Hew Pike
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Hew William Royston Pike KCB, DSO
, MBE (born 24 April 1943) is a retired British Army
officer known for his service in the Falklands War
and for his command in Northern Ireland
.
and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, and commissioned into The Parachute Regiment as a second lieutenant
on 21 December 1962. He served as a platoon commander in Bahrain
and saw active service in the Aden Emergency
. He was promoted lieutenant
on 21 June 1964, and captain
on 21 December 1968. For much of the 1970s, he was in Northern Ireland
and the United Kingdom. He attended Staff College, Camberley
in 1975, was promoted major on 30 June 1975, and was then appointed Brigade Major
of 16th Parachute Brigade. During his period there, the unit underwent a major reorganisation becoming 6th Field Force
, Pike was largely responsible for the writing of the initial concept study detailing the proposed new structure, and also for its implementation, something which required cooperation from other army units, and the Royal Air Force
, as well as liaison with NATO headquarters. As a result he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1978 New Year Honours
, the recommendation for the award concluded: "his careful planning [has] undoubtedly saved much time and money. He has surpassed all that would normally be expected for an officer of his rank and age." From 1978 he was a company commander in 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
(3PARA).
of 3PARA. On 6 October 1981 he was Mentioned in Despatches for his command of the battalion while in Northern Ireland. He was still CO when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands
in 1982, triggering the Falklands War
. The battalion was attached to 3 Commando Brigade
to bring that unit up to full strength. He landed with his battalion in San Carlos
bay on 21 May. Due to the lack of transport helicopters, lost when the transport ship Atlantic Conveyor
was sunk, the battalion had to cover the difficult terrain on foot. 3PARA was engaged in one of the fiercest encounters of the war in the Battle of Mount Longdon
. His men suffered heavy casualties taking the mountain in a battle that lasted from 9pm to 7am the next day. One of his men, Ian McKay was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross
for his heroism during the battle. Pike was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
for his "cool example and inspiring leadership". The award was recommended by the brigade commander, Brigadier
Julian Thompson
, and "Very strongly recommended" by the other senior commanders, Major General Jeremy Moore
, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Trant and Admiral
Sir John Fieldhouse
. He relinquished command of 3PARA in 1983.
, he was promoted acting Major General on 13 April 1992 (substantive from 1 June 1992) and was made General Officer Commanding
(GOC), 3rd (UK) Division until 11 April 1994. He was then made Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1 May 1994. He was also appointed to the honorary positions of Colonel Commandant
of the Small Arms School Corps
on 1 April 1992, holding that post until 1 December 1997. On 1 July 1995 he was promoted acting lieutenant general and appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Land Command
and Inspector General Territorial Army. He received substantive promotion on 9 September 1995 (with seniority from 30 June), and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1997 New Year Honours. On 23 November 1997 was appointed as Director of Operations (DCOMOPS) of the NATO SFOR
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. From 26 October 1998 to 2000 was GOC and Director of Operations in Northern Ireland. On 1 July 199 he was appointed Honorary Colonel, Royal Rifle Volunteers, Territorial Army, and held that post until 1 September 2003. He retired as a Lieutenant General on 14 March 2001.
In retirement, Pike has written of his family history.
|-
|-
|-
|-
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MBE (born 24 April 1943) is a retired British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer known for his service in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
and for his command in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Education and early career
The son of army officer Lieutenant General Sir William Pike, Pike was educated at Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, and commissioned into The Parachute Regiment as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 21 December 1962. He served as a platoon commander in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
and saw active service in the Aden Emergency
Aden Emergency
The Aden Emergency was an insurgency against the British crown forces in the British controlled territories of South Arabia which now form part of the Yemen. Partly inspired by Nasser's pan Arab nationalism, it began on 10 December 1963 with the throwing of a grenade at a gathering of British...
. He was promoted lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 21 June 1964, and captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 21 December 1968. For much of the 1970s, he was in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the United Kingdom. He attended Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1975, was promoted major on 30 June 1975, and was then appointed Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of 16th Parachute Brigade. During his period there, the unit underwent a major reorganisation becoming 6th Field Force
Field Force
A Field Force in British and Indian Army military parlance is a combined arms land force operating under actual or assumed combat circumstances usually for the length of a specific military campaign....
, Pike was largely responsible for the writing of the initial concept study detailing the proposed new structure, and also for its implementation, something which required cooperation from other army units, and the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, as well as liaison with NATO headquarters. As a result he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1978 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, the recommendation for the award concluded: "his careful planning [has] undoubtedly saved much time and money. He has surpassed all that would normally be expected for an officer of his rank and age." From 1978 he was a company commander in 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
The 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment is a battalion sized formation of the British Army's Parachute Regiment and subordinate unit within 16 Air Assault Brigade....
(3PARA).
Falklands War
Pike was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1980, and became Commanding OfficerCommanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 3PARA. On 6 October 1981 he was Mentioned in Despatches for his command of the battalion while in Northern Ireland. He was still CO when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
in 1982, triggering the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. The battalion was attached to 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
to bring that unit up to full strength. He landed with his battalion in San Carlos
San Carlos, Falkland Islands
San Carlos is a settlement in northwestern East Falkland, lying south of Port San Carlos on San Carlos Water. It is sometimes nicknamed "JB" after a former owner, Jack Bonner.-History:...
bay on 21 May. Due to the lack of transport helicopters, lost when the transport ship Atlantic Conveyor
Atlantic Conveyor
The Atlantic Conveyor was a British merchant navy ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned during the Falklands War and sunk on 25 May 1982 after being hit by two Argentine Exocet missiles, killing 12 sailors...
was sunk, the battalion had to cover the difficult terrain on foot. 3PARA was engaged in one of the fiercest encounters of the war in the Battle of Mount Longdon
Battle of Mount Longdon
The Battle of Mount Longdon was an engagement of the Falklands War between British and Argentine forces, which took place on 11–12 June 1982, resulting in the British victory and their occupation of a key position around the besieged Argentine garrison....
. His men suffered heavy casualties taking the mountain in a battle that lasted from 9pm to 7am the next day. One of his men, Ian McKay was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his heroism during the battle. Pike was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for his "cool example and inspiring leadership". The award was recommended by the brigade commander, Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Julian Thompson
Julian Thompson
Major General Julian Howard Atherden Thompson, CB, OBE is a military historian and former Royal Marines officer who, as a brigadier, commanded 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War.-Military career:...
, and "Very strongly recommended" by the other senior commanders, Major General Jeremy Moore
Jeremy Moore
Major General Sir John Jeremy Moore KCB, OBE, MC & Bar was the commander of the British land forces during the Falklands War in 1982. Moore received the surrender of the Argentine forces on the islands.-Military career:...
, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Trant and Admiral
Admiral (United Kingdom)
Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-9, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet...
Sir John Fieldhouse
John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse
Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse GCB, GBE was a high ranking officer in the Royal Navy...
. He relinquished command of 3PARA in 1983.
Later career and retirement
Pike then held staff positions, first with I Corps and then at the School of Infantry. He was promoted colonel on 30 June 1985, and brigadier on 31 December 1987 (with seniority from 30 June 1987). From 1987-1989 he commanded 22 Armoured Brigade in Germany. After attending the Royal College of Defence StudiesRoyal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
, he was promoted acting Major General on 13 April 1992 (substantive from 1 June 1992) and was made General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
(GOC), 3rd (UK) Division until 11 April 1994. He was then made Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1 May 1994. He was also appointed to the honorary positions of Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
of the Small Arms School Corps
Small Arms School Corps
The Small Arms School Corps is a small corps of the British Army responsible for maintaining the proficiency of the army in the use of small arms, support weapons and range management.-History:...
on 1 April 1992, holding that post until 1 December 1997. On 1 July 1995 he was promoted acting lieutenant general and appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Land Command
Commander Field Army (United Kingdom)
The Commander Field Army was a senior British Army officer who had command over the Deployable Divisions of the British Army i.e. those divisions on full strength...
and Inspector General Territorial Army. He received substantive promotion on 9 September 1995 (with seniority from 30 June), and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1997 New Year Honours. On 23 November 1997 was appointed as Director of Operations (DCOMOPS) of the NATO SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. From 26 October 1998 to 2000 was GOC and Director of Operations in Northern Ireland. On 1 July 199 he was appointed Honorary Colonel, Royal Rifle Volunteers, Territorial Army, and held that post until 1 September 2003. He retired as a Lieutenant General on 14 March 2001.
In retirement, Pike has written of his family history.
Works
- From the Front Line - Family Letters & Diaries: 1900 to the Falklands & Afghanistan. ISBN 9781844158126.
External links
|-
|-
|-
|-