Jump to content

Jack Fletcher (British Army officer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jack Spencer Fletcher
Born(1928-08-28)28 August 1928
Romney Marsh, Kent
Died10 October 1976(1976-10-10) (aged 48)
Petersfield
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1948–1976
RankBrigadier
Service number397244
CommandsDeputy Military Secretary
Dhofar Brigade
2nd Battalion Queen's Regiment
Battles / warsMalayan Emergency
Dhofar Rebellion
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire

Brigadier Jack Spencer Fletcher, CBE (13 August 1928 – 10 October 1976) was a British Army officer who played a key part in the Dhofar Rebellion.

Military career

[edit]

Jack Fletcher was commissioned into Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1948.[1] He was appointed Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion Queen's Regiment in 1969 and led the Battalion in The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

In 1972 he commanded the Dhofar Brigade of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces against a communist-inspired armed insurrection during the Dhofar Rebellion. They were commanded to "concentrate on pacifcation and civil development work in Eastern jebel."[2] He laid the foundation for the subsequent success of the operation by constructing a blocking line, "known as Hornbeam" which provided "a permanent presence on the jebel, and a means to patrol aggressively against the adoo."[2]

He spent two years as Deputy Military Secretary from 1974 to 1976 when he became ill. Fletcher had been selected for promotion to major-general before his death.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Obituary: Jack Fletcher
  2. ^ a b Hughes, Geraint (2009). "A 'Model Campaign' Reappraised: The Counter-Insurgency War in Dhofar, Oman, 1965-75". Journal of Strategic Studies. 32 (2): 284–285. doi:10.1080/01402390902743357. S2CID 153577676 – via Taylor and Francis.