Nicholas Parker
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Nicholas Ralph "Nick" Parker, KCB, CBE (born 1954) is a British Army
officer, currently the Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces.
As a general officer, Parker served in Northern Ireland as well as in Sierra Leone
, Iraq
and Afghanistan
and in staff roles including governor of Edinburgh Castle
, commandant of the Joint Services Command and Staff College
and Commander of Regional Forces
, a role that also gave him the duties of inspector-general of the Territorial Army. Between 2005 and 2006, Parker served as deputy commanding general of Multi-National Force – Iraq, before appointment to General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland
, in which role he had the responsibility of overseeing the withdrawal of troops from the streets of Northern Ireland for the first time on over thirty years.
While on holiday in 2009, Parker and his wife received news that their son, Harry, a captain
with The Rifles
, had been seriously wounded in Afghanistan
. Harry eventually lost both legs as a result of a roadside bomb
attack while leading his patrol. Parker later gave interviews about the ordeal the family went through with Harry's injuries, calling the experience "foul". Later the same year, Parker himself deployed to Afghanistan on a twelve-month tour, becoming the commander of the British forces in the country and deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force
, second in command to American
General
Stanley A. McChrystal
. In June 2010, McChrystal was relieved of his command of ISAF by President Barack Obama
, leaving Parker as acting commander of ISAF for just over a week until General David Petraeus
was confirmed as the new commander.
in north-west Dorset
prior to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Parker has listed Coronation Street
and fishing amongst his interests.
as a second lieutenant
in January 1974. He was promoted to full lieutenant in November 1975, was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1980 for service in Northern Ireland the previous year, and promoted captain
in May 1980. He attended the Army Staff Course in 1986 prior to promotion to major in October the same year.
Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1991, he was subsequently appointed commanding officer
of the Second Battalion the Royal Green Jackets from 1994-'95 before promotion to colonel in 1996, having attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley
. Parker was promoted to brigadier
in December 1997, with seniority from 30 June 1997 and given command of 20th Armoured Brigade, which deployed to Bosnia
in 1999.
and advisor to the country's president
in 2001, and went on to become General Officer Commanding
, 2nd Division in November 2002, being promoted to major-general
on the same date. As General Officer Commanding 2nd Division, he was also Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
In 2004 he served as Commandant
of the Joint Services Command and Staff College
, before taking over as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps, Iraq, holding the position from August 2005 to February 2006.
Parker was appointed General Officer Commanding
Northern Ireland
and promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general on 18 July 2006. In Northern Ireland he was responsible for reducing the UK's troop commitment in the Province and is quoted as saying "that the military had made a significant contribution to security in Northern Ireland that has allowed other people to make the difference through politics, social programmes and economics". Parker oversaw the closure of the base at Bessbrook
, County Armagh
, which, he said, "signifies a time when the army stops being part of the security forces and moves into being part of the community."
Parker was awarded the American Legion of Merit
"in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Afghanistan" in 2007. In October 2007, he became Commander of Regional Forces
at Land Command, a dual-hatted role as Inspector-General of the Territorial Army in which role he advocated for the TA and the regular Army to be regarded as a single organisation, pointing out that both face identical risks on deployment and saying "the TA soldier brings maturity and a wider understanding of the world - the end result, more so now than ever before, is the one Army and everyone should feel part of the same team". As Commander, Regional Forces, Parker was responsible for overseeing the £3 billion overhaul of the Army's Royal Engineers
' Royal School of Military Engineering
in a public-private partnership in September 2008 as well as accepting the Freedom of the City
of Bath on behalf of the Rifles
in October 2008, and campaigning for the creation of an Armed Forces Day for the UK, a proposal that was implemented in July 2009.
in Afghanistan
. During his tenure as deputy commander, Parker denied claims that British personnel in Afghanistan were suffering from a lack of equipment and helicopters, saying in an interview "rather than asking for more helicopters - which may be a requirement – we've got to develop tactics that get you out and amongst the people and re-establish ourselves as a force for good in the community" and that he was "absolutely convinced that what Harry [Parker's son] was given was right for what he was doing. However, nothing was ever going to stop his leg getting blown off". Parker was serving in Afghanistan on Christmas Day 2009 and undertook a tour of British bases in the area to visit troops.
On 23 June 2010, Parker assumed temporary command of all 140,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, following the departure of American General Stanley McChrystal
. British Prime Minister
David Cameron
told U.S. President
Barack Obama
that Parker had assured him that the operation would "not miss a beat" during the transition period. He held the role until 3 July, General David Petraeus
was confirmed as McChrystal's replacement.
As of 2010, Parker was Honorary Colonel of the Manchester and Salford Universities Officers' Training Corps and served as Colonel Commandant
of 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets. When the Royal Green Jackets were merged with others to form The Rifles
, he became Colonel Commandant of the new regiment.
.
Parker took over as Commander-in-Chief Land Forces on 1 October 2010 and was granted the substantive rank of general
. For his service in Afghanistan, General Parker was presented with his NATO ribbon
by the overall allied commander in Afghanistan, US General David Petraeus
, in addition to this Petraeus also presented General Parker with a US Meritorious Service Medal
; furthermore Parker also received the Afghan President's Award from its Minister of Defence.
with 4 Rifles in Afghanistan
. Harry lost both legs after the patrol he was commanding ran over a roadside bomb
. Parker later spoke about the aftermath of the incident, saying "it was pretty bad at that stage: they didn't know if Harry would survive or not. It helped being a soldier because all your training is about remaining as calm and calculating as you can in very difficult circumstances. But it was foul." Harry was injured shortly before Parker was due to take up the position of deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force
, but Parker took up the post on schedule, later saying in an interview "Harry would be horrified if I didn't go. He'd think I was a wimp".
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Nicholas Ralph "Nick" Parker, KCB, CBE (born 1954) is a 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, currently the Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces.
As a general officer, Parker served in Northern Ireland as well as in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and in staff roles including governor of Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
, commandant of the Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
and Commander of Regional Forces
Commander Regional Forces (United Kingdom)
The Commander Regional Forces was a senior British Army officer who had command over the Regenerative Divisions of the British Army i.e. those divisions that are not on full strength and would only be mobilised in a national emergency. The post was held by a Lieutenant General and was based at HQ...
, a role that also gave him the duties of inspector-general of the Territorial Army. Between 2005 and 2006, Parker served as deputy commanding general of Multi-National Force – Iraq, before appointment to General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland
HQ Northern Ireland
HQ Northern Ireland was the command formation responsible for the administration of all British Armed Forces stationed in and around Northern Ireland...
, in which role he had the responsibility of overseeing the withdrawal of troops from the streets of Northern Ireland for the first time on over thirty years.
While on holiday in 2009, Parker and his wife received news that their son, Harry, a 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...
with The Rifles
The Rifles
The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
, had been seriously wounded in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Harry eventually lost both legs as a result of a roadside bomb
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
attack while leading his patrol. Parker later gave interviews about the ordeal the family went through with Harry's injuries, calling the experience "foul". Later the same year, Parker himself deployed to Afghanistan on a twelve-month tour, becoming the commander of the British forces in the country and deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
, second in command to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Stanley A. McChrystal
Stanley A. McChrystal
Stanley Allen McChrystal is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. His last assignment was as Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan...
. In June 2010, McChrystal was relieved of his command of ISAF by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, leaving Parker as acting commander of ISAF for just over a week until General David Petraeus
David Petraeus
David Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
was confirmed as the new commander.
Early and personal life
Parker attended the independent Sherborne SchoolSherborne School
Sherborne School is a British independent school for boys, located in the town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset, England. It is one of the original member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
in north-west Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
prior to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Parker has listed Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
and fishing amongst his interests.
Early career
Parker was commissioned into the Royal Green JacketsRoyal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division .-History:...
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...
in January 1974. He was promoted to full lieutenant in November 1975, was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1980 for service in Northern Ireland the previous year, and promoted 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...
in May 1980. He attended the Army Staff Course in 1986 prior to promotion to major in October the same year.
Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1991, he was subsequently appointed commanding officer
Commanding 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 the Second Battalion the Royal Green Jackets from 1994-'95 before promotion to colonel in 1996, having attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the 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:...
. Parker was promoted to brigadier
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
in December 1997, with seniority from 30 June 1997 and given command of 20th Armoured Brigade, which deployed to Bosnia
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...
in 1999.
High command
Parker served as commander of the British task force in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and advisor to the country's president
President of Sierra Leone
The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone is the head of state and the head of government of Sierra Leone, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces...
in 2001, and went on to become 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...
, 2nd Division in November 2002, being promoted to 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...
on the same date. As General Officer Commanding 2nd Division, he was also Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
In 2004 he served as Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
, before taking over as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps, Iraq, holding the position from August 2005 to February 2006.
Parker was appointed 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...
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 promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general on 18 July 2006. In Northern Ireland he was responsible for reducing the UK's troop commitment in the Province and is quoted as saying "that the military had made a significant contribution to security in Northern Ireland that has allowed other people to make the difference through politics, social programmes and economics". Parker oversaw the closure of the base at Bessbrook
Bessbrook
Bessbrook is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies about three miles northwest of Newry and close to the main Dublin–Belfast road and rail line...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, which, he said, "signifies a time when the army stops being part of the security forces and moves into being part of the community."
Parker was awarded the American Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
"in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Afghanistan" in 2007. In October 2007, he became Commander of Regional Forces
Commander Regional Forces (United Kingdom)
The Commander Regional Forces was a senior British Army officer who had command over the Regenerative Divisions of the British Army i.e. those divisions that are not on full strength and would only be mobilised in a national emergency. The post was held by a Lieutenant General and was based at HQ...
at Land Command, a dual-hatted role as Inspector-General of the Territorial Army in which role he advocated for the TA and the regular Army to be regarded as a single organisation, pointing out that both face identical risks on deployment and saying "the TA soldier brings maturity and a wider understanding of the world - the end result, more so now than ever before, is the one Army and everyone should feel part of the same team". As Commander, Regional Forces, Parker was responsible for overseeing the £3 billion overhaul of the Army's Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
' Royal School of Military Engineering
Royal School of Military Engineering
The Royal School of Military Engineering is the main training establishment for the British Army's Royal Engineers. After they have successfully completed their Phase 1 - Basic Soldier Training, members of the Corps of Royal Engineers attend 3 RSME, at Minley for Phase 2a - Combat Engineering...
in a public-private partnership in September 2008 as well as accepting the Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of Bath on behalf of the Rifles
The Rifles
The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
in October 2008, and campaigning for the creation of an Armed Forces Day for the UK, a proposal that was implemented in July 2009.
ISAF
In September 2009, it was announced that Parker would succeed Royal Marine Lieutenant General Sir Jim Dutton as Deputy Commander of ISAFInternational Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. During his tenure as deputy commander, Parker denied claims that British personnel in Afghanistan were suffering from a lack of equipment and helicopters, saying in an interview "rather than asking for more helicopters - which may be a requirement – we've got to develop tactics that get you out and amongst the people and re-establish ourselves as a force for good in the community" and that he was "absolutely convinced that what Harry [Parker's son] was given was right for what he was doing. However, nothing was ever going to stop his leg getting blown off". Parker was serving in Afghanistan on Christmas Day 2009 and undertook a tour of British bases in the area to visit troops.
On 23 June 2010, Parker assumed temporary command of all 140,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, following the departure of American General Stanley McChrystal
Stanley A. McChrystal
Stanley Allen McChrystal is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. His last assignment was as Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan...
. British Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
told U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
that Parker had assured him that the operation would "not miss a beat" during the transition period. He held the role until 3 July, General David Petraeus
David Petraeus
David Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
was confirmed as McChrystal's replacement.
As of 2010, Parker was Honorary Colonel of the Manchester and Salford Universities Officers' Training Corps and served as 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 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets. When the Royal Green Jackets were merged with others to form The Rifles
The Rifles
The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
, he became Colonel Commandant of the new regiment.
General
On the 29 July 2010 Parker was named as the next Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces in succession to General Sir Peter WallPeter Wall (British Army officer)
General Sir Peter Anthony Wall, KCB, CBE, ADC Gen. is a senior British Army officer, currently the Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army....
.
Parker took over as Commander-in-Chief Land Forces on 1 October 2010 and was granted the substantive rank of general
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
. For his service in Afghanistan, General Parker was presented with his NATO ribbon
NATO Medal
The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It is manufactured by Eekelers - Centini, International, of Hemiksem, Belgium...
by the overall allied commander in Afghanistan, US General David Petraeus
David Petraeus
David Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
, in addition to this Petraeus also presented General Parker with a US Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
; furthermore Parker also received the Afghan President's Award from its Minister of Defence.
Family
Parker is married with two sons, one of whom, Harry, was seriously injured in July 2009 while serving as a captainCaptain (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...
with 4 Rifles in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Harry lost both legs after the patrol he was commanding ran over a roadside bomb
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
. Parker later spoke about the aftermath of the incident, saying "it was pretty bad at that stage: they didn't know if Harry would survive or not. It helped being a soldier because all your training is about remaining as calm and calculating as you can in very difficult circumstances. But it was foul." Harry was injured shortly before Parker was due to take up the position of deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
, but Parker took up the post on schedule, later saying in an interview "Harry would be horrified if I didn't go. He'd think I was a wimp".