Alistair Irwin
Encyclopedia
General Sir Alistair Stuart Hastings Irwin KCB CBE
is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces
in the United Kingdom
and Commandant of Sandhurst.
, Alistair Irwin joined The Black Watch Regiment in 1970. He was appointed Commanding Officer
of 1 Bn The Black Watch Regiment in 1985. From 1992 to 1994 he commanded 39 Infantry Brigade
in Northern Ireland
.
In 1997 he was appointed Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and in 1999 he became Military Secretary. He served as General Officer Commanding
Northern Ireland
from December 2000 to January 2003 when he was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces
, a post he held until he retired in June 2005. During his tour as Adjutant-General he strongly defended the Future Army Structure, particularly the creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland from the regiments of the Scottish Division
.
He was awarded the CBE
in November 1994 and the KCB in June 2002.
He is President of the Royal British Legion for Scotland
and also acted as honorary Colonel of Tayforth Universities Officer Training Corps from 2006 to 2008.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces
Adjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commandant of Sandhurst.
Army career
Educated at St. Andrews University and SandhurstRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, Alistair Irwin joined The Black Watch Regiment in 1970. He was appointed Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 1 Bn The Black Watch Regiment in 1985. From 1992 to 1994 he commanded 39 Infantry Brigade
39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The British 39th Infantry Brigade was a military formation of the British Army that was first established during World War I and reformed in the 1950s.-World Wars:...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
In 1997 he was appointed Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and in 1999 he became Military Secretary. He served as General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
from December 2000 to January 2003 when he was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces
Adjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
, a post he held until he retired in June 2005. During his tour as Adjutant-General he strongly defended the Future Army Structure, particularly the creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland from the regiments of the Scottish Division
Scottish Division
The Scottish Division is a British Army Infantry command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all Scottish line infantry units. The Scottish Division was formed on July 1, 1968 with the amalgamation of the Lowland Brigade and Highland Brigade...
.
He was awarded the CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in November 1994 and the KCB in June 2002.
He is President of the Royal British Legion for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and also acted as honorary Colonel of Tayforth Universities Officer Training Corps from 2006 to 2008.