Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chief of the General Staff
Flag of the Chief of the General Staff
British Army insignia
Incumbent General Sir Roland Walker since 15 June 2024
Ministry of Defence British Army
Abbreviation	CGS
Member of	Defence Council Army Board Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Staff
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	The Monarch On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	No fixed length
Precursor	Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
Formation	1904, 1964
First holder	Sir Neville Lyttelton
Deputy	Deputy Chief of the General Staff

The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is the top military leader of the British Army. Think of them as the main boss who helps guide the army. This important job has been called CGS since 1964.

The CGS is a member of key groups like the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board. These groups help make big decisions for the military. Before 1964, the title was a bit different: Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS).

Since 1959, the CGS works under the Chief of the Defence Staff. This person is the overall head of all the British Armed Forces.

The current Chief of the General Staff is General Sir Roland Walker. He took over this role on June 15, 2024, from General Sir Patrick Sanders.

What the Chief of the General Staff Does

The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is the main leader of the British Army. Their job is to make sure the army is strong and ready. This includes both regular soldiers and reserve forces. They also make sure soldiers are effective, efficient, and have good morale.

The CGS reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff. They can also talk directly to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister. The CGS is part of several important committees that make decisions for the armed forces.

Here are some of their main duties:

• They are in charge of all Army personnel. This means they look after everyone serving in the Army.
• They make sure the Army is run well and efficiently.
• They lead important meetings for the Army, like the Executive Committee of the Army Board.
• They give expert advice on Army matters to the government.
• They plan how the Army will grow and improve in the future. This is based on the country's defense plans and available money.
• They lead the senior team that manages the British Army.

History of the Chief of the General Staff Role

The title "Chief of the General Staff" was first used for a short time between 1904 and 1909. Before that, the top army leader was called the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. General Sir Neville Lyttelton and Field Marshal Sir William Nicholson held the CGS role back then.

In 1909, the title changed to "Chief of the Imperial General Staff." Then, in 1964, it changed back to "Chief of the General Staff."

Throughout its history, the Chief of the General Staff has always been the main military member of the Army Board. This board helps manage the Army.

Key Responsibilities of the Chief

The Chief of the General Staff is responsible for leading the entire British Army. For example, during the Second World War, General Brooke, who was the CIGS at the time, focused on big-picture strategies. He worked closely with American military leaders.

He also decided who would be in charge of important commands. He helped decide where soldiers and equipment should go. He also made sure that air forces worked well with ground operations. General Brooke also oversaw military units from countries like France, Poland, and Belgium that were based in London during the war.

He was good at giving tasks to his deputies. He also worked well with the government officials in charge of the War Office.

Past Chiefs of the General Staff

This table lists the people who have held the top leadership role in the British Army. This includes both "Chiefs of the General Staff" and "Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff." The ranks and honors listed are from when they finished their time in the role.

