John Wilfred Stanier

:"This article is about John Stanier, a soldier. For the drummer, see John Stanier (drummer)."

Infobox Military Person
name= Sir John Stanier
lived=6 October 1925 – 10 November 2007


caption=Field Marshal Sir John Stanier
Crown Copyright
nickname=
placeofbirth=Sawbridgeworth, Essex
placeofdeath=
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
branch=
serviceyears=1946 - 1985
rank=Field Marshal
unit=
commands=Royal Scots Greys
20 Armoured Brigade
1st Armoured Division
UK Land Forces
battles=
awards= Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Member of the Order of the British Empire
relations=
laterwork=

Field Marshal Sir John Wilfred Stanier GCB, MBE (6 October 1925 – 10 November 2007) was Chief of the General Staff. He was the first person after the Second World War to become the professional head of the British Army without having seen active service in that war or any subsequent campaign.

Army career

Stainer was born in Sawbridgeworth in Essex, the son of Harold Allan Stanier and Penelope Rose Stanier (née Price). His father was badly wounded in the First World War, but was employed by Spedan Lewis to manage his farms. He was educated at Marlborough College and took a short wartime course at Merton College, Oxford. He volunteered for the Army in 1943, and was trained at Sandhurst and Bovington. He was commissioned into the 7th Queen's Own Hussars in 1946. [Heathcote, Anthony pg 269] He served in Northern Italy, Germany and Hong Kong. [http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~alan/family/Stanier_worldwide/whoswho.html Stanier biographies] ]

He attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1957, and became military assistant to Sir William Stratton, Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff. He was appointed MBE in 1961. He attended the Joint Services Staff College and then commanded the tanks in "C" Squadron of his regiment in Germany, before being promoted to lieutenant colonel and returning to Camberley as Director of Studies.

His regiment was merged with the 3rd The King's Own Hussars in 1958, forming the Queen's Own Hussars, but Stainer was not selected to command it. Disappointed, he considered leaving the Army, but was pleasantly surprised to be become Commanding Officer of the Royal Scots Greys. He joined the staff of the Imperial Defence College in 1968, and was then promoted two ranks to brigadier and took command of 20 Armoured Brigade in the British Army of the Rhine in 1970. [ [http://www.army.mod.uk/20bde/bde_comd.htm 20th Armoured Brigade list of commanders] ] After serving as the Army's director of public relations in London, he was promoted to major general and appointed General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division in 1973. He became Commandant at the Staff College, Camberley in 1975, and led the first British delegation from Camberley to visit the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow.

He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1978, appointed KCB, and became Vice Chief of the General Staff.Heathcote, Anthony pg 270] The Challenger tank was brought into service during his period in this post. In 1981, he was promoted to general and became Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces. He was also an honorary ADC General to the Queen from 1981 to 1985. He became Chief of the General Staff in 1982, and was advanced to GCB. He was promoted to Field Marshal in 1985, and he retired from the British Army.

He was Colonel of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards from 1979 to 1984, and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Armoured Corps from 1982 to 1985.

Later life

He served as chairman of the Royal United Service Institution from 1986 to 1989. He was Constable of the Tower of London from 1990 to 1996. His book "War and the Media", co-authored with Miles Hudson, was published in 1997.

He enjoyed fly fishing, sailing, and riding horses. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire from 1987, and lived near Hartley Wintney.

He married Cicely Constance Lambert in 1955. He was survived by his wife and their four daughters.

References

External links

* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2858878.ece Obituary] , "The Times", 13 November 2007
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/13/db1301.xml Obituary] , "The Daily Telegraph", 13 November 2007
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article3157766.ece Obituary] , "The Independent", 14 November 2007

Further reading

* Heathcote, T.A. (1999). "The British Field Marshals 1736-1997". Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5
* Hudson, M. and Stanier, J. (1998). "War and the Media". New York University Press. ISBN 978-0814735800

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