Henry van Straubenzee

Henry van Straubenzee (7 March 1914 – 12 April 2002) was a British army officer who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leadership whilst commanding 12 Royal Tank Regiment, in Northern Italy, in 1944, during the Second World War. 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. Early life and education Henry Hamilton van Straubenzee was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, second son of engineer Henry Turner van Straubenzee (1878–1914) and Elfreda Mowbray van Straubenzee née Rogers (d. 1963), daughter of William Houston Rogers, of Johannesburg. The van Straubenzee family were landed gentry, of Spennithorne, North Yorkshire. Henry would become head of the family after the death of his elder brother Philip Turner van Straubenzee (1912–2005), who had no sons. He was educated at Aysgarth School, Winchester College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Van Straubenzee was commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in August 1934. Military career During the Second World War he served in France with HQ 4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) in 1939-40 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 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leadership whilst commanding 12 Royal Tank Regiment in Italy during 1944-45. Van Straubenzee's regiment was deployed to support 1 Canadian Corps attack on the Gothic Line 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). During the battle Van Straubenzee organised the 1st Canadian Infantry Division's crossing of the River Arzilla and the capture of the vital position of Monte Luro whilst under fierce enemy fire. Following wartime service Van Straubenzee commanded the 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the 52nd) in Palestine during the Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine.