Patrick Marriott
Encyclopedia
Major-General Patrick Claude Marriott CBE
(born 23 February 1958) is a British
soldier
and, since 2009, Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
.
His early career was with the 17th/21st Lancers
and the Queen's Royal Lancers, which he commanded for two years. Postings include the Multinational Force
in Sinai, Northern Ireland
, West Germany
, SHAPE
, and a year in command of the 7th Armoured Brigade in Iraq.
Peter Barnsley Marriott DSO
DSC
RN
(1915–1989), by his marriage to Francis Jill Davis, a former Leading
WREN
(died 2009), Marriott was educated at Gresham's School
, Holt
, and at Sandhurst.
from 1977 to 1982, then was a company commander in the Multinational Force and Observers
in Sinai, 1982. He returned to the 17th/21st Lancers as Adjutant
, 1982 to 1985, was an assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel & Logistics), 1985–1987, a squadron leader with the 17th/21st Lancers, 1987 to 1990, before passing the Staff College in 1990. Instructor at the Staff College, 1991–1993, before service with the Queen's Royal Lancers, 1993 to 1995, an appointment at the British Army Training Unit Suffield
, 1995–1997, and a posting to SHAPE
in 1998. He was Commanding Officer of the Queen's Royal Lancers from 1998 to 2000, then Chief of Staff, HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division, 2000–2004, took a Higher Command and Staff Course in 2004, then commanded 7th Armoured Brigade from 2005 to 2007 and was Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters
, 2007 to 2009. Since 2009 he has served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
While serving in post-invasion Iraq as commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade, Marriott was also in command of all British troops in southern Iraq from 2005 to 2006. While many soldiers were complaining about the politicians
who had sent them into action without enough men or equipment, Marriott took the view that the British could never have gained the trust of the people of Basra, thanks to their history. In an interview with the journalist Oliver Poole
he said "The people were immersed in cruelty. There's a sad culture of mistrust, especially of authority." In celebration of his Brigade's nickname, "the Desert Rats", Marriott kept a large silver rat on his desk in Basra.
Marriott has served as a member of the House of Laity of the General Synod of the Church of England
since 2005, and as a director of the British Forces Foundation
since 2009.
In 2005, he was granted a coat of arms
by the College of Arms
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 23 February 1958) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and, since 2009, Commandant of the 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...
.
His early career was with the 17th/21st Lancers
17th/21st Lancers
The 17th/21st Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1993.It was formed in 1922 in England by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers . From 1930 to 1939 it was deployed overseas; first in Egypt for two years, and then in India for seven...
and the Queen's Royal Lancers, which he commanded for two years. Postings include the Multinational Force
Multinational Force and Observers
The Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
in Sinai, 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...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
, and a year in command of the 7th Armoured Brigade in Iraq.
Early life
The son of CaptainCaptain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
Peter Barnsley Marriott DSO
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...
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
RN
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...
(1915–1989), by his marriage to Francis Jill Davis, a former Leading
Leading Seaman
Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of corporal and some navies use corporal rather than...
WREN
Women's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
(died 2009), Marriott was educated at Gresham's School
Gresham's School
Gresham’s School is an independent coeducational boarding school in Holt in North Norfolk, England, a member of the HMC.The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free grammar school for forty boys, following King Henry VIII's dissolution of the Augustinian priory at Beeston Regis...
, Holt
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
, and at Sandhurst.
Career
Commissioned as a regular officer in May 1977, Marriott was an officer of the 17th/21st Lancers17th/21st Lancers
The 17th/21st Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1993.It was formed in 1922 in England by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers . From 1930 to 1939 it was deployed overseas; first in Egypt for two years, and then in India for seven...
from 1977 to 1982, then was a company commander in the Multinational Force and Observers
Multinational Force and Observers
The Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
in Sinai, 1982. He returned to the 17th/21st Lancers as Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
, 1982 to 1985, was an assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel & Logistics), 1985–1987, a squadron leader with the 17th/21st Lancers, 1987 to 1990, before passing the Staff College in 1990. Instructor at the Staff College, 1991–1993, before service with the Queen's Royal Lancers, 1993 to 1995, an appointment at the British Army Training Unit Suffield
British Army Training Unit Suffield
The British Army Training Unit Suffield is a British Army unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta, Canada...
, 1995–1997, and a posting to SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
in 1998. He was Commanding Officer of the Queen's Royal Lancers from 1998 to 2000, then Chief of Staff, HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division, 2000–2004, took a Higher Command and Staff Course in 2004, then commanded 7th Armoured Brigade from 2005 to 2007 and was Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters
Permanent Joint Headquarters
The Permanent Joint Headquarters is the British tri-service headquarters from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. It is situated at Northwood Headquarters in Northwood, London....
, 2007 to 2009. Since 2009 he has served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
While serving in post-invasion Iraq as commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade, Marriott was also in command of all British troops in southern Iraq from 2005 to 2006. While many soldiers were complaining about the politicians
Blair Ministry
Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for three successive parliamentary terms from 1997-2007. His Cabinet was reshuffled for each new parliament as well as changed during the three periods.-Formation:...
who had sent them into action without enough men or equipment, Marriott took the view that the British could never have gained the trust of the people of Basra, thanks to their history. In an interview with the journalist Oliver Poole
Oliver Poole (journalist)
Oliver Poole is a British journalist and author who has had articles published by The Independent, The Guardian, BBC News and The Observer. He has also published two books detailing his experiences of the war in Iraq; Black Knights: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad and Red Zone: Five Bloody Years in...
he said "The people were immersed in cruelty. There's a sad culture of mistrust, especially of authority." In celebration of his Brigade's nickname, "the Desert Rats", Marriott kept a large silver rat on his desk in Basra.
Marriott has served as a member of the House of Laity of the General Synod of the Church of England
General Synod of the Church of England
The General Synod is the deliberative and legislative body of the Church of England. The synod was instituted in 1970, replacing the Church Assembly, and is the culmination of a process of rediscovering self-government for the Church of England that had started in the 1850s.- Church Assembly: 1919...
since 2005, and as a director of the British Forces Foundation
British Forces Foundation
The British Forces Foundation is a British Charity, reg no 1075109The foundation was launched in May 1999 by comedian Jim Davidson to support the well being of the members of Britains armed forces though the provision of high quality entertainment....
since 2009.
Private life
In 1989, Marriott married Karin Henrietta Warde Ingram, and they have two sons and one daughter.In 2005, he was granted a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
by the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
Honours
- Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, April 2000, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former YugoslaviaFormer YugoslaviaThe former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
during 1999United Nations Interim Administration Mission in KosovoThe United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Nations. The mission was established on 10 June 1999 by Security Council Resolution 1244...
" - Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 2003 - Queen's Commendation for Valuable ServiceQueen's Commendation for Valuable ServiceThe Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service is a British military award that recognises meritorious service during, or in support of, operations...
, 2006