Colin Weir | |
---|---|
Born | Portadown, Northern Ireland | 2 March 1971
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1991–2024 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held | 1st (United Kingdom) Division 16 Air Assault Brigade 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment |
Battles/wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Major General Colin Richard James Weir, CB , DSO , MBE (born 2 March 1971) is a retired senior British Army officer.
Weir was born on 2 March 1971 in Portadown, Northern Ireland. [1] He was educated at Portadown College, and graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. [2]
Weir was commissioned into the Royal Irish Rangers on 26 May 1991. [3] He was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment in March 2010 and was deployed in that role to Afghanistan. [2] He went on to be chief of staff for 1st (United Kingdom) Division in December 2012, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in July 2015, [4] and Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters in May 2017 before becoming General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division in November 2018. [5] Weir was appointed chief of staff to the Field Army in 2020, and stepped down in July 2023. [6]
Weir was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours, [7] awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 30 September 2011 for service in Afghanistan, [8] and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2023 Birthday Honours. [9]
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Major-General Colin J. R. Weir (late Royal Irish Regiment): Chief of Staff, Field Army, 2020