Chief of the Imperial General Staff

Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was the title of the professional commander of the British Army from 1908 until 1964.

From the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the Sovereign was able to wrest considerable control of the armed forces from Parliament with the appointment of a "General in Chief Command" of the Army. This office evolved considerably both in title and duties. Until 1793 it was a non-statutory post called "General in Chief Command" and more frequently unofficially rendered as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Its incumbents were given varying commissions such as "Captain General". The latter title was also sometimes a rank, which can be loosely considered as a precursor to the Field-Marshal.

1904-1909, the title was the Chief of the General Staff.

Since 1964, the title of the head of the Army has been Chief of the General Staff.

Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff

• Field-Marshal Sir William Nicholson, 1st Baron Nicholson, GCB, KJStJ 1909–1912
• Field-Marshal Sir John French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG 1912–April 1914
• General Sir Charles Douglas, GCB, ADC 6 April 1914-25 October 1914
• Lieutenant-General Sir James Murray, KCB 30 October 1914–September 1915
• General Sir Archibald Murray, GCB, GCMG, CVO, DSO 26 September 1915–December 1915
• Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson, 1st Bt, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO 23 December 1915–February 1918
• Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, 1st Bt, GCB, DSO 19 February 1918–19 February 1922
• Field-Marshal Frederick Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE 19 February 1922-19 February 1926
• Field-Marshal Sir George Milne, 1st Baron Milne of Salonika, GCB, GCMG, DSO, KStJ 19 February 1926–19 February 1933
• Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd 1933–1936
• Field Marshal Sir Cyril Deverell 1936–1937
• General John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort 1937–1939
• Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside 1939–1940
• Field Marshal Sir John Dill 1940–1941
• Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke 1941–1946
• Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 1946–1948
• Field Marshal Sir William Slim 1948–1952
• Field Marshal Sir John Harding 1952–1955
• Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer 1955–1958
• Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing 1958–1961
• General Sir Richard Hull 1961–1964

References

• Regiments website