David Pennefather

David Pennefather
Born (1945-05-17) 17 May 1945 (age 78)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Marines
Years of service1965–1998
RankMajor General
Commands heldCommandant General Royal Marines
3 Commando Brigade
42 Commando
Battles/warsThe Troubles
Falklands War
Bosnian War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches

Major General David Anthony Somerset Pennefather, CB, OBE (born 17 May 1945) is a former Royal Marines officer who served as Commandant General Royal Marines from 1996 to 1998.

Military career[edit]

Pennefather was educated at Wellington College and joined the Royal Marines in 1963.[1] He was commissioned as an acting lieutenant in 1965.[2] He was mentioned in despatches for service during the Falklands War.[3]

Pennefather was Commanding Officer of 42 Commando from 1988 to 1990,[4] and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 "in recognition of meritorious service in Northern Ireland".[5] He became commander of 3 Commando Brigade in 1992 and commander of the United Nations Rapid Reaction Force during the Bosnian War,[6] for which he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.[7] He went on to be Commandant General Royal Marines in 1996 before retiring in 1998.[8]

Later life[edit]

In retirement Pennefather became Secretary of the Royal Humane Society,[9] and a director of the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ PENNEFATHER, Maj.-Gen. David Anthony Somerset, Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, 2017 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2016)
  2. ^ "No. 43836". The London Gazette. 10 December 1965. p. 11546.
  3. ^ "No. 49134". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1982. p. 12842.
  4. ^ Combat Zone
  5. ^ "No. 52324". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 November 1990. p. 17199.
  6. ^ War and Peacekeeping in the Former Yugoslavia
  7. ^ "No. 54393". The London Gazette. 10 May 1996. p. 6546.
  8. ^ Royal Navy Senior Appointments Archived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Sailor Carl hailed a hero after digger sea rescue Archived 21 April 2013 at archive.today Tameside Advertiser, 8 December 2004
  10. ^ Major General David Anthony Somerset Pennefather
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant General Royal Marines
1996–1998
Succeeded by