Robert Thomson (British Army officer)
Robert Thomson | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1988–2022 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | British Forces Cyprus 38th (Irish) Brigade 2nd Battalion The Rifles |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Bronze Star Medal (United States) |
Major General Robert John Thomson, CBE, DSO (born 1 January 1967) is a former senior British Army officer. He served as Commander of British Forces Cyprus between September 2019 and August 2022.
Military career
[edit]He was educated at Brentwood School, Essex, Magdalene College, Cambridge and King's College London (MA Defence Studies).[1][2] Thomson was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets on 2 September 1988.[3] He served as commanding officer of 2nd Battalion The Rifles and was deployed in that role on Operation Herrick 10 in Afghanistan from May 2009 to October 2009.[4] He went on to be commander of 38th (Irish) Brigade in December 2011[5] and Deputy Commander of Regional Command Southwest in April 2014, in which role he led the withdrawal of British troops from Camp Bastion in October 2014.[4] He became British defence attaché in Paris in September 2017,[6] and commander of British Forces Cyprus in September 2019.[7]
Thomson was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours,[8] and advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services in Afghanistan on 3 July 2015.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Alumni and Development" (PDF). Magdalene College Magazine 2010–11. p. 50. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "Thomson, Maj. Gen. Robert John, (born 1 Jan. 1967), Administrator, Sovereign Base Areas and Commander, British Forces, Cyprus, since 2019." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2021
- ^ "No. 51657". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 February 1989. p. 2502.
- ^ a b "Key moment in History of The Rifles. After 13 years committed to operations in Afghanistan, Operation Herrick comes to an end". Rifles Museum. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "Up and out : Promotions, moves and retirements in Armed Forces". Defence Viewpoints. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "Durham Light Infantry and Bedfordshire Regiment Soldiers who fought in world war 1 are laid to rest a century later". Ministry of Defence. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "No. 62784". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 2019. p. 17508.
- ^ "No. 57509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2004. p. 6.
- ^ "No. 61284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 2015. p. 12288.
- 1967 births
- Living people
- People educated at Brentwood School, Essex
- Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge
- Alumni of King's College London
- British Army major generals
- British Army personnel of the Iraq War
- British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order