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Roger Wheeler (British military)
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Roger Neil Wheeler GCB, CBE (born 16 December 1941) is a retired British Army
officer who served as Chief of the General Staff
between 1997 and 2000.
and educated at Allhallows College
in Devon
and Hertford College, Oxford
(graduated 1961), Roger Wheeler was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles
in 1961. He became commanding officer of 2nd Royal Irish Rangers
in 1979 and went on to be Brigade Commander of 11 Armoured Brigade in 1984. In 1989 he became General Officer Commanding
1st Armoured Division.
He became Assistant Chief of the General Staff
in 1990 and then General Officer Commanding
Northern Ireland
in 1993.
He also served as Joint Commander of the UK's forces deployed on NATO operations in Bosnia
.
He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Land Command in 1996 and Chief of the General Staff
in 1997 retiring from the British Army
in 2000.
He served as Honorary Colonel
Queen's University Officers' Training Corps
from 2000 to 2008.
He is the nephew of the late Air Chief Marshal
Sir
Neil Wheeler
.
of London from 2001 till 2009. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Aegis Defence Services
, a member of the governing board of the Serious Organised Crime Agency
and a Trustee
of the Royal Armouries
.
In October 2009 he was appointed advisor on military matters, to the British Government’s inquiry into the Iraq war (Headed by Sir John Chilcot
).
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Roger Neil Wheeler GCB, CBE (born 16 December 1941) is a retired British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer who served as Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
between 1997 and 2000.
Army career
Born the son of Major-General Norman WheelerNorman Wheeler
Major-General Norman Wheeler CB CBE was a British Army officer who commanded 2nd Division.-Military career:...
and educated at Allhallows College
Allhallows College
Allhallows College, previously known as Allhallows School, was an independent boys 'public school' in Devon, England, predominantly boarding.-History:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
(graduated 1961), Roger Wheeler was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles
Royal Ulster Rifles
The Royal Ulster Rifles was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.-History:...
in 1961. He became commanding officer of 2nd Royal Irish Rangers
Royal Irish Rangers
The Royal Irish Rangers was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army.-Creation:...
in 1979 and went on to be Brigade Commander of 11 Armoured Brigade in 1984. In 1989 he became 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...
1st Armoured Division.
He became Assistant Chief of the General Staff
Assistant Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
-Responsibilities:The Assistant Chief of the General Staff supports the Chief of the General Staff in his responsibilities, sets the conditions for the British Army to contribute to success on operations, ensures coherence across the 'Defence Lines of Development' and develops the Army of the...
in 1990 and then 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...
in 1993.
He also served as Joint Commander of the UK's forces deployed on NATO operations in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
.
He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Land Command in 1996 and Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
in 1997 retiring from the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 2000.
He served as Honorary Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Queen's University Officers' Training Corps
Queen's University Officers' Training Corps
The Queen's University Officers' Training Corps is one of nineteen University Officer Training Corps in the UK, and the only one in Northern Ireland...
from 2000 to 2008.
He is the nephew of the late Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Neil Wheeler
Neil Wheeler
Air Chief Marshal Sir Henry Neil George Wheeler, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC and bar, AFC was a British Royal Air Force officer.-Military career:...
.
Later career
Sir Roger served as Constable of the TowerConstable of the Tower
The Constable of the Tower is the most senior appointment at the Tower of London. In the middle ages a constable was the person in charge of a castle when the owner - the king or a nobleman - was not in residence...
of London from 2001 till 2009. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Aegis Defence Services
Aegis Defence Services
Aegis Defence Services is a British private military company with overseas offices in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. It was founded in 2004 by Tim Spicer, who was previously director of the controversial company Sandline International.Aegis provides security and...
, a member of the governing board of the Serious Organised Crime Agency
Serious Organised Crime Agency
The Serious Organised Crime Agency is a non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom under Home Office sponsorship...
and a Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the Royal Armouries
Royal Armouries
The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom's National Museum of Arms and Armour. It is the United Kingdom's oldest museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world. It is also one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world, comprising the UK's National Collection of Arms and...
.
In October 2009 he was appointed advisor on military matters, to the British Government’s inquiry into the Iraq war (Headed by Sir John Chilcot
John Chilcot
The Rt. Hon. Sir John Chilcot, GCB, PC is a Privy Counsellor and former civil servant. His appointment as chair of an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and its aftermath was announced in June 2009....
).