Edward Burgess (British Army officer)

General Sir Edward Arthur Burgess, KCB, OBE (30 September 1927 – 8 May 2015) was a British Army officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Sir Edward Burgess
Born(1927-09-30)30 September 1927
Purbrook, Hampshire
Died8 May 2015(2015-05-08) (aged 87)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1946–1987
RankGeneral
Service number393092
CommandsDeputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Field Army
Artillery Division
25th Light Regiment
Battles / warsIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation
The Troubles
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Military career

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Educated at Bloxham School, Edward Burgess was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1948.[1] He became military assistant to General Sir John Hackett, General Officer Commanding the British Army of the Rhine and commander of Northern Army Group, in 1966 and commanding officer of 25th Light Regiment in 1970, leading his regiment in Hong Kong, Catterick and Northern Ireland.[2] He rose to become Director of Army Recruiting at the Ministry of Defence in 1975 and Director of Combat Development at the Ministry of Defence in 1977 before going on to be General Officer Commanding the Artillery Division in 1979.[3] He then became Commander UK Field Army in 1982 and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in 1984.[4] He retired in 1987.[5]

He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery from 1982[6] to 1992.[7]

He was also an ADC General to the Queen.[8][9]

Retirement

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In retirement he has become President of the Royal British Legion.[10] He died on 8 May 2015.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "No. 38383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 August 1948. p. 4622.
  2. ^ "General Sir Edward Burgess – obituary". The Telegraph. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. ^ Whitaker's Almanak 1980
  4. ^ "No. 49813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1984. p. 10098.
  5. ^ "No. 50979". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1987. p. 8357.
  6. ^ "No. 48970". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 May 1982. p. 5962.
  7. ^ "No. 52910". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 1992. p. 7749.
  8. ^ "No. 51080". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1987. p. 12383.
  9. ^ Tomlinson, Richard (20 December 1992). "They also serve, who only ush". The Independent.
  10. ^ Birthdays today The Independent, 30 September 1995
  11. ^ Burgess
Military offices
Preceded by Commander UK Field Army
1982–1984
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
1984–1987
Succeeded by
Sir John Akehurst
Court offices
Preceded by Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State
1988–1997
Succeeded by