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Freddie Viggers

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Lieutenant General
Sir Freddie Viggers
KCB, CMG, MBE, DL
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
In office
30 April 2009 – 28 October 2010
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded bySir Michael Willcocks
Succeeded byDavid Leakey
Personal details
Born (1951-06-29) 29 June 1951 (age 73)
NationalityBritish
Alma materRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
NicknameFreddie
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
Years of service1972–2008
RankLieutenant General
UnitRoyal Artillery
CommandsAdjutant-General to the Forces
Multi-National Division (South-West)
Commander, Royal Artillery 3rd Division
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Battles/warsBosnian War
Iraq War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Richard Viggers, KCB, CMG, MBE, DL (born 29 June 1951) is a former senior British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General to the Forces immediately prior to his retirement in 2008. He was Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from 30 April 2009 to 28 October 2010.[1] He also served in Bosnia in the aftermath of the breakup of Yugoslavia, and in the Iraq War.

Early life

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Viggers was born on 29 June 1951 and educated at Wellington School, Somerset.[2]

Military career

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Having attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Viggers was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a second lieutenant on 14 April 1972.[3] He was promoted lieutenant on 14 October 1973,[4] and captain on 14 April 1978.[5] In 1983 he attended the Staff College, Camberley, was promoted major on 30 September, and assumed command of a battery of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (3RHA).[6][7] In December 1985 he was appointed chief of staff to 1st Infantry Brigade, the brigade's main task was as NATO's "UK Mobile Force", which would have seen it reinforcing Denmark, or the Schleswig-Holstein area of Germany. As a result of his performance in this post, especially for his organisation of British participation in the NATO multi-national Operation Bold Guard, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1988 New Year Honours.[8][9] The citation for this honour remarked: "1st Infantry Brigade is closer in size to a normal division[, its] strength rising to over 15,000 when formed into the United Kingdom Mobile Force (UKMF) ... Viggers enjoys a responsibility and workload far greater than that normally given to a Grade 2 officer ... [His contribution] has been quite outstanding, and far beyond the call of duty expected of an officer of his age and service."[9] He was promoted lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1988,[10] and was initially posted to the directing staff at Camberley before taking command of 3RHA in 1989. The regiment transferred from Germany to Colchester Garrison in early 1990, joining the 19th Infantry Brigade.[7]

Viggers was promoted colonel on 30 June 1992,[11] and served at the Ministry of Defence in the Central Staff Directorate of Defence Policy, transferring to the Defence Costs Study Secretariat in 1993.[7][12] Promoted brigadier on 30 December 1994 (with seniority from 30 June),[13] he became Commander, Royal Artillery in HQ 3rd Division in 1994 and attended the Higher Command and Staff Course before deploying to Bosnia with the division as part of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR).[7][12] He was then posted as Director of Manning (Army) in 1997,[7] and was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) on 31 December 1997, holding that appointment until 17 February 2001.[14][15]

On 24 March 1999, Viggers returned to Bosnia as Commander Multi-National Division (South-West) in SFOR and was granted acting promotion to major general,[16] substantive promotion followed on 1 September 1999 (with seniority from the date of his acting rank).[17] For his service there, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service on 3 November 2000.[18] On 9 February 2000 he became Chief of Staff at Land Command and remained there until May 2003.[7][19] He received a further honorary appointment on 11 May 2000 when he became Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps.[20] In May 2003 he was appointed Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multinational Force, Iraq, based in Baghdad following its occupation by US and British forces;[7] for his service there he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on 23 April 2004.[21] His next post was as Military Secretary and Chief Executive Army Personnel Centre, which he took up on 20 October 2003.[22]

Adjutant General

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On 4 April 2005, Viggers became Adjutant General and was promoted lieutenant general.[23] He became Colonel Commandant Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 July 2005,[24] and Colonel Commandant Adjutant General's Corps on 3 November 2003, holding that appointment until 28 July 2008.[25][26] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2007 New Year Honours,[27] and made a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in June 2008.[28]

