Ben Bathurst Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency Lieutenant General
Sir Ben Bathurst
Office:Governor of Gibraltar
Term Start:4 June 2024
1Blankname:Chief Minister
1Namedata:Fabian Picardo
Predecessor:Sir David Steel
Successor:Incumbent
Birth Date:16 April 1964
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Serviceyears:1983-2024
Rank:Lieutenant General
Unit:Welsh Guards
Commands:UK Military Representative to NATO
London District
Household Division
1st Battalion Welsh Guards
Battles:Operation Banner
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Mawards:Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Bronze Star Medal (United States)
Relations:Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst (father)

Lieutenant-General Sir Benjamin John Bathurst, (born 15 April 1964) is a retired senior British Army officer. He is currently serving as Governor of Gibraltar, having replaced Sir David Steel, in June 2024.

Early life and education

Bathurst was born on 15 April 1964 in Haslemere, Surrey, England.[1] He is the son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst.[2] He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school in Berkshire. He studied at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986, and at Cranfield University, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in 1996.

Military career

Bathurst was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in September 1983. He became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in July 2004.[3] In 2005, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He went on to be Director of Public Relations (Army) in September 2006, Deputy Director Strategy, Plans and Assessment in October 2008 and Commander, Initial Training Group in January 2010.[4]

Bathurst became Director of Training in February 2011, Senior British Military Representative in Afghanistan in May 2014,[5] and Major-General commanding the Household Division in June 2016. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2014,[6] and awarded the United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) in May 2018. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 7 November 2019.[7] [8] In 2020, on completion of his tour at London District, he took up the appointment of UK Military Representative to NATO and the European Union in the rank of lieutenant general.[9] Bathurst was formally promoted to lieutenant general on 13 March 2020 and serves as the National Military Representative to the European Union.

Bathurst was Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps until August 2023, and retired from the army 20 April 2024.

Governor of Gibraltar

In March 2024, it was confirmed that Bathurst would become Governor of Gibraltar in June 2024.[10] He was sworn in on 4 June 2024.[11]

Sir Ben Bathurst
(2024-present)
Dipstyle:His Excellency
Offstyle:Your Excellency

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bathurst, Maj. Gen. Benjamin John . subscription . . Oxford University Press . 29 June 2020 . en . 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U281304 . 1 December 2019. 978-0-19-954088-4 .
  2. Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010,
  3. Web site: Unlikely Challenge in Shiite Province. Los Angeles Times. 18 November 2004. 24 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221231549/http://www.christusrex.org/www1/news/lat-11-18-04b.html. 21 December 2016. dead.
  4. Web site: Army Commands . 10 June 2018.
  5. Web site: UK military mentoring in Afghanistan. 26 September 2014. Ministry of Defence. 24 June 2016.
  6. Web site: The London Gazette. HM Government. 31 December 2014. 19 February 2018.
  7. Web site: Court Circular. The Royal Family. 14 November 2019.
  8. Web site: Honours and Awards CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD . . 15 November 2019 . thegazette.co.uk . 19 November 2019 . K.C.V.O. To be Knights Commander: Major General Benjamin John BATHURST, C.B.E. On the relinquishment of his appointment as Major General Commanding the Household Division. (To be dated 7 November 2019) .
  9. Web site: Generals, January 2020 . Mackie . Colin . 8 January 2020 . gulabin.com . Colin Mackie . 8 January 2020 . Lieutenant-General Sir Benjamin J. Bathurst (late Welsh Guards): U.K. National Military Representative, N.A.T.O., 2020 .
  10. News: Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst appointed new Governor of Gibraltar. 4 March 2024. GBC. 7 March 2024.
  11. Web site: Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst was sworn in at a ceremony in Parliament. .