Ronald Brockman

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Sir Ronald Brockman (1909–1999) served under Lord Mountbatten and participated in accepting the surrender of the Japanese Fleet in 1945/46. Sir Ronald was the elder son of Engineer Rear-Admiral Henry Stafford Brockman CB. He was descendant of the English Brockman family. At his death, the Queen was represented by Sir Carron Grieg and the Duke of Edinburgh was represented by Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Woodward 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 Sir Ronald Brockman was Gentleman Usher to the Queen from 1967–79.

[edit] Military Service

Sir Ronald was educated at Weymouth College, 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 1938–1939 and was promoted to Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander in 1939. He was the Admiral's Secretary to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound during WWII from 1939–1943. Promoted to Paymaster Commander in 1943, he served as Admiral's Secretary to Admiral of the Fleet Lord Louis (Francis Albert Victor) Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma 1943–1959 and he was the Private Secretary to Lord Mountbatten as Governor General of India 1947–1948. Finally, he served as the Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff within the Ministry of Defence 1959–1965. 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. 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.

[edit] Sources

King's College London, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, Survey of the Papers of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900-1975
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 Who 1998