Robert Thomson (British Army officer)

Major General Robert John Thomson, CBE, DSO (born 1 January 1967) is a former senior British Army officer. He served as Commander of British Forces Cyprus between September 2019 and August 2022.

Robert Thomson
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1988–2022
RankMajor General
Commands heldBritish Forces Cyprus
38th (Irish) Brigade
2nd Battalion The Rifles
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Military career

He was educated at Brentwood School, Essex, Magdalene College, Cambridge and King's College London (MA Defence Studies).[1][2] Thomson was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets on 2 September 1988.[3] He served as commanding officer of 2nd Battalion The Rifles and was deployed in that role on Operation Herrick 10 in Afghanistan from May 2009 to October 2009.[4] He went on to be commander of 38th (Irish) Brigade in December 2011[5] and Deputy Commander of Regional Command Southwest in April 2014, in which role he led the withdrawal of British troops from Camp Bastion in October 2014.[4] He became British defence attaché in Paris in September 2017,[6] and commander of British Forces Cyprus in September 2019.[7]

Thomson was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours,[8] and advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services in Afghanistan on 3 July 2015.[9]

References
  1. "Alumni and Development" (PDF). Magdalene College Magazine 2010–11. p. 50. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. "Thomson, Maj. Gen. Robert John, (born 1 Jan. 1967), Administrator, Sovereign Base Areas and Commander, British Forces, Cyprus, since 2019." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2021
  3. "No. 51657". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 February 1989. p. 2502.
  4. "Key moment in History of The Rifles. After 13 years committed to operations in Afghanistan, Operation Herrick comes to an end". Rifles Museum. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  5. "Up and out : Promotions, moves and retirements in Armed Forces". Defence Viewpoints. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  6. "Durham Light Infantry and Bedfordshire Regiment Soldiers who fought in world war 1 are laid to rest a century later". Ministry of Defence. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  7. "No. 62784". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 2019. p. 17508.
  8. "No. 57509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2004. p. 6.
  9. "No. 61284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 2015. p. 12288.
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