Brian Pennicott

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Brian Pennicott
Born15 February 1938 (1938-02-15) (age 86)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1957–1994
RankMajor-General
Commands held29 Commando Regiment RA
Royal Artillery
Battles/warsFalklands War
AwardsCommander of the Royal Victorian Order

Major-General Brian Thomas Pennicott, CVO (born 15 February 1938) is a former senior British Army officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 1991 to 1994.

Military career[edit]

Educated at Portsmouth Northern Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Pennicott was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1957.[1] He became Commanding Officer of 29 Commando Regiment RA in 1977 and then joined the staff of the Military Secretary at the Ministry of Defence in 1980.[1] He was Commander, Royal Artillery forces during the Falklands War[2] and, as a witness, signed the Argentine surrender document.[3] He went on to be Assistant Military Attaché in Washington D. C. in 1982, Commander, Royal Artillery for 1st Armoured Division in 1983 and Deputy Military Secretary in 1987 before being appointed Director, Royal Artillery in 1989.[1] He was Defence Services Secretary from 1991 to 1994[4] as well as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) from 1992 to 1994.[1]

In retirement he became Group Human Resources Director at Sun Alliance.[1] He was also appointed as a Gentleman Usher and was present at the funeral of the Queen Mother. Pennicott retired from this position at the end of 2007, though he was then moved to a position of being the Extra Gentleman Usher.[5]

Family[edit]

In 1962 he married Patricia Anne Chilcott; they have two sons and three daughters.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-408-11414-8
  2. ^ Strachan, Hew (2006). Big wars and small wars: the British army and the lessons of war in the twentieth century. Psychology Press. p. 154. ISBN 9780203012307.
  3. ^ Oakley, Derek (1998). The Falklands military machine. Spellmount. p. 173. ISBN 9780946771240.
  4. ^ The Army quarterly and defence journal, Volume 124. West of England Press. 1994. p. 26.
  5. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. 22 December 2007.
Military offices
Preceded by Defence Services Secretary
1991–1994
Succeeded by