Sir Jeremy Mackenzie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 February 1941 Nairobi, Kenya |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1959–1999 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 1st Battalion Queen’s Own Highlanders 12th Armoured Brigade Staff College, Camberley 4th Armoured Division 1st British Corps Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) First Class Cross of Merit (Czech Republic) Officers Cross of the Order of Merit (Hungary) |
General Sir John Jeremy George Mackenzie GCB, OBE, DL (born 11 February 1941) is a former British Army General who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Early life
He was born in Nairobi, Kenya, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders and was educated at the Duke of York’s School, Nairobi and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. [1]
Military career
Jeremy Mackenzie was commissioned into the Queen’s Own Highlanders in July 1961[2] and posted to join the 1st Battalion in Singapore. He took part in putting down the Brunei Rebellion in 1962 and later served in a training capacity with the SAS. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion in 1980.[2] After graduating from the Staff College, Camberley he was made a Company Commander with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Northern Ireland and Brigade Major of 24 Airportable Brigade. He was then Second in command of the Queen’s Own Highlanders in South Armagh, being obliged to take command when the Commanding Officer was killed in the Warrenpoint ambush of 1979. [1]
In 1980/81 he commanded the 1st Battalion Queen’s Own Highlanders in Hong Kong and was made an OBE. He then spent a few years as an instructor at the Army Staff College, Camberley and served on the Staff at the Ministry of Defence as a Colonel. In 1984 he was promoted Brigadier and made Commander of the 12th Armoured Brigade and, from March 1989, Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley. He then was made Major-general and General Officer Commanding 4th Armoured Division in December 1989[2] and on 2 December 1991 appointed the last Commander of 1st (British) Corps with the acting rank of Lieutenant-General.[3]
In 1992 he formed the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps and became its first Commander.[2] In 1994 he was promoted full General in 1994 and given the post of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe with special responsibility for the Partnership for Peace Program and the Expansion of NATO, and responsible for coordinating 52,000 troops from 34 nations who moved into Bosnia and Herzegovina.[4] He was also given the colonelcy of the Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) from 1994 to 2001. [5]
He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 1999, having previously been awarded the US Legion of Merit twice in 1997 and 1999, the Czech Republic’s Cross of Merit First Class, and the Officers’ Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in 1998. He was also an Aide de Camp General to the Queen from 1992 to 1996, [2] Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from August 1999[6] to September 2006[7] and a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.[8]He retired from the Army in 1999.[2]
In retirement Mackenzie became chairman of UK Gear (a footwear manufacturer),[1] and chairman of AC Cars (a car manufacturer).[9] He also became a director of Blue Hackle (a security business).[10]
References
- ^ a b c "UK Gear is delighted to announce the appointment of General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie (retired) as its Chairman". 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Blue Hackle
- ^ "No. 52732". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 3 December 1991. - ^ Enabling operation
- ^ "The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)". Regiments.og. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "No. 55590". The London Gazette. 24 August 1999.
- ^ Registered Charities
- ^ "No. 58021". The London Gazette. 24 August 2006.
- ^ "Fresh start for AC Cars". The Telegraph. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "Blue Hackle Board of Directors". Retrieved 23 May 2014.