Brigadier Rupert Cornelius van der Horst, a distinguished Royal Marines officer noted for his leadership during the Falklands War and his command of the Special Boat Service (SBS) and 42 Commando, has died at the age of 85. He passed away on June 24, 2026.

Van der Horst played a critical role in the Falklands conflict in 1982, notably leading an ammunition resupply under heavy Argentine machine-gun and artillery fire shortly after the Battle of Two Sisters near Port Stanley. As second-in-command of 45 Commando, he navigated difficult terrain in limited visibility, personally guiding oversnow tracked vehicles carrying vital supplies to an ammunition point. His efforts during this operation earned him a mention in dispatches and significant praise from colleagues for his tenacity and leadership.

Following the battle, van der Horst demonstrated further courage by transporting a wounded Argentine soldier to a hospital in Stanley, despite the ongoing risk of attack. He recounted encountering defensive Argentine positions that held their fire after noticing the injured captive, allowing safe passage to the medical facility.

Born on February 21, 1941, in Jerusalem to a Dutch father and British mother, van der Horst’s early years were marked by wartime displacement, eventually settling in Hampshire, England. He was educated at Amesbury preparatory school and Charterhouse before joining the Royal Marines in 1959, after an initial consideration of a naval career.

Van der Horst’s early military service included deployments to the Thai-Malay border, the 1961 Kuwait landings (Operation Vantage), the Brunei revolt, and the Indonesian Konfrontasi. In 1964, he completed the demanding selection course for the Special Boat Service and served in Bahrain, the Gulf, Aden, and Iran. His career also included a period with the US Marine Corps in North Carolina and command positions in Belfast during the Troubles.

He led the Special Boat Service from 1978 to 1980 and later commanded 42 Commando from 1984 to 1986, overseeing deployments in northern Norway and ceremonial duties in London. Van der Horst was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1987 and became Director of Royal Marines Operations before attending the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Promoted to brigadier in 1990, he served as Commander Training and Reserve Forces Royal Marines and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992, shortly before retiring after 33 years of service.

In civilian life, van der Horst remained active in veterans’ causes and community service, serving as a school governor and caseworker for the SSAFA Armed Forces charity. He and his wife, Angela—whom he married in 1965—retired to Wiltshire in 2006. The couple endured the loss of their son, Richard, also an SBS commander, who drowned during a mission in Norway in 2005.

Known for his quiet professionalism and concern for those under his command, van der Horst was remembered by peers as a respected leader and a “true gentleman” devoted to duty. He is survived by his wife Angela and their daughter, Charlotte.