Brigadier Heathcoat-Amory

Brigadier Heathcoat-Amory

Brigadier Roderick Heathcoat-Amory, who died on 27th July 1998, aged 91 was awarded an immediate MC at El Alamein in 1942. He was originally recommended for an immediate DS0 with endorsements by his Brigade Commander and the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces, General Alexander. But the award was downgraded to an MC by General Montgomery, commanding the 8th Army. On the night of November 1 1942, Heathcoat-Amory was in command of a squadron of the Royal Dragoons, who broke through the enemy minefields at Alamein. It took until daylight before they were clear of the minefields, but Heathcoat-Amory pushed on to his objective through enemy positions, regardless of the opposition. Under his direction, the squadron was subsequently responsible for the destruction of more than 100 enemy transport vehicles, a tank and several guns; and they also captured of a very large number of prisoners. The citation for his MC commended Heathcoat-Amory's conspicuous ability and devotion to duty throughout this hazardous operation covering four days behind the enemy lines".

Roderick Heathcoat-Amory was born on January 30 1907, the fourth son of Sir Ian Murray Heathcoat-Amory, Ind Bt. The second son, Derick would become Chancellor of the Exchequer under Harold Macmillan, in 1958, and the first (and last) Viscount Amory in 1960. Roderick’s great- great grandfather John Heathcoat, who in 1808 had invented the bobbin net machine, a revolutionary mechanism for making silk and cotton nets, had started the family firm of Heathcoat and Co. In 1816, the Luddites, fearing the machinery would put men out of work, destroyed 55 machines at Heathcoat's plant at Loughborough. As a result, he moved to the more peaceful area of Devon, taking his workforce with him. A man of vision and a model employer, he built up a prosperous business near Tiverton. Young Roderick began his education at Ludgrove preparatory school. His parents visited him just once during his five years there, but that was unexceptional in those days. At Eton he paid insufficient attention to his studies, and failed to get up to Christ Church, Oxford.

Having heard good reports of New Zealand, Heathcoat-Amory decided to go there to make his fortune. Discouraged by his failure to do so in a short time, he came home and joined the Army, obtaining a commission via the Supplementary Reserve. After passing the necessary examination, he was granted a regular commission in the Royal Dragoons. He went out to join the regiment in India, at Secunderabad, where he enjoyed polo, pig-sticking and shooting although, as he would firmly point out, military training began at 6.30am and continued until lunchtime: One incident from his time in India always stuck in his mind. He recalled how during a military review at Delhi, the Viceroy's wife, Lady Willingdon, sent for the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Phillip Chetwode, and said she thought there should be more entertainment. Might it be possible, Lady Willingdon wondered, for a wild animal fight to be arranged? “Certainly your Excellency”, replied Chetwode. “Shall I apply to the Bishop of Lahore for some Christians to throw to them!” This, Heathcoat-Amory recalled, did little to improve an already frosty relationship.

In 1935, as Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia threatened a wider war, the regiment left India for Egypt. But in the event the situation quietened down, and in 1936 Heathcoat-Amory returned to England, making the most of the chance to hunt with the Warwickshire and to hone his skill as a pilot. In 1938, the regiment was sent to Palestine to deal with the Arab rebellion, but by the time war broke out the next year Heathcoat-Amory was back in England, halfway through the Long Equestrian Course at Weedon. After an unsuccessful attempt to transfer to the RAF (for which he was already too old), he was posted back to Palestine where the regiment was then being mechanised. In May 1941, equipped with armoured cars, the Royals were sent to the Western Desert, to carry out reconnaissance duties and to harass the Germans. Soon afterwards they were posted to Syria to take preventive action against the Vichy, pro-German government of that country During a patrol in Syria, Heathcoat-Amory's armoured car overturned on a sand dune, landing on top of him and breaking all his ribs on one side and three on the other. While convalescing, he had a part-time job as Liaison Officer with the Polish Brigade, after which he returned to the regiment in February 1942.

In June and July 1941, the Royals were engaged in the Gazala battles, where the 8th Army was out-fought by the superior guns and tanks of the Germans, and retreated to the El Alamein position. Here Heathcoat-Amory was given command of ‘C’ Squadron, took part in the victory at Alam Halfa at the end of August, and on November 1 was given the task of leading the way through the German minefields at Alamein. After Alamein, the Royals were in the van of the Army's drive to Tunisia, but here Heathcoat-Amory went down with nephritis, and was evacuated to hospital in Alexandria. He recovered in time to land at Taranto, Italy, in September 1943, but as the front there was static, the Royals were posted back to England to be re-equipped and trained for the North West Europe campaign. At the end of July 1944, they landed in Normandy and became the Advanced Guard of l2 Corp, then of 30 Corp, and were involved in the battle to reach Arnhem. The regiment saw some tough fighting in Holland, crossed the Rhine, fought its way up to Bremen, and at the end of the war had the task of disarming the 120, 000 German troops in Denmark. At the end of the North West Europe campaign, Heathcoat-Amory was mentioned in despatches. Heathcoat-Amory's next appointment was to command and then disband the North Irish Horse, followed by a similar assignment with 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment. This melancholy task over, he was sent to the Staff College, Camberley. In January 1949, he was given command of his regiment. Heathcoat-Amory's final appointment was the command of 11th Armoured Brigade, TA, in Yorkshire. He retired in 1958 and settled in Yorkshire, where he was Joint Master of the Sinnington Hounds for 12 years, helped with the point-to-point races and the Pony Club, and also served on the rural District Council. In 1971, he was High Sheriff. A lover of all outdoor sports .Heathcoat-Amory caught his first salmon at the age of 90. He had a deep love of nature and after the war made many trips to Africa to see the wildlife. He enjoyed life to the full and took great pleasure in helping others to do the same.

Roderick Heathcoat-Amory married, in 1947, Sonia (nee Denison), the widow of his cousin Gerald Heathcoat-Amory, who had been killed in Normandy In 1939 They had a son, the MP David Heathcoat-Amory, and a daughter.