The Deputy Commander Field Army is a senior British Army officer who serves as deputy to the Commander Field Army. It currently is held by an Army Reserve officer.
History The UK Field Army was first established in 1982 when the Deputy Commander-in-Chief at UK Land Forces was designated Commander of that formation. In 1995 the designation changed to Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Land Command. The Field Army was re-established in 2003, under the LANDmark reorganisation.Lt Col Richard Quinlan, R Signals, HQ Theatre Troops, in News From Formations, The Wire, April 2003, p.127 The Commander of the Field Army had two deployable Divisions (1st Armoured Division and 3rd Mechanised Division), HQ 6th Division, Theatre Troops, Joint Helicopter Command, and Training Support under him. The post of Commander Field Army ceased to exist from 1 November 2011 following a major army command reorganisation.Army Command reorganization Defence Marketing Intelligence, 10 November 2011 The post of Deputy Commander Land Forces was recreated again in January 2012.Army Commands
Recent Deputy Commanders Recent Commanders have been: Deputy Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces 1972-1973 Lieutenant-General Sir Frank King 1973-1976 Lieutenant-General Sir Allan Taylor 1976-1977 Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Beach 1977-1980 Lieutenant-General Sir Peter Hudson 1980-1982 Lieutenant-General Sir Frank Kitson
Commander UK Field Army 1982-1984 Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Burgess 1984-1987 Lieutenant-General Sir John Akehurst 1987-1990 Lieutenant-General Sir David Ramsbotham 1990-1993 Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Wilkes 1993-1994 Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Rose 1994-1995 Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Swinburn
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Land Command 1995-1997 Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Pike 1997-2001 Lieutenant-General Sir Jack Deverell
Recent Deputy Commanders (Reserves)
In 2011 a two-star appointment was created for the officer commanding the Territorial Army; this officer has inherited the above designation. This now has separated. Recent Commanders for the Territorial Army/Army Reserves have been:
Deputy Commander Land Forces (Reserves) 2011–2012 Major-General Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of WestminsterFirst ever two star post created Ministry of Defence
Deputy Commander Land Forces 2012–2015 Major-General Ranald MunroDefence Medical Welfare Service: Patrons
Deputy Commander Field Army (Reserves) Deputy Commander, Field Army (Reserves)ImageRankNameTerm beganTerm endedRefMajor GeneralSimon Brooks-WardOctober 2015January 2018Major GeneralWilliam O'LearyJanuary 2018March 2020Major GeneralCelia HarveyMarch 2020March 2022 Major GeneralAidan SmythApril 2022January 2025Major GeneralJohn KendallNovember 2024
References