Military Secretary (United Kingdom) facts for kids
The Military Secretary is a very important job in the British Army. This person is in charge of big decisions for high-ranking officers. They handle things like who gets a new job, who gets promoted, and making sure rules are followed.
The Military Secretary is usually a major-general, which is a high rank. There's also a Deputy Military Secretary, who is a brigadier. Other parts of the UK military have similar roles. The Royal Navy has a Naval Secretary, and the Royal Air Force has an Air Secretary.
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What is the Military Secretary?
The Military Secretary is a senior officer in the British Army. Their main job is to manage the careers of other high-ranking officers. This includes:
- Deciding who gets important new jobs (appointments).
- Approving promotions to higher ranks.
- Assigning officers to different places (postings).
- Making sure officers follow the rules and dealing with any discipline issues.
This role helps keep the British Army organized and ensures that the right people are in the right places.
A Look at History: How the Role Began
The job of Military Secretary started a long time ago, in 1795. Back then, it was called the Public Secretary or Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Before that, a civilian (someone not in the military) did a similar job.
Over the years, the title of this important role changed:
- In 1904, it officially became the Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War. Sometimes, people in the military just called it "Military Secretary at Headquarters."
- In 1964, it changed again to Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence.
The Military Secretary Today
In 1995, a new place called the Army Personnel Centre was set up in Glasgow. The Military Secretary became the main leader, or Chief Executive, of this centre. This means the Military Secretary plays a key role in managing the people and careers within the British Army.
Past Military Secretaries
Many important officers have held the role of Military Secretary since it began. Here are a few examples:
- Colonel Robert Brownrigg, 1795–1803
- Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, 1809–1820
- Lieutenant-General Lord FitzRoy Somerset, 1827–1852
- Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Chetwode, 1919–1920
- Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Browning, 1946–1948
- Major-General Andrew Gregory, 2011–2013
- Major-General Robin Lindsay, 2023–present
See also
