Thomas Christopher Sinclair, soldier and businessman: born London 9 February 1916; MC 1941, and bar 1942; OBE 1958; chairman, Time Life International 1974-78; Member, HM Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms 1965-78; married 1947 Peggy Gerard Leigh (four sons); died Salisbury, Wiltshire 19 April 2001. Thomas Christopher Sinclair, soldier and businessman: born London 9 February 1916; MC 1941, and bar 1942; OBE 1958; chairman, Time Life International 1974-78; Member, HM Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms 1965-78; married 1947 Peggy Gerard Leigh (four sons); died Salisbury, Wiltshire 19 April 2001. Christopher Sinclair was awarded the Military Cross and bar for his astounding leadership and courage in two actions in the Western Desert. Before the Second World War was over, he was three times Mentioned in Despatches.After the Allies had captured Tobruk on 22 January 1941 it became clear that the Italians intended to pull out of Cyrenaica. Lt-Gen Sir Richard O'Connor decided on a daring plan to establish an armoured roadblock in front of the retreating enemy about 70 miles south of Benghazi in the Sidi Saleh area.
On the morning of 5 February, a force consisting of a squadron of the 11th Hussars and King's Dragoon Guards and the 2nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade arrived to take up their positions alongside the road from Benghazi.The Rifle Brigade, who had been ordered to cut the road, found themselves attacked by the leading elements of the retreating Italian army who had imagined the British to be 150 miles away. Bewildered, the Italians launched a number of uncoordinated attacks. Sinclair's company made a number of night raids, utterly confusing the enemy as to their situation. By the time the Italian army arrived so had the British.In 48 hours of furious battle against overwhelming numbers, Sinclair steadied his men against repeated tank and infantry attacks. Although penetrated on several occasions, Sinclair's company counter-attacked and recovered their ground. In this remarkable victory the small British force of less than 2,000 men captured 20,000 Italian prisoners, including six generals. For his skilful leadership and gallantry, Sinclair was awarded an MC.The desert war fluctuated throughout the summer of 1941, Rommel's Afrika Corps being successful in counteracting the Allied operations Brevity and Battleaxe.
With these failures, General Sir Archibald Wavell was replaced by General Sir Claude Auchinleck, who immediately came under pressure from Churchill to launch another offensive. Operation Crusader's aim was to relieve Tobruk and destroy Rommel's armour and force him to withdraw.During a ferocious tank battle, A Company, commanded by Sinclair, were operating with an armoured brigade. Both sides fought themselves to a standstill with extremely heavy casualties. In the attack Sinclair's company held the vital ridge at Sidi Rezegh. He kept the morale of his men high as attack after attack was launched at them. On the evening of 22 November, his company was eventually over-run by enemy tanks and along with his men he was taken prisoner. As he was being marched away British artillery opened fire and in the confusion Sinclair managed to escape and bring back two wounded men He was a welcome sight at Battalion HQ.
