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Revision as of 07:53, 1 June 2024
Sir Roland Walker | |
---|---|
![]() Lieutenant General Walker in 2023 | |
Birth name | Charles Roland Vincent Walker |
Nickname(s) | Roly |
Born | Nairobi, Kenya | 14 May 1970
Allegiance | Vereinigtes Königreich |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1990–present |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Unit | Grenadier Guards |
Commands | Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff Director Special Forces 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards |
Battles/wars | The Troubles Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order |
Alma mater | Royal Agricultural College |
Spouse(s) |
Kate White-Thomson (m. 1998) |
Lieutenant General Sir Charles Roland Vincent Walker, KCB, DSO (born 14 May 1970) is a senior British Army officer, serving as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) since April 2021.[1] He will take up the post of Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, in 2024.
Early life and education
Walker was born on 14 May 1970 in Nairobi, Kenya, to Patrick Walker and Daphne Walker (née Armour).[2] Following his father's death, his mother married Frederick Conyngham, 7th Marquess Conyngham in 1980.[2] He was educated at the Dragon School, a private preparatory school in Oxford, and then at Harrow School, an all-boys independent boarding school in London. Sponsored by the British Army as a university cadetship officer,[3] he studied at the Royal Agricultural College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.[4]
Military career
Walker was commissioned into the Guards Division of the British Army as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 9 September 1990 as part of his undergraduate cadetship.[3] He began active service in the Irish Guards in 1993, and saw operational tours in Northern Ireland and Iraq.[4] In 1997 he joined 22 Special Air Service Regiment.[5] Following his time with Special Forces, he became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards from 2008 to 2010.[4][6] With the Grenadiers, he served a tour in Afghanistan, during which the Ridgeback PPV in which he was travelling was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED): all six soldiers inside escaped uninjured, but the vehicle was thrown into the air, had its wheels blown off and its armour shredded.[6] Walker was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in September 2010 in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan.[7]
Walker commanded the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade from 2013 to 2015,[4] and was promoted to brigadier on 30 June 2014.[8] He has since held staff appointments at Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence.[4] He was promoted to major general on 8 March 2018,[9] and appointed Director Special Forces.[10] He was promoted to lieutenant general and became Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) on 16 April 2021.[11] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2023 New Year Honours, thereby granted the title sir.[12]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Roland_Walker_and_Walter_E._Piatt.jpg/220px-Roland_Walker_and_Walter_E._Piatt.jpg)
Walker has been selected to be the next Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and will take up the post in June 2024.[13][14]
Walker served as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps from 1 March 2017 to 1 June 2022,[15] and Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards from 18 June 2017 to 18 June 2022; both ceremonial appointments.[16][17]
Personal life
In 1998, Walker married Kate White-Thomson. They have three daughters and live in Herefordshire.[4]
References
- ^ Notice, gov.uk. Accessed 3 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Walker, Lt Gen. Sir (Charles) Roland (Vincent), (born 14 May 1970), Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations), since 2021". Who's Who 2024. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b "No. 52323". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 November 1990. p. 17191.
- ^ a b c d e f "Walker, Maj. Gen. (Charles) Roland (Vincent), (born 14 May 1970), Operations Director, Ministry of Defence, since 2018". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Roly Walker DSO". GOV.UK.
- ^ a b Rayment, Sean (20 June 2010). "Portraits of bravery: commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "No. 59554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 2010. p. 18535.
- ^ "No. 60918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 2014. p. 2.
- ^ "No. 62226". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 March 2018. p. 4541.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Roly Walker DSO". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "No. 63325". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 April 2021. p. 7239.
- ^ "No. 63918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N2.
- ^ Harnden, Toby (28 August 2023). "'As a soldier, he's beyond compare': The ex-SAS war hero intent on change for the British Army". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "General Sir Roly Walker appointed new Chief of the General Staff". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "No. 61865". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2017. p. 4890.
- ^ "Regimental Headquarters". Grenadier Guards. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "No. 61971". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 June 2017. p. 11876.
External links
- 1970 births
- Living people
- British Army lieutenant generals
- People educated at The Dragon School
- People educated at Harrow School
- Alumni of the Royal Agricultural University
- Irish Guards officers
- Grenadier Guards officers
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order