Owl statuette presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Horrocks, 1940

Silver figure on an ebonised plinth with plaque, maker unknown, 1940 (c).

The Staff College at Camberely was established in 1858 to prepare officers for senior command. Its emblem included the owl of Minerva, goddess of wisdom.

Horrocks had been a student at Camberely in 1931-32 and returned there as an instructor during 1938-40. He was given this statuette as a token of esteem on his departure from the college to command a battalion of the British Expeditionary Force in France in spring 1940.

Horrocks went on to a distinguished career, reaching the rank of lieutenant-general and commanding XIII (13) Corps in North Africa (1942-43) and XXX (30) Corps in North West Europe (1944-45).