James Bowder
Bowder in 2022
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1996–present
RankMajor General
UnitGrenadier Guards
Commands heldLondon District
Household Division
6th (United Kingdom) Division
1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

Major General James Maurice Hannan Bowder, OBE is a senior British Army officer. He currently serves as General Officer Commanding, London District and the Major-General commanding the Household Division.

Military career

Following training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Bowder was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards on 13 April 1996.[1] He became commanding officer of 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards in 2011, in which role he was deployed to Afghanistan.[2]

He went on to be commander of the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade in June 2016, Head of Strategy for the Army in June 2018,[3] and General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command in July 2019.[4] Force Troops Command was renamed as 6th (United Kingdom) Division on 1 August 2019.[5] He then became Director Army Futures in September 2021.[6] He has been the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards since 18 June 2022, a ceremonial appointment.[7]

Bowder inspects a band of the Household Division in 2024

Bowder was appointed General Officer Commanding, London District and the Major-General commanding the Household Division in September 2023.[8]

References

  1. ^ "No. 54408". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 1996. p. 7306.
  2. ^ "Lieutenant Colonel James Bowder OBE". British Empire. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Army Commands" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  4. ^ "No. 62720". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 2019. p. 13064.
  5. ^ "Army restructures to confront evolving threats". British Army. Upavon, Wiltshire. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Major General James Bowder OBE". DSEI. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  7. ^ "No. 63734". The London Gazette. 21 June 2022. p. 11656.
  8. ^ "New appointments". Grenadier Guards Association. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
Military offices Preceded byThomas Copinger-Symes General Officer Commanding, Force Troops Command July–August 2019 Command disbanded New command General Officer Commanding, 6th (United Kingdom) Division 2019–2021 Succeeded byGerald Strickland Preceded bySir Christopher Ghika GOC London District 2023–present Incumbent
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