Commandant General Royal Marines

Flag of the Commandant General Royal Marines

The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1943 (before which time the Royal Marines were headed by the Adjutant-General Royal Marines). The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines, responsible for advising the First Sea Lord, with line responsibility for all RM units.

Role as COMUKAMPHIBFOR

The appointment is held concurrently with that of Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces (COMUKAMPHIBFOR). Since the creation of Fleet Battle Staff in 2001, the role has been dual-hatted as Commander UK Amphibious Forces. COMUKAMPHIBFOR is one of two deployable two-star Maritime Operational Commanders (the other being Commander UK Maritime Force (COMUKMARFOR), with particular responsibility for amphibious and littoral warfare. Unlike COMUKMARFOR, COMUKAMPHIBFOR is primarily configured to command as a CJTF and designed to support a single 2* commander.

History

Originally the Commandant General held the rank of a full General. This has changed over the last 60 years in line with the reduction in the size of the Royal Marines.

This position is not to be confused with Captain General Royal Marines, the ceremonial head.

This position is the counterpart to the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, although the latter is a full general.

Commandant General Royal Marines

Commandants General included:

• General Sir Thomas Hunton, 1943–1946
• General Sir Dallas Brooks, 1946–1949
• General Sir Leslie Hollis, 1949–1952
• General Sir John Westall, 1952–1955
• General Sir Campbell Hardy, 1955–1959
• General Sir Ian Riches, 1959–1962
• Lieutenant General Sir Malcolm Cartwright-Taylor, 1962–1965
• General Sir Norman Tailyour, 1965–1968
• General Sir Peter Hellings, 1968–1971
• General Sir Ian Gourlay, 1971–1975
• General Sir Peter Whiteley, 1975–1977
• Lieutenant General Sir John Richards, 1977–1981
• Lieutenant General Sir Steuart Pringle, 1981–1985
• Lieutenant General Sir Michael Wilkins, 1985–1987
• Lieutenant General Sir Martin Garrod, 1987–1990
• Lieutenant General Sir Henry Beverley, 1990–1994
• Lieutenant General Sir Robin Ross, 1994–1996
• Major General David Pennefather, 1996–1998
• Major General Robert Fulton, 1998–2001
• Major General Robert Fry, 2001–2002
• Major General Anthony Milton, 2002–2004
• Major General David Wilson, 2004
• Major General James Dutton, 2004–2006
• Major General Garry Robison, 2006–2009
• Major General Andy Salmon, Jun 2009 - Feb 2010
• Major General Buster Howes, Feb 2010 – Dec 2011
• Major General Ed Davis, Dec 2011 - Present