Brigadier Rupert Cornelis van der Horst, a distinguished Royal Marine officer known for his leadership during the Falklands War and extensive service in the Special Boat Service, died of heart failure on June 24, 2026, at the age of 85.
Born in Jerusalem in 1941 to a Dutch civil engineer, van der Horst’s early life was marked by upheaval during World War II. His family was compelled to leave Jerusalem in 1943 and relocate to England, where they faced internment before being cleared. Van der Horst was naturalized as a British citizen in 1949 and went on to attend Charterhouse in Surrey. Initially interested in a naval career, he was advised he would be better suited to the Royal Marines, leading him to join the service straight from school.
Van der Horst’s military career spanned several decades and included diverse deployments, notably during the Malayan Emergency and in the Brunei revolt of 1962. He participated in Operation Vantage in Kuwait in 1961 and served multiple tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Renowned for his endurance and adaptability, he successfully completed the demanding selection for the Special Boat Service (SBS) and served with the unit for ten years, eventually taking command in 1978.
His most notable contribution came during the 1982 Falklands War, where he was second-in-command of 45 Commando Royal Marines. After a night assault on Argentine positions near Port Stanley, van der Horst was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Whitehead to undertake a risky mission: to return a severely wounded Argentine soldier to his own forces for medical treatment. Navigating through enemy defensive positions on foot with tracked BV 202 carriers, van der Horst escorted the soldier to an Argentinian field hospital in Stanley. Despite tensions in the wake of the conflict, the Argentine troops allowed passage, and the mission provided critical intelligence on the conditions of Argentines during the campaign. This operation preceded the British entry into Stanley by two days and earned van der Horst a mention in dispatches.
Throughout his career, van der Horst commanded several commando units, including 40 and 42 Commando, and held key roles such as director of Royal Marine operations. He was promoted to brigadier in 1990 and took charge of Royal Marine training and reserve forces until his retirement in 1992.
Following his military service, van der Horst engaged in civilian roles with the Country Landowners’ Association and the Froebel Institute. Residing in Wiltshire from 2007, he remained active in community service as a school governor, parish councillor, and volunteer caseworker supporting military families. Known for his athleticism, he completed multiple marathons and half-marathons and enjoyed sailing, skiing, fishing, and painting.
Survived by his wife Angela Broome and daughter Charlotte, his son Richard—a former SBS commander—predeceased him in 2005. Details of van der Horst’s service with the SBS remain classified, though colleagues remember him as a highly capable and refined officer with sharp tactical acumen. His career stands as a testament to dedication and versatility in some of the British military’s most challenging theaters.