Redmond Watt
General Sir Charles Redmond "Reddy" Watt, KCB, KCVO, CBE, DL (born 1950) is a retired senior British Army officer who was Commander-in-Chief, Land Command. Between 2011 - 2018, he was also the Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Sir Redmond Watt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1950 (age 69–70) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1972–2008 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 1st Battalion Welsh Guards 3rd Infantry Brigade 1st (UK) Armoured Division London District Field Army HQ Northern Ireland Land Command |
| Battles/wars | Operation Banner Bosnian War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Army career
Reddy Watt was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford and was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1972. He passed through the Staff College, Camberley in 1982, and also completed the Higher Command and Staff Course. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1988, he became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards in 1990. He was promoted to brigadier 30 June 1993 and served as commanding officer of the 3rd Infantry Brigade from 1994 to 1995, and was then appointed Director of Studies and Deputy Commandant (Land) of the Joint Service Command and Staff College in 1997. On 17 August 1998 he was promoted to major-general and became General Officer Commanding the 1st (UK) Armoured Division, which deployed to Bosnia as Headquarters Multi-National Division (South-West).[1]
Watt became Major-General commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District in 2000, in which capacity he had a significant role in the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002.[2] In 2003 he became Commander Field Army. In 2005 he was appointed General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland: in this role he advocated long-term planning and indicated that such lessons might be applied to Iraq.[3] From 2006 to 2008 he was Commander-in-Chief, Land Command.[4]
Awards
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, then promoted to Commander in 1996. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2004 on relinquishing his appointment commanding the Household Division. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 2008. He retired from the army in early 2008.[4]
Later career
In retirement he has become President of the charity Combat Stress.[5] In 2011 he also became Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.[6] He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire.[7]
References
- 1 (UK) Armoured Division Global Security
- The Funeral Procession – Who's who
- Northern Ireland holds Iraq lessons Washington Times, 24 October 2006
- Army Commands Archived July 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- How Telegraph readers helped tackle the mental health problems of our servicemen The Daily Telegraph, 25 March 2009
- Chelsea Pensioners News
- "Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants". Berkshire Lieutenancy. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Kiszely |
General officer commanding the 1st (UK) Armoured Division 1998–2000 |
Succeeded by Robin Brims |
| Preceded by Cedric Delves |
Commander Multi-National Division (South-West), Bosnia 1998–1999 |
Succeeded by Freddie Viggers |
| Preceded by Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter |
GOC London District 2000–2003 |
Succeeded by Sir Sebastian Roberts |
| Preceded by Sir Cedric Delves |
Commander Field Army 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by Robin Brims |
| Preceded by Sir Philip Trousdell |
General Officer Commanding the British Army in Northern Ireland 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by Nick Parker |
| Preceded by Sir Richard Dannatt |
Commander-in-Chief, Land Command 2006–2008 |
Succeeded by Sir David Richards |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Lord Walker |
Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea 2011– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |