Colin Weir
Colin Weir | |
|---|---|
 Major General Colin Weir | |
| Born | 2 March 1971 Portadown, Northern Ireland |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1991–2024 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | 1st (United Kingdom) Division 16 Air Assault Brigade 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Major General Colin Richard James Weir, CB, DSO, MBE (born 2 March 1971) is a retired senior British Army officer.
Early life and education
[edit]Weir was born on 2 March 1971 in Portadown, Northern Ireland.[1] He was educated at Portadown College, and graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.[2]
Military career
[edit]Weir was commissioned into the Royal Irish Rangers on 26 May 1991.[3] He was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment in March 2010 and was deployed in that role to Afghanistan.[2] He went on to be chief of staff for 1st (United Kingdom) Division in December 2012, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in July 2015,[4] and Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters in May 2017 before becoming General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division in November 2018.[5] Weir was appointed chief of staff to the Field Army in 2020, and stepped down in July 2023.[6]
Weir was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours,[7] awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 30 September 2011 for service in Afghanistan,[8] and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2023 Birthday Honours.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Weir, Maj. Gen. Colin Richard James, (born 2 March 1971), General Officer Commanding 1st (UK) Division, since 2018". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U291826. ISBN 9780199540884.
- ^ a b "Town soldier attains the rank of Colonel". Portadown Times. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "No. 52646". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 September 1991. p. 13419.
- ^ "Special Order of the day by Brigadier C R J Weir DSO MBE, 20 October 2015". Paradata. 19 November 2018.
- ^ "No. 62472". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 2018. p. 21011.
- ^ Mackie, Colin (1 November 2020). "Generals November 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
Major-General Colin J. R. Weir (late Royal Irish Regiment): Chief of Staff, Field Army, 2020
- ^ "No. 59282". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2009. p. 5.
- ^ "No. 59924". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 September 2011. p. 18714.
- ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B3.
- 1971 births
- Living people
- People educated at Portadown College
- Alumni of Queen's University Belfast
- British Army major generals
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- People from Portadown
- Military personnel from County Armagh
- 20th-century British Army personnel
- British Army personnel of the Iraq War
- British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)