Alistair Irwin

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Sir Alistair Irwin
Born (1948-08-27) 27 August 1948 (age 76)
Dundee, Scotland
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1970–2005
Rank Lieutenant General
Service number 490103
Unit Black Watch
Commands Headquarters Northern Ireland (2000–03)
Royal Military College of Science (1996–99)
39 Infantry Brigade (1992–94)
1st Battalion, Black Watch (1985–87)
Battles / wars Operation Banner
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches

Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Stuart Hastings Irwin, KCB , CBE (born 27 August 1948) is a retired British Army officer and a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.

Contents

Early life

Irwin was born on 27 August 1948 in Dundee, Scotland. [1] He was educated at Lambrook preparatory school, Wellington College and the University of St Andrews, graduating in Political Economy. [2]

Military career

After university, Irwin was commissioned into the Black Watch as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 10 August 1970. [3] On 16 February 1971, his commission was confirmed with seniority from 25 July 1969. He was promoted to lieutenant on 25 January 1971, [4] to captain on 25 July 1975, [5] and to major on 30 September 1980. [6]

In 1981, Irwin was posted to the Ministry of Defence as General Staff Officer II (Weapons). He was second in command of the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch from 1983 to 1984. [1] On 30 June 1985, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. [7] That year, he returned to Ministry of Defence and joined the Directorate of Command Control and Communications Systems (Army). He was next appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Black Watch in 1985. [1] He was Mentioned in Despatches on 14 April 1987 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Northern Ireland", [8] and appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1987 Birthday Honours. [9] He commanded 39 Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland from 1992 to 1994, [10] and was advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 22 November 1994 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland during the period 1st October 1993 to 31st March 1994". [11]

In 1999 Irwin 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, [12] a post he held until he retired in June 2005. [13] 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. [14] He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2002 Birthday Honours. [15]

Later life

Irwin is President of the Royal British Legion for Scotland. [16] [17] He is a member of the advisory board of anti-independence group Scotland in Union. [18] He was an officer in the Royal Company of Archers until 2024. [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lt-Gen Sir Alistair Irwin, KCB, CBE". People of Today. Debrett's. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Biography: Sir Alistair Irwin". Oxford Leverhulme Changing Character of War Programme. University of Oxford. 2006. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "No. 45196". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 September 1970. p. 10347.
  4. ↑ "No. 45303". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 February 1971. p. 1399.
  5. ↑ "No. 46644". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 July 1975. p. 9643.
  6. ↑ "No. 48360". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 1980. pp. 15271–15272.
  7. ↑ "No. 50204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 July 1985. p. 10106.
  8. ↑ "No. 50891". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 April 1987. p. 5016.
  9. ↑ "No. 50948". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1987. p. 5.
  10. ↑ "Senior Army Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "No. 53855". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 November 1994. p. 16321.
  12. ↑ "No. 56824". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 January 2003. p. 719.
  13. ↑ "No. 57705". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2005. p. 9324.
  14. ↑ Army defends regiments shake-up BBC News, 16 December 2004
  15. ↑ "No. 56595". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2002. p. 2.
  16. ↑ "NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE". Royal British Legion Scotland. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  17. ↑ Eruma appoints General Sir Alistair Irwin as strategic adviser Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Info4Security, 22 August 2008
  18. ↑ "Our Team". Scotland in Union. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016.
  19. ↑ Insider, IFSEC (22 August 2008). "Eruma appoints General Sir Alistair Irwin as strategic adviser | IFSEC Insider". IFSEC Insider | Security and Fire News and Resources. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science
1996–1999		Succeeded by
Preceded by Military Secretary
1999−2000		Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC British Army in Northern Ireland
2000–2003		Succeeded by
Preceded by Adjutant General
2003–2005		Succeeded by
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