co.uk/news/major-general-patrick-brooking-cb-cmg-mbe-dl|publisher=The Worshipful Company of Broderers|accessdate=26 February 2014}}

Brooking died on 22 January 2014 at the age of 76.{{cite news|title=Deaths – Brooking|url=http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/172939/brooking|accessdate=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 January 2014}}

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

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

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'.{{London Gazette |issue=46527 |date=24 March 1975 |page=3977 |supp=y }} In the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).{{London Gazette |issue=51365 |date=10 June 1988 |page=2 |supp=y }} 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'.{{London Gazette |issue=54625 |date=30 December 1996 |page=3 |supp=y }}

He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards on 22 March 1991,{{London Gazette |issue=52485 |date=25 March 1991 |page=4774 |supp=y }} transferring on 1 August 1992{{London Gazette |issue=53008 |date=3 August 1992 |page=13139 |supp=y }} following the amalgamation of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards to become the first Honorary Colonel of the resultant Royal Dragoon Guards.{{cite news|title=Court Circular|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/court-circular-1506689.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/court-circular-1506689.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Independent|date=26 November 1993}} On 3 February 1997, he became deputy lieutenant (DL) of the County of Wiltshire.{{London Gazette |issue=54680 |date=14 February 1997 |page=1925 }}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef|before=Bernard Gordon Lennox}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commandant, British Sector in Berlin|years=1985–1989}}

{{s-aft|after=Sir Robert Corbett}}

{{end}}

{{Commandants of Berlin Sectors}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooking, Patrick}}

Category:1937 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:People educated at Charterhouse School

Category:British Army major generals

Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards officers

Category:Academics of the Staff College, Camberley

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Wiltshire

Category:Royal Armoured Corps officers

Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of Berlin