Master Gunner, St James's Park
The appointment of Master Gunner, St James's Park, goes back to 1678 and has generally been held by a senior officer in the Royal Artillery. The early incumbents (known then as the Master Gunner of Whitehall and St James's Park) were responsible for the artillery defence of the Palace of Whitehall and the Palace of Westminster.
There has always been a connection between the monarch and the regiment. The Master Gunner, whose appointment is approved by the monarch, is the link to the regiment. He presides over regimental affairs by heading a committee comprising serving and recently retired senior officers of the regiment which provides guidance, advice and direction on all matters and affairs concerning the past, present and future of the Royal Regiment. Along with his fellow Masters and Chiefs, he provides a report annually to the Chief of the General Staff on regimental affairs. The Master Gunner also maintains the links to Commonwealth Royal Artilleries.
The Master Gunner, St James's Park, should not be confused with that of the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 (Master Gunner), which is a technical and instructional appointment achieved by some Royal Artillery warrant officers.
List of Master Gunners
Name | Dates of service |
---|---|
Whitehall and St. James's Park | |
Captain Thomas Silver | 1678–1710 |
Lieutenant Colonel Jonas Watson | 1710–1741 |
St. James's Park | |
Lieutenant Colonel James Deal | 1742–1760 |
Major-General Joseph Brome | 1760–1769 |
Held by a non-commissioned officer | 1770–1783 |
Major-General Joseph Walton | 1783–1808 |
Lieutenant General Sir John Macleod GCH | 1808–1833 |
Major General Sir Alexander Dickson GCB KCH | 1833–1840 |
General Sir Robert Gardiner GCB KCH | 1840–1864 |
Field Marshal Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross GCB | 1864–1868 |
General William Wylde CB | 1868–1877 |
General Sir John Bloomfield GCB | 1877–1880 |
General Poole Vallancey England | 1880–1884 |
General Sir John St. George GCB | 1884–1891 |
General Sir Collingwood Dickson VC GCB | 1891–1904 |
Field Marshal The Earl Roberts VC KG KP GCB OM GCSI GCIE | 1904–1914 |
General Sir Robert Biddulph GCB GCMG | 1914–1918 |
Major General Francis William Ward CB | 1918–1919 |
General Sir Edward Francis Chapman KCB | 1919–1926 |
General The Lord Horne GCB KCMG | 1926–1929 |
Field Marshal The Lord Milne GCB GCMG DSO | 1929–1946 |
Field Marshal The Viscount Alanbrooke KG GCB OM GCVO DSO | 1946–1956 |
General Sir Cameron Nicholson GCB KBE DSO MC | 1956–1960 |
General Sir Robert Mansergh GCB KBE MC | 1960–1970 |
Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Baker GCB CMG CBE MC | 1970–1976 |
General Sir Harry Tuzo GCB OBE MC | 1977–1983 |
General Sir Thomas Morony KCB OBE | 1983–1988 |
General Sir Martin Farndale KCB | 1988–1996 |
Field Marshal The Lord Vincent GBE KCB DSO | 1996–2000 |
General Sir Alexander Harley KBE CB | 2001–2008 |
General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman GBE KCB ADC Gen | 2008–2017[1] |
Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB | 2017–present[2] |
References
- ^ "No. 58771". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 July 2008. p. 11003.
- ^ "No. 61916". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 May 2017. p. 9030.