Military Secretary
Encyclopedia
The Military Secretary is the 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...

 appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the British Army. It is a senior British Army appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Major-General
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...

. The Military Secretary's counterpart in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 is the Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...

. 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...

 equivalent is the Air Secretary
Air Secretary
The Air Secretary is the Royal Air Force appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RAF. From 1978 to 1983 the Air Secretary was more often referred to as Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Personnel Management Centre. It is...

.

Originally established as the Private Secretary or Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or just the Commander-in-Chief , was the professional head of the British Army from 1660 until 1904, when the office was replaced by the Chief of the General Staff, soon to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff . From 1870, the C-in-C was subordinate to...

, the title was formally changed to Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War in 1904. In 1964 it became Military Secretary to the Minister of Defence.

In 1995 a new Army Personnel Centre was established in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

 with the Military Secretary as its Chief Executive.

Military Secretaries

Holders of the post have included:
  • Colonel Robert Brownrigg
    Robert Brownrigg
    General Sir Robert Brownrigg, 1st Baronet GCB was a British statesman and soldier.-Military career:Brownrigg was commissioned as an ensign in 1775...

    , 1795–1803
  • Colonel William Clinton
    William Henry Clinton
    General Sir William Henry Clinton GCB was a British general during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars as well as the First Miguelist War...

    , 1803–1804
  • Lieutenant-Colonel James Gordon
    Sir James Gordon, 1st Baronet
    General Sir James Willoughby Gordon GCB GCH was Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Gordon was commissioned into the 66th Regiment of Foot in 1783....

    , 1804–1809
  • Major-General Sir Henry Torrens
    Henry Torrens (British Army officer)
    Major-General Sir Henry Torrens KCB was an Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Early life:Torrens was born in Londenderry, Ireland in 1779. He lost both his parents at an early age, was educated at a military academy in Dublin....

    , 1809–1820
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Taylor, 1820–1827
  • Lieutenant-General Lord FitzRoy Somerset
    FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan
    Field Marshal FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, GCB, PC , known before 1852 as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was a British soldier.-Early life:...

    , 1827–1852
  • Colonel Richard Airey
    Richard Airey, 1st Baron Airey
    General Richard Airey, 1st Baron Airey GCB , known as Sir Richard Airey between 1855 and 1876, was a British general.-Background:...

    , 1852–1854
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Yorke
    Charles Yorke (British Army officer)
    Field Marshal Sir Charles Yorke KCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1854–1860
  • Lieutenant-General William Forster
    William Forster (British Army officer)
    General William Frederick Forster KH was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1860–1871
  • Major-General Caledon Egerton
    Caledon Egerton
    Major-General Caledon Richard Egerton was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:Egerton was commissioned into the 89th Regiment of Foot...

    , 1871–1874
  • General Sir Alfred Horsford
    Alfred Horsford
    General Sir Alfred Hastings Horsford GCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1874–1880
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Edmund Whitmore
    Edmund Whitmore
    Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Augustus Whitmore KCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:Born in Malta, Whitmore was commissioned into the 30th Regiment of Foot in 1841...

    , 1880–1885
  • Lieutenant-General Sir George Harman
    George Harman (British Army officer)
    Lieutenant General Sir George Byng Harman KCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1885–1892
  • General Sir Reginald Gipps
    Reginald Gipps
    General Sir Reginald Ramsay Gipps GCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:Educated at Eton College, Gipps was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1849...

    , 1892–1896
  • Major-General Sir Coleridge Grove
    Coleridge Grove
    Major-General Sir Coleridge Grove KCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:Grove was commissioned into the 15th Regiment of Foot in 1863. He went on to serve in Egypt and Sudan...

    , 1896–1901
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Ian Hamilton
    Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton
    General Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton GCB GCMG DSO TD was a general in the British Army and is most notably for commanding the ill-fated Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Battle of Gallipoli....

    , 1901–1903
  • Major-General Sir Ronald Lane
    Ronald Lane
    Major-General Sir Ronald Bertram Lane KCB KCVO was a British Army officer who became Military Secretary.-Military career:Lane was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1867...

    , 1903–1904
  • Colonel John Spencer Ewart
    Spencer Ewart
    Lieutenant General Sir John Spencer Ewart KCB was Adjutant-General to the Forces in the British Army.-Military career:Educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Spencer Ewart was commissioned into the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1881.He served with his...

    , 1904–1906
  • General Sir Arthur Wynne
    Arthur Wynne (British Army officer)
    General Sir Arthur Singleton Wynne GCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1906–1911
  • Lieutenant-General Sir William Franklyn
    William Franklyn (British Army officer)
    Lieutenant General Sir William Edmund Franklyn KCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1911–1914
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Codrington
    Alfred Codrington
    Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Edward Codrington GCVO KCB was a British Army officer who served in colonial wars in Africa during the late nineteenth century, and later commanded a reserve army during the First World War....

    , 1914
  • Major-General Sir Frederick Robb
    Frederick Robb
    Major-General Sir Frederick Spencer Wilson Robb KCB KCMG KCVO was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1914–1916
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Davies
    Francis Davies (British Army officer)
    General Sir Francis John Davies KCB KCMG KCVO was a British Army General during World War I.-Military career:Davies was commissioned into the Worcestershire Militia in 1881. He transferred to the Grenadier Guards in 1884 becoming Adjutant to the 2 Bn Grenadier Guards in 1893...

    , 1916–1919
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Chetwode
    Philip Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode
    Field Marshal Philip Walhouse Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode, 7th Baronet of Oakley, GCB, OM, GCSI, KCMG, DSO was a British cavalry officer who became Commander in Chief in India.-Early life and education:...

    , 1919–1920
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Godley
    Alexander Godley
    General Sir Alexander John Godley GCB, KCMG was a First World War general, best known for his role as commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force...

    , 1920–1922
  • Lieutenant-General Sir William Peyton
    William Peyton
    General Sir William Eliot Peyton KCB KCVO DSO was a British soldier, a general of the First World War who fought in several other wars.He was Delhi Herald of Arms Extraordinary at the time of the Delhi Durbar of 1911....

    , 1922–1926
  • Lieutenant-General Sir David Campbell
    David Campbell (British Army officer)
    General Sir David Graham Muschet "Soarer" Campbell GCB was a cavalry officer of the British Army, amateur sportsman, and later Governor of Malta....

    , 1926–1927
  • Major-General Sir Gerald Boyd
    Gerald Boyd (British Army officer)
    Major-General Sir Gerald Farrell Boyd KCB CMG DSO DCM was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1927–1930
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Sidney Clive, 1930–1934
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Deedes
    Charles Deedes
    General Sir Charles Parker Deedes KCB CMG DSO was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1934–1937
  • Major-General The Viscount Gort
    John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
    Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC , was a British and Anglo-Irish soldier. As a young officer in World War I he won the Victoria Cross at the Battle of the Canal du Nord. During the 1930s he served as Chief of the...

    , 1937
  • Lieutenant-General Douglas Brownrigg
    Douglas Brownrigg
    Lieutenant General Sir Wellesley Douglas Studholme Brownrigg KCB DSO was a senior British Army officer who became Military Secretary.-Military career:Brownrigg was commissioned into the 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters in 1905...

    , 1938–1939
  • Lieutenant-General George Giffard
    George Giffard
    General Sir George Giffard GCB DSO was a British military officer, who had a distinguished career in command of African troops in World War I, rising to command an Army Group in South East Asia in World War II.-Early career:...

    , 1939–1940
  • Lieutenant-General Arthur Floyer-Acland
    Arthur Floyer-Acland
    Lieutenant General Arthur Nugent Floyer-Acland CB, DSO, MC, DL was a British soldier.-Background:...

    , 1940–1942
  • General Sir Colville Wemyss
    Colville Wemyss
    General Sir Henry Colville Barclay Wemyss KCB KBE DSO MC was Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:Colville Wemyss was son of Alexander Wemyss. He was commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1910. He served in the First World War, being awarded the DSO and MC. In 1920 he transferred to...

    , 1942–1946
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Browning
    Frederick Browning
    Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning GCVO, KBE, CB, DSO was a British Army officer who has been called the "father of the British airborne forces". He is best known as the commander of the I Airborne Corps and deputy commander of First Allied Airborne Army during Operation...

    , 1946–1948
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Keightley
    Charles Keightley
    General Sir Charles Frederic Keightley, GCB, GBE, DSO was a senior officer in the British Army during and following World War II.-Military career:...

    , 1948
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Mansergh
    Robert Mansergh
    General Sir Eric Carden Robert Mansergh GCB KBE MC was a British Army General during and after World War II.-Military career:...

    , 1948–1949
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth McLean
    Kenneth McLean
    Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Graeme McLean KCB KBE was a senior British Army officer who became Military Secretary.-Military career:McLean served in the ranks during World War I and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1918....

    , 1949–1951
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Euan Miller
    Euan Miller
    Lieutenant General Sir Euan Alfred Bews Miller KBE CB DSO MC was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:Miller was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1915...

    , 1951–1954
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Colin Callander
    Colin Callander
    Lieutenant General Sir Colin Bishop Callander KCB KBE MC was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1954–1957
  • General Sir Hugh Stockwell
    Hugh Stockwell
    General Sir Hugh Charles Stockwell GCB, KBE, DSO & Bar was a British soldier, most remembered for commanding the Anglo-French ground forces during the Suez Crisis and his service as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO from 1960 to 1964.-Early life:Stockwell was born in Jersey, but spent...

    , 1957–1959
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Geoffrey Thompson
    Geoffrey Thompson (British Army officer)
    Lieutenant General Sir Geoffrey Stuart Thompson KBE CB DSO was a senior British Army officer who became Military Secretary.-Military Secretary:Thompson was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1925....

    , 1959–1961
  • Lieutenant-General Sir William Stirling
    William Stirling (British Army officer)
    General Sir William Gurdon Stirling GCB CBE DSO was a British Army General who reached high office during the 1960s.-Military career:...

    , 1961–1963
  • General Sir John Anderson
    John Anderson (British Army officer)
    General Sir John D'Arcy Anderson GBE KCB DSO was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1960s.-Military career:Anderson was commissioned into the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1929...

    , 1963–1966
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Goodwin
    Richard Elton Goodwin
    Lieutenant General Sir Richard Goodwin KCB CBE DSO was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1960s.-Military career:Goodwin was commissioned into the Suffolk Regiment in 1928...

    , 1966–1969
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Pearson
    Thomas Pearson (British Army officer)
    General Sir Thomas Pearson KCB CBE DSO was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe.-Military career:Educated at Charterhouse School, Pearson was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1934....

    , 1969–1972
  • Lieutenant-General Sir John Sharp
    John Sharp (British Army officer)
    General Sir John Sharp KCB MC was a British Army General who achieved high office in the 1970s.-Military career:Sharp was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1938. He served in World War II with 5th Medium Regiment and then with 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery...

    , 1972–1974
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson
    Patrick Howard-Dobson
    General Sir Patrick John Howard-Dobson GCB is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:...

    , 1974–1976
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Ford
    Robert Ford (British Army officer)
    General Sir Robert Cyril Ford GCB CBE is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:Born in Devon to John and Gladys Ford, Robert Ford was educated at Musgrave's College and was later commissioned into the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in 1943. He served in North West Europe during...

    , 1976–1978
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Robin Carnegie
    Robin Carnegie
    Lieutenant General Sir Robin Macdonald Carnegie KCB OBE was a senior British Army officer who became Military Secretary. He died peacefully in Salisbury Hospice.-Military career:...

    , 1978–1980
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Roland Guy
    Roland Guy
    General Sir Roland Kelvin Guy GCB CBE DSO was a senior British Army officer who was Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:...

    , 1980–1983
  • Lieutenant-General Sir David Mostyn
    David Mostyn
    General Sir Joseph David Frederick Mostyn KCB CBE is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:...

    , 1983–1986
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Patrick Palmer, 1986–1989
  • Lieutenant-General Sir John Learmont, 1989–1991
  • Lieutenant-General Sir William Rous
    William Rous (British Army officer)
    Lieutenant General The Honourable Sir William Edward Rous KCB OBE is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Born the son of the Earl of Stradbroke, Rous was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1959....

    , 1991–1994
  • Major-General Robert Hayman-Joyce
    Robert Hayman-Joyce
    Lieutenant General Sir Robert John Hayman-Joyce KCB CBE DL is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Hayman Joyce was commissioned into the 11th Hussars in 1963....

    , 1994–1995
  • Major-General Michael Scott
    Michael Scott (British Army officer)
    Major-General Michael Ian Eldon Scott CB CBE DSO is a British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 1995–1997
  • Major-General David Burden
    David Burden
    Major-General David Leslie Burden CB CVO CBE is a British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:Burden was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps in 1964. He was posted to Germany and to Northern Ireland and transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps under...

    , 1997–1999
  • Major-General Alistair Irwin
    Alistair Irwin
    General Sir Alistair Stuart Hastings Irwin KCB CBE is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces in the United Kingdom and Commandant of Sandhurst.-Army career:...

    , 1999–2000
  • Major-General Peter Grant Peterkin
    Peter Grant Peterkin
    Major-General Anthony Peter Grant Peterkin CB OBE was the British House of Commons' Serjeant at Arms between 2004 and 2007.-Military career:...

    , 2000–2003
  • Major-General Freddie Viggers
    Freddie Viggers
    Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Richard "Freddie" Viggers, KCB, CMG, MBE, DL is a former senior British Army officer, who served as Adjutant-General to the Forces immediately prior to his retirement 2008. He served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from 30 April 2009 to 28 October 2010...

    , 2003–2005
  • Major-General Nicholas Cottam
    Nicholas Cottam
    Major-General Nicholas Jeremy Cottam CB OBE was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...

    , 2005–2008
  • Major-General Mark Mans
    Mark Mans
    Lieutenant-General Mark Francis Noel Mans CBE QCVS is the current Adjutant-General to the Forces of the United Kingdom.-Career:Educated at Berkhamsted School, Mark Mans was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1974. During the Gulf War he was Officer Commanding 37 Field Support Squadron. He was...

    , 2008–2009
  • Major-General David Rutherford-Jones
    David Rutherford-Jones
    Major-General David John Rutherford-Jones CB is a British Army officer and former Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst....

    , 2009–2011
  • Major General Andrew Gregory
    Andrew Gregory
    Major-General Andrew Richard Gregory CB is a British Army officer and current Military Secretary.-Military career:Gregory was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1981. As a Brigadier he served in Iraq...

    , 2011–
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