Edward Burgess (British Army officer)

General Sir Edward Arthur Burgess, KCB, OBE (30 September 1927 – 8 May 2015) was a British Army officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Sir Edward Burgess
Born	(1927-09-30)30 September 1927 Purbrook, Hampshire
Died	8 May 2015(2015-05-08) (aged 87)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1946–1987
Rank	General
Commands held	Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Field Army Artillery Division 25th Light Regiment
Battles/wars	Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation The Troubles
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Military career

Educated at Bloxham School, Edward Burgess was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1948.[1] He became military assistant to General Sir John Hackett, General Officer Commanding the British Army of the Rhine and commander of Northern Army Group, in 1966 and commanding officer of 25th Light Regiment in 1970, leading his regiment in Hong Kong, Catterick and Northern Ireland.[2] He rose to become Director of Army Recruiting at the Ministry of Defence in 1975 and Director of Combat Development at the Ministry of Defence in 1977 before going on to be General Officer Commanding the Artillery Division in 1979.[3] He then became Commander UK Field Army in 1982 and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in 1984.[4] He retired in 1987.[5]

He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery from 1982[6] to 1992.[7]

He was also an ADC General to the Queen.[8][9]

Retirement

In retirement he has become President of the Royal British Legion.[10] He died on 8 May 2015.[11]

References

1. "No. 38383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 August 1948. p. 4622.
2. "General Sir Edward Burgess – obituary". The Telegraph. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
3. Whitaker's Almanak 1980
4. "No. 49813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1984. p. 10098.
5. "No. 50979". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1987. p. 8357.
6. "No. 48970". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 May 1982. p. 5962.
7. "No. 52910". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 1992. p. 7749.
8. "No. 51080". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1987. p. 12383.
9. Tomlinson, Richard (20 December 1992). "They also serve, who only ush". Independent.
10. Birthdays today The Independent, 30 September 1995
11. Burgess

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Frank Kitson	Commander UK Field Army 1982–1984	Succeeded by Sir John Akehurst
Preceded by Sir Peter Terry	Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe 1984–1987	Succeeded by Sir John Akehurst
Court offices
Preceded by Sir John Barraclough	Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State 1988–1997	Succeeded by Sir Michael Layard