[1] As part of National Service, Brooking was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps as a second lieutenant on 23 June 1956.

[6] He was appointed assistant chief of staff for UK Land Forces in 1984 and commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1985.

[6] In retirement, Brooking became chairman of the British-German Association, a not-for-profit organisation devoted to forging links between the two countries.

[1] On 25 March 1975, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) 'in recognition of distinguished services in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August 1974 to 31 October 1974'.

[11] In the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).