Viggers's period as Adjutant General coincided with heavy commitments for the British Army, which led to increased media discussion of the pay and conditions in the British Armed forces. He spoke out against the conditions in some barracks, and of the need for improved funding to bring accommodation stock up-to-date.[29] On 7 May 2007, The Mail on Sunday published an article claiming that his house had been renovated at the taxpayers' expense, and he was also named in a 26 May article on the amount spent on accommodation and servants for high-ranking army officers. However, Viggers complained to the Press Complaints Commission and The Mail on Sunday subsequently printed an apology, accepting that the accommodation renovated was in fact an MOD property, and he had not been to blame for the state of military housing.[30] He also issued an apology and authorised the payment of £3 million in compensation to the families of Baha Mousa and nine other Iraqis tortured by British troops.[31]

Viggers retired on 29 October 2008, after 36 years of service in the British Army.[32]

Later life

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In December 2008 it was announced that Viggers had been appointed to the House of Lords' position of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.[33] He replaced Sir Michael Willcocks on 30 April 2009 when Willcocks retired.[34] On 18 May 2010, he was due to take part in the ceremonial opening of Parliament following the 2010 general election, but he suffered a serious stroke and was unable to attend. His place was taken by his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, Ted Lloyd-Jukes. He resigned as Black Rod because of ill health on 28 October 2010.[1]

Viggers is married with two children, and has a keen interest in sport.[7] He is a trustee of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust, which assists British Army regimental and corps museums;[35] he is also an Honorary Fellow, and member of the advisory group, of the Institute of Continuing Professional Development;[36] and has assisted in running events for the Army Benevolent Fund.[37] On 9 December 2009, Viggers gave evidence to The Iraq Inquiry, in which he was highly critical of the administration of post-war Iraq.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Black Rod resigns over ill health". The Independent. London. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Old Wellingtonian appointed Black Rod". This is the West Country. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  3. ^ "No. 45671". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 May 1972. p. 5854.
  4. ^ "No. 46103". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 October 1973. p. 12243.
  5. ^ "No. 47515". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 April 1978. p. 4725.
  6. ^ "No. 49509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1983. pp. 13643–13644.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers KCB CMG MBE". British Army website. Ministry of Defence. 2008. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  8. ^ "No. 51171". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1987. p. 6.
  9. ^ a b "Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)—Image details—Viggers, Frederick Richard" (fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  10. ^ "No. 51399". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 July 1988. p. 7702.
  11. ^ "No. 53001". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 July 1992. p. 12670.
  12. ^ a b "Commander MND-SW Maj. Gen. Freddie R. Viggers M.B.E." NATO/SFOR Informer. NATO. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  13. ^ "No. 53902". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1994. p. 55.
  14. ^ "No. 55006". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 January 1998. p. 102.
  15. ^ "No. 56164". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 April 2001. p. 4052.
  16. ^ "No. 55442". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 March 1999. p. 3609.
  17. ^ "No. 55601". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 September 1999. p. 9591.
  18. ^ "No. 56017". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2000. pp. 12362–12363.
  19. ^ "No. 55763". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 February 2000. p. 1655.
  20. ^ "No. 55848". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 May 2000. p. 5366.
  21. ^ "No. 57269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 2004. p. 5131.
  22. ^ "No. 57089". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 October 2003. p. 12987.
  23. ^ "No. 57603". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 April 2005. p. 4097.
  24. ^ "No. 57712". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 July 2005. p. 9645.
  25. ^ "No. 57807". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2005. p. 14370.
  26. ^ "No. 58786". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 August 2008. p. 11868.
  27. ^ "No. 58196". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2006. p. 2.
  28. ^ "No. 58742". The London Gazette. 30 December 2006. p. 9205.
  29. ^ "General condemns forces housing". BBC. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
  30. ^ "Complainant Name: Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers". Press Complaints Commission. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  31. ^ Weaver, Matthew (10 July 2008). "MoD to pay £3m to Iraqis tortured by British troops". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
  32. ^ "No. 58872". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 November 2008. p. 17018.
  33. ^ "Appointment to the post of Black Rod". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  34. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. London. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.[dead link‍]
  35. ^ "Governance of The Army Museums Ogilby Trust". Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  36. ^ "Management". Institute of Continuing Professional Development. 2006. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  37. ^ "The Lord Mayor's Big Curry 2009". Army Benevolent Fund. 2009. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  38. ^ "Army chief lambasts 'amateurs' in post-invasion Iraq". BBC News. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander Multi-National Division (South-West), Bosnia
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
New title Senior British Military Representative
and Deputy Commanding General, Multinational Force, Iraq
May–September 2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Military Secretary
2003–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Adjutant General
2005–2008 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Black Rod
2008–2010 		Succeeded by
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