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref
Chiefs of the General Staff
1		Lyttelton, NevilleGeneral Sir Neville Lyttelton (1845–1931)	12 February 1904	2 April 1908	4 years, 50 days
2		Nicholson, WilliamField Marshal Sir William Nicholson (1845–1918)	2 April 1908	22 November 1909	1 year, 234 days
Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff
2		Nicholson, WilliamField Marshal Sir William Nicholson (1845–1918)	22 November 1909	15 March 1912	2 years, 114 days
3		French, JohnField Marshal Sir John French (1852–1925)	15 March 1912	6 April 1914	2 years, 22 days
4		French, JohnGeneral Sir Charles Douglas (1850–1914)	6 April 1914	25 October 1914 †	202 days
5		Murray, JamesLieutenant-General Sir James Wolfe Murray (1853–1919)	25 October 1914	26 September 1915	1 year, 154 days
6		Murray, ArchibaldLieutenant-General Sir Archibald Murray (1860–1945)	26 September 1915	23 December 1915	88 days
7		Robertson, WilliamGeneral Sir William Robertson (1860–1933)	23 December 1915	19 February 1918	2 years, 58 days
8		Wilson, HenryField Marshal Sir Henry Wilson (1864–1922)	19 February 1918	19 February 1922	4 years
9		Lambart, RudolphField Marshal Rudolph Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan (1865–1946)	19 February 1922	19 February 1926	4 years
10		Milne, GeorgeField Marshal Sir George Milne (1866–1948)	19 February 1926	19 February 1933	7 years
11		Montgomery, ArchibaldField Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd (1871–1947)	19 February 1933	15 May 1936	3 years, 86 days
12		Deverell, CyrilField Marshal Sir Cyril Deverell (1874–1947)	15 May 1936	6 December 1937	1 year, 205 days
13		Vereker, JohnGeneral John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort (1886–1946)	6 December 1937	3 September 1939	1 year, 271 days
14		Ironside, EdmundGeneral Sir Edmund Ironside (1880–1959)	4 September 1939	26 May 1940	266 days
15		Dill, JohnField Marshal Sir John Dill (1881–1944)	26 May 1940	25 December 1941	1 year, 213 days
16		Brooke, AlanField Marshal Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke (1883–1963)	25 December 1941	25 June 1946	4 years, 182 days
17		Montgomery, BernardField Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887–1976)	26 June 1946	1 November 1948	2 years, 129 days
18		Slim, WilliamField Marshal Sir William Slim (1891–1970)	1 November 1948	1 November 1952	4 years
19		Harding, JohnField Marshal Sir John Harding (1896–1989)	1 November 1952	29 September 1955	2 years, 332 days
20		Templer, GeraldField Marshal Sir Gerald Templer (1898–1979)	29 September 1955	29 September 1958	3 years
21		Festing, FrancisField Marshal Sir Francis Festing (1902–1976)	29 September 1958	1 November 1961	3 years, 33 days
22		Hull, RichardGeneral Sir Richard Hull (1902–1989)	1 November 1961	April 1964	2 years, 5 months
Chiefs of the General Staff
22		Hull, RichardField Marshal Sir Richard Hull (1902–1989)	April 1964	8 February 1965	10 months	-
23		Cassels, JamesGeneral Sir James Cassels (1907–1996)	8 February 1965	1 March 1968	3 years, 22 days
24		Baker, GeoffreyGeneral Sir Geoffrey Baker (1912–1980)	1 March 1968	1 April 1971	3 years, 31 days
25		Carver, MichaelField Marshal Sir Michael Carver (1915–2001)	1 April 1971	19 July 1973	2 years, 109 days
26		Hunt, PeterGeneral Sir Peter Hunt (1916–1988)	19 July 1973	15 July 1976	2 years, 362 days
27		Gibbs, RolandGeneral Sir Roland Gibbs (1921–2004)	15 July 1976	14 July 1979	2 years, 364 days
28		Bramall, EdwinField Marshal Sir Edwin Bramall (1923–2019)	14 July 1979	1 August 1982	3 years, 18 days
29		Stanier, JohnGeneral Sir John Stanier (1925–2007)	1 August 1982	28 July 1985	2 years, 361 days
30		Bagnall, NigelGeneral Sir Nigel Bagnall (1927–2002)	28 July 1985	10 September 1988	3 years, 44 days
31		Chapple, JohnGeneral Sir John Chapple (1931–2022)	10 September 1988	14 February 1992	3 years, 157 days
32		Inge, PeterGeneral Sir Peter Inge (1935–2022)	14 February 1992	15 March 1994	2 years, 29 days
33		Guthrie, CharlesGeneral Sir Charles Guthrie (born 1938)	15 March 1994	3 February 1997	2 years, 325 days
34		Wheeler, RogerGeneral Sir Roger Wheeler (born 1941)	3 February 1997	17 April 2000	3 years, 74 days
35		Walker, MichaelGeneral Sir Michael Walker (born 1944)	17 April 2000	1 February 2003	2 years, 290 days
36		Jackson, MikeGeneral Sir Mike Jackson (1944–2024)	1 February 2003	29 August 2006	3 years, 209 days
37		Dannatt, RichardGeneral Sir Richard Dannatt (born 1950)	29 August 2006	28 August 2009	2 years, 364 days
38		Richards, DavidGeneral Sir David Richards (born 1952)	28 August 2009	15 September 2010	1 year, 18 days
39		Wall, PeterGeneral Sir Peter Wall (born 1955)	15 September 2010	5 September 2014	3 years, 355 days
40		Carter, NickGeneral Sir Nick Carter (born 1959)	5 September 2014	11 June 2018	3 years, 279 days
41		Carleton, MarkGeneral Sir Mark Carleton-Smith (born 1964)	11 June 2018	13 June 2022	4 years, 2 days
42		Sanders, PatrickGeneral Sir Patrick Sanders (born 1966)	13 June 2022	15 June 2024	3 years, 9 days
43		Walker, RolandGeneral Sir Roland Walker (born 1970)	15 June 2024		1 year, 7 days

See also

• Chief of the Defence Staff
• First Sea Lord / Chief of the Naval Staff
• Chief of the Air Staff
• Deputy Chief of the General Staff