Major General Charles Gerard Courtenay Vyvyan, CB, CBE (born 29 September 1944) is a retired British Army officer. He served as Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. (1997–2000), and Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod (2006–2018).
Charles Vyvyan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 September 1944 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1967–2000 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | 3rd Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets |
| Battles / wars | Dhofar War The Troubles |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches |
Early life and education
editVyvyan was born on 29 September 1944 to Elizabeth and John Vyvyan.[1] His father was a diplomat, British Army veteran, and history fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge.[2] He was educated at Winchester College, an all-boys private school in Winchester, Hampshire.[1] He studied modern history at Balliol College, Oxford, graduating with Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966.[1]
Military career
editVyvyan was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1967.[3] After a two-year secondment to the Sultan of Oman's Land Forces in the mid-1970s, he became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets in 1984, commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in 1988 and Deputy Chief of Staff at Headquarters UK Land Forces in 1994.[3] He went on to be Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. in 1997 before retiring in 2000.[4]
Later life
editVyvyan was a visiting fellow at the Eisenhower Institute in Washington, D.C., from 2002 to 2006.[1] He was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod in 2006:[5][6][7] he stepped down in 2018.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Vyvyan, Maj.-Gen. Charles Gerard Courtenay, (born 29 Sept. 1944), Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod, Order of the Bath, 2006–18; Defence Attaché and Head, British Defence Staff, Washington, 1997–2000". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "John Michal Kenneth Vyvyan". Trinity College Chapel. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ a b Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-1414-8
- ^ "Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "No. 58010". The London Gazette. 13 June 2006. p. 8073.
- ^ "Major General Charles G C Vyvyan CB, CBE, MA, MSc". History. The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ "Court circular". The Times. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2014.