Gordon Messenger: Difference between revisions
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/gordon-messenger General Gordon Messenger] |
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/gordon-messenger General Gordon Messenger] |
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* [http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/e_navy_list_2006.pdf The Navy List 2006] |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080307043313/http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/e_navy_list_2006.pdf The Navy List 2006] |
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Revision as of 08:21, 23 March 2017
Sir Gordon Messenger | |
|---|---|
 Then Lieutenant General Gordon Messenger, January 2014 | |
| Born | 15 April 1962 Dundee, Scotland |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 1983 – present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (2016–) Task Force Helmand (2008–09) 3 Commando Brigade (2008–09) 40 Commando (2002–04) |
| Battles / wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Bar Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
General Sir Gordon Kenneth Messenger, KCB, DSO & Bar, OBE, ADC (born 15 April 1962) is a senior Royal Marines officer and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff with effect from May 2016, in succession to Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach. As a colonel he commanded 40 Commando during the Iraq War, and led the Commando in the assault on the Al-Faw Peninsula. He served as British Commander of Task Force Helmand, during the 3 Commando Brigade deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Operation Herrick IX from 2008 to 2009.
Military career
Messenger was appointed an acting lieutenant on a short career graduate commission on 15 September 1983 (with seniority from 1 September 1982),[1] transferring to a full career commission on 21 May 1986 with seniority from 1 September 1984.[2] At this time he also qualified as a Mountain Leader.[3] In 1995 he graduated from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course No 21.[4] He was promoted substantive major on 30 June 1997, having previously held the rank locally.[5]
Messenger served with British forces in the former Yugoslavia in 2000 (Kosovo), for which he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[6] He was promoted substantive colonel on 30 June 2002, having previously held the rank on an acting basis.[7][8] For his leadership of 40 Commando (and attached army units) in Iraq, including the initial assault on Al Faw peninsular, and an action against Iraqi armour at Abu Al Khasib, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 31 October 2003.[9][10] After a sabbatical in Geneva, he joined the Joint Force Headquarters as Chief of Staff in July 2004, a job that saw him on various operations worldwide, including Operation Garron, the 2004 tsunami relief effort, Operation Highbrow, the Lebanon evacuation operation, and a six-month tour in command of the Operation Herrick preliminary operation in Afghanistan.[3][11] He graduated from the UK Higher Command and Staff Course in 2007 and was promoted brigadier on 24 April 2007.[12] On 1 April 2008 he was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Queen.[13]
Messenger served as the British Commander of Task Force Helmand,[14] during the 3 Commando Brigade deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Operation Herrick IX in 2008–2009. For his leadership during this operation he was awarded a Bar to his DSO on 11 September 2009,[15] the first member of the Naval Service to receive the DSO and Bar for over 50 years.[16] He was promoted major general in late 2009, and appointed lead spokesman on British operations in Afghanistan.[16] He went on to be Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood in 2011[17] and became Director Force Reintegration HQ International Security Assistance Force in October 2012.[18] He served as Deputy Commander of NATO Allied Land Command (LANDCOM)-Izmir from January 2013[19] until June 2014 when he was assigned to the post of Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) in the Ministry of Defence.[20] He was promoted to lieutenant general on 14 January 2013.[21]
On 1 December 2015, Messenger appeared in front of the Defence Select Committee of the House of Commons in relation to the military situation in Syria.[22] On 15 March 2016, Messenger was in South Korea to observe British troops participating in Operation Key Resolve.[23] Messenger was appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in spring 2016, in succession to Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach. Messenger was formally promoted to full general on 16 May 2016.[24] He is the first four-star Royal Marine general since 1977.[25][26] Messenger handed over his role of Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) to Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith on 18 April 2016.[27]
Messenger was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2015 Birthday Honours[28] and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2016 Birthday Honours.[29] He is patron of the Defence Medical Welfare Service[30] and honorary Colonel of 131 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers.[31]
Family
He is married to Sarah and they have three children. He enjoys running, rugby, rock climbing and real ale.[3]
References
- ^ "No. 49517". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 24 October 1983. - ^ "No. 50589". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 7 July 1986. - ^ a b c Royal Marines Website retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ CFC Graduates as Operational Commanders. Retrieved 20 May 2008
- ^ "No. 54820". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 30 June 1997. - ^ "No. 56373". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 30 October 2001. - ^ "No. 56626". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 9 July 2002. - ^ The Navy List 2006 retrieved 19 May 2008. Archived 14 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "No. 57100". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 30 October 2003. - ^ Operational Awards for Op TELIC retrieved 19 May 2008.
- ^ UK Colonel Outlines Afghan Vision retrieved 19 May 2008.
- ^ "No. 58309". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 24 April 2007. - ^ "No. 58660". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 8 April 2008. - ^ "3 Commando Brigade take over in Helmand". MoD. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
- ^ "No. 59182". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 11 September 2009. - ^ a b General seeks support for troops, The Daily Express, 18 December 2009. Retrieved on 10 February 2010
- ^ Up and out : Promotions, leavers, new jobs May 2012 Defence Viewpoints
- ^ Ups and outs ; Promotions, retirements in HM Forces June 2012 Defence Viewpoints
- ^ NATO Land Command Tightens Links with the JFTC NATO
- ^ Allied Land Command news NATO
- ^ "No. 60398". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 22 January 2013. - ^ Watt, Nicholas; MacAskill, Ewen; Mason, Rowena. "David Cameron has failed to justify Syria airstrikes, MPs' committee says". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "British General in S. Korea to observe Key Resolve". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "No. 61649". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 19 July 2016. - ^ "Marine general chosen as top brass No 2". The Times. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "The Secretary of State announces new Senior Appointments in the Armed Services". Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "No. 61557". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 18 April 2016. - ^ "No. 61256". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 13 June 2015. - ^ "No. 61608". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 11 June 2016. - ^ "Patrons". Defence Medical Welfare Service. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "No. 59720". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 8 March 2011.
