The Military Secretary is the British Army office with responsibility for appointments, promotion, postings and discipline of high ranking officers of the British Army.[1] It is a senior British Army appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of major-general. The position of Deputy Military Secretary is held by an officer holding the rank of brigadier. The Military Secretary's counterpart in the Royal Navy is the Naval Secretary. The Royal Air Force equivalent is the Air Secretary.

The post was initially established as the Public Secretary or Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in 1795 (prior to which a civilian had served as Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief).[2]

The title was formally changed to Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War in 1904.[3] It was sometimes referred to in military jargon as Military Secretary at Headquarters. In 1964 it became Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence.[4]

In 1995 a new Army Personnel Centre was established in Glasgow with the Military Secretary as its Chief Executive.[5]

Military Secretaries

Holders of the post have included:[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ New Commander at Bulford Army DivisionTidworth Community Area Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Roper, Michael (1998). The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660-1964. Kew, Surrey: Public Record Office.
  3. ^ Sir John Spencer Ewart Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  4. ^ Sir John Anderson Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  5. ^ Libertine Security[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Army Commands Archived 2015-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "No. 27311". The London Gazette. 7 May 1901. p. 3127.
  8. ^ "No. 27376". The London Gazette. 12 November 1901. p. 7293.
  9. ^ "No. 64200". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 2023. p. 20803.
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