Field Marshal Lord Bramall Dies aged 95

Army press announcement: 13th Nov 2019

Former Chief of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Lord Bramall KG, GCB, OBE, MC, JP, DL, died on the 13th November, aged 95. 

General Sir Nick Carter said: “He was a remarkable soldier who served our country with great bravery and dedication over many decades, inspiring his many subordinates, and overseeing significant change as a chief of staff that we still benefit from today. We will all miss his wisdom, his generosity and his rifleman’s lightness of touch.”

Lord Bramall was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 22 May 1943 during the Second World War and took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944. His actions in Northwest Europe during the later stages of the war led to him being awarded the Military Cross on 1 March 1945 by Field Marshal Montgomery.

As Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, The Green Jackets, The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, he and his battalion deployed to Borneo during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in the first half of 1966 where his actions earned him a mention in despatches. He was made Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong with the rank of Lieutenant General in 1973 and then commanded UK Land Forces between 1976 and 1978.

He was appointed Chief of the General Staff - the professional head of the Army - in 1979, overseeing the Falklands campaign in 1982. Later that year he was promoted to Field Marshal and appointed the Chief of the Defence Staff - the most senior officer commanding the UK’s armed forces - in which role he served until 1985.

After his retirement Bramall served as Lord Lieutenant of Greater London from 1986 to 1998. He was a regular participant in the Ceremony of the Garter at St George’s Chapel Windsor after being made a Companion Knight of the Garter in 1990.

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