Ben Bathurst
Sir Ben Bathurst | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Major General Bathurst in 2021 | |
| Governor of Gibraltar | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Chief Minister | Fabian Picardo |
| Preceded by | Sir David Steel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 April 1964 |
| Relations | Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst (father) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1983-2024 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Welsh Guards |
| Commands | UK Military Representative to NATO London District Household Division 1st Battalion Welsh Guards |
| Battles/wars | Operation Banner War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) Bronze Star Medal (United States) |
Lieutenant-General Sir Benjamin John Bathurst, KCVO, CBE (born 15 April 1964) is a retired senior British Army officer. He is currently serving as Governor of Gibraltar, having replaced Sir David Steel in June 2024.
Early life and education
[edit]Bathurst was born on 15 April 1964 in Haslemere, Surrey, England.[1] He is the son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst.[2] He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school in Berkshire. He studied at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986, and at Cranfield University, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in 1996.[1]
Military career
[edit]Bathurst was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in September 1983.[3] He became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in July 2004.[4] In 2005, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He went on to be Director of Public Relations (Army) in September 2006, Deputy Director Strategy, Plans and Assessment in October 2008 and Commander, Initial Training Group in January 2010.[5]
Bathurst became Director of Training in February 2011, Senior British Military Representative in Afghanistan in May 2014,[6] and Major-General commanding the Household Division in June 2016.[7] He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2014,[8] and awarded the United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) in May 2018.[9] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 7 November 2019.[10][11][12] In 2020, on completion of his tour at London District, he took up the appointment of UK Military Representative to NATO and the European Union in the rank of lieutenant general.[13] Bathurst was formally promoted to lieutenant general on 13 March 2020 and serves as the National Military Representative to the European Union.[14]
Bathurst was Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps until August 2023,[15] and retired from the army 20 April 2024.[16]
Governor of Gibraltar
[edit]In March 2024, it was confirmed that Bathurst would become Governor of Gibraltar in June 2024.[17] He was sworn in on 4 June 2024.[18]
| Viceregal styles of Sir Ben Bathurst (2024-present) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Excellency |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Bathurst, Maj. Gen. Benjamin John". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U281304. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8
- ^ "No. 49532". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1983. p. 14703.
- ^ "Unlikely Challenge in Shiite Province". Los Angeles Times. 18 November 2004. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "UK military mentoring in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "No. 61624". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 2016. p. 3.
- ^ "The London Gazette". HM Government. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ "No. 62283". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 2018. p. 8434.
- ^ "Court Circular". The Royal Family. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "Honours and Awards CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD". thegazette.co.uk. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
K.C.V.O. To be Knights Commander: Major General Benjamin John BATHURST, C.B.E. On the relinquishment of his appointment as Major General Commanding the Household Division. (To be dated 7 November 2019)
- ^ "No. 62828". The London Gazette. 15 November 2019. p. 20760.
- ^ Mackie, Colin (8 January 2020). "Generals, January 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
Lieutenant-General Sir Benjamin J. Bathurst (late Welsh Guards): U.K. National Military Representative, N.A.T.O., 2020
- ^ "No. 62947". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2020. p. 5503.
- ^ "No. 64276". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 2024. p. 26495.
- ^ "No. 64375". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 2024. p. 8014.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst appointed new Governor of Gibraltar". GBC. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst was sworn in at a ceremony in Parliament".
- British Army lieutenant generals
- British Army personnel of the Iraq War
- British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
- Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Governors of Gibraltar
- Officers of the Legion of Merit
- Welsh Guards officers
- Bathurst family
- Military personnel from Surrey
- People from Haslemere
- 1964 births
- Living people
- 20th-century British Army personnel