Henry Straubenzee

Background

Henry Hamilton van Straubenzee was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Education

He was educated at Aysgarth School, Winchester College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Career

He later commanded the 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the 52nd). He was also an English cricketer, playing for Sandhurst and the Army up to the outbreak of war. He played for Essex between 1938 and 1939.

Van Straubenzee was commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in August 1934.

During the Second World War he served in France with Headquarters 4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) in 1939-1940 and took part in Operation Dynamo. Whilst serving with the British Expeditionary Force he briefly commanded a platoon of Northumberland Fusiliers and was mentioned in despatches.

He later served in the Middle East where he was mentioned in despatches in 1943. Van Straubenzee"s regiment was deployed to support 1 Canadian Corps attack on the Gothic Lincolnshire in the autumn of 1944: the Gothic line was the last major line of German defence in the Italian Campaign during the last part of the Second World War.

The Allies were met by strong opposition from the 1st German Parachute Division and the 4th Parachute Division (Germany).

Following wartime service Van Straubenzee commanded the 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the 52nd) in Palestine. He took over command of the battalion at Bethlehem. He was then posted to Headquarters 6th Airborne Division at Bir Salim.

Van Straubenzee was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his service in Palestine.

He was an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley, from 1948 to 1950. He served with 11th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) in West Germany from 1950 to 1953.

He was military assistant to two successive Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff at the War Office from 1953 to 1956: Field Marshal John Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton and Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer. He commanded the 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards in West Germany in 1956-1957.

Van Straubenzee was invalided out of the army in 1957 as a result of wartime wounds.

He joined WH Smith in 1957 and was Managing Director from 1968 to 1974. Van Straubenzee was awarded the Defence Science Organisation in 1945 and appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1949. Van Straubenzee died on 12 April 2002.

Achievements

• Van Straubenzee was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leadership whilst commanding 12 Royal Tank Regiment in Italy during 1944-1945.