Air Chief Marshal
Sir John Gingell
GBE KCB KCVO
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
In office
14 January 1985 – January 1992
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded bySir David House
Succeeded bySir Richard Thomas
Personal details
Born(1925-02-03)3 February 1925
Died10 December 2009(2009-12-10) (aged 84)
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceRoyal Air Force (1943–45, 1951–84)
Royal Navy (1945–51)
Years of service1943–84
RankAir Chief Marshal
CommandsSupport Command (1980–81)
Air Member for Personnel (1978–80)
No. 23 Group (1974–75)
No. 27 Squadron (1963–65)
Battles/warsSecond World War

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell, GBE, KCB, KCVO (3 February 1925 – 10 December 2009)[1] was a senior Royal Air Force commander and Gentleman usher of the Black Rod.

Military career

The son of Ernest (1895–1981) and Hilda (née Attwood; 1894–1957) Gingell, he was educated at St Boniface's Catholic College, Plymouth. He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in April 1945.[2] A few months later he transferred into the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, serving in the Fleet Air Arm. In 1951 he returned to the Royal Air Force was posted to flying duties on No. 58 Squadron.[2]

In 1963 he was appointed Officer Commanding No. 27 Squadron flying Vulcan B2s equipped with Blue Steel missiles and in 1966 he became deputy director of the Defence Operations Staff at the Ministry of Defence.[2] He went on to be Military Assistant to Chairman of the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters in 1968, Air Officer Administration at Headquarters RAF Germany in 1970 and Air Officer Commanding No. 23 Group in 1973.[2] After that he became Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy) in 1975, Air Member for Personnel in 1978 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Support Command in 1980.[2] His last appointment was as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe in 1981 before he retired in 1984.[2]

In retirement Gingell served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the Houses of Parliament until 1992.[3]

Family

In 1949 he married Prudence Johnson; the couple had two sons and a daughter, John, Nicholas and Alexandra.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ "John Gingell". The Times. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell profile, rafweb.org; accessed 5 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Lords Sitting of 13 January 1992: Tributes to Sir John Gingell". Hansard. 534 cc1-4. London: UK Parliament. 13 January 1992.
  4. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell obituary". The Telegraph. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  5. ^ Gingell family tree, gingell.com; accessed 5 June 2014.
Military offices Preceded byHarold Bird-Wilson Air Officer Commanding No. 23 Group 1973–1975 Succeeded byGroup disbanded Preceded bySir John Aiken Air Member for Personnel 1978–1980 Succeeded bySir Charles Ness Preceded bySir Keith Williamson Commander-in-Chief Support Command 1980–1981 Succeeded bySir Michael Beavis Preceded bySir Peter Terry Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe 1981–1984 Succeeded bySir Michael Beavis Government offices Preceded bySir David House Black Rod 1985–1992 Succeeded bySir Richard Thomas
Categories