Biography Horrocks, Brian Sir: Escape to Action, v2, 31 Dec 2008

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This is the autobiography of Lt. General Sir Brian Horrocks, who served in the British Army in both World War I and II and in Europe thereafter. Captured, escaped, wounded, he was medically retired from his injuries.

His retirement lasted fourteen days.:

.....I opened it, and then, to my amazement, read: "You are offered the appointment of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Lords." I had no idea what this meant because I had never been in either of the Houses of Parliament and had not even heard of Black Rod. But it sounded rather exciting. In my heart of hearts I was delighted, because, to be honest, the rustic retreat idea was already, after only a fortnight, beginning to pall. Fortunately, my predecessor, Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake, who was giving up owing to deafness, had done a considerable amount of research into the history of this ancient and honourable office, and the more I read the more it appealed to me.

His new post: "during the time that their Lordships are in session I am responsible to Her Majesty for everything, except the actual business of the House, which takes place on the floor of the House of Lords."

After getting settled in he became a presenter first on radio, then on television for the BBC hosting his Men of Action series.

He died in 1985. For this reason, this work (1960) is copyright everywhere except for the United States where the copyright was not renewed. In the Great Britain, this work was entitled "A Full Life."

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v2 corrects numerous errors in the text.