Brig-Gen Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock, KCMG, DSO

Brigadier General Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock KCMG, DSO, TD (12 June 1867 – 10 January 1952) was a British soldier, and Olympic sailor.

He served with the Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry in South Africa during the Second Boer War 1899-1900, for which he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DS) in November 1900.

Laycock was the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1906. He was the first colonel of the Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery when it was formed in 1908 as part of the new Territorial Force. He funded the founding of the battery himself.

During World War I he served with his battery in the Middle East and also served with the Duke of Westminster's armoured car unit when it was involved in a widely reported incident where it rescued prisoners of war from Senussi tribesmen. Later he became the Commander Royal Artillery for the ANZAC Mounted Division.

During World War II he commanded the Nottinghamshire Home Guard.

He was friends with Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, and they competed together in the 1908 Olympics at Water Motorsport.

He lived at Wiseton Hall in Nottinghamshire and was a Deputy Lieutenant and Lord Lieutenant for that county.

One of his children, Sir Robert Laycock, was also knighted and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his services in World War II.