 Horrocks continued to serve in the armed forces after the war , initially as GOC @-@ in @-@ Chief of Western Command , receiving substantive promotion to lieutenant @-@ general in 1946 , with seniority backdated to 29 December 1944 . He briefly commanded the British Army of the Rhine , until he fell ill in August 1948 ; he was invalided out of the service early in January 1949 by the lingering effects of the wounds he had received in North Africa . Promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the King 's Birthday Honours that year , he served as Honorary Colonel of a Territorial Army unit of the Royal Artillery . In 1949 he was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod , a post traditionally held by retired officers ; this appointment was confirmed on the accession of Elizabeth II in 1952 . Black Rod has the responsibility of supervising the administration of the House of Lords , controlling admission to it , and taking part in ceremonies . In 1957 , Horrocks had the unusual duty of ordering Vivien Leigh out of the House when she interrupted proceedings to plead that the St James 's Theatre be saved from demolition . On other occasions , because the Black Rod had to remain in place during long debates , Horrocks relieved his boredom by completing football pools coupons . This had the advantage of looking like note @-@ taking to the assembled lords . Horrocks held the post of Black Rod until 1963 . 
