Gordon Messenger

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Brigadier Gordon Kenneth Messenger DSO OBE ADC is a Royal Marines officer who as a colonel commanded 40 Commando Royal Marines during the Iraq War, and led the Commando in the assault on the Al-Faw Peninsula.

[edit] Background

Messenger was appointed an acting lieutenant on a short career graduate commission on 15 September 1983 (with seniority from 1 September 1982),[1] transferring to a full career commission on 21 May 1986 with seniority from 1 September 1984.[2] In 1995 he graduated from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course No 21.[3] He was promoted substantive major on 30 June 1997, having previously held the rank locally.[4]

Messenger served with British forces in the former Yugoslavia in 2000, for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[5] He was promoted substantive colonel on 30 June 2002, having previously held the rank on an acting basis.[6][7] For his leadership of 40 Commando (and attached army units) in Iraq, including the initial assault on Al Faw peninsular, and an action against Iraqi armour at Abu Al Khasib, he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 31 October 2003.[8][9] He subsequently served in senior positions with British troops in Afghanistan,[10] and graduated from the UK Higher Command and Staff Course in 2007. He was promoted brigadier on 24 April 2007.[11] On 1 April 2008 he was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Queen.[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49517, page 13992, 24 October 1983. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50589, page 9020, 7 July 1986. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  3. ^ CFC Graduates as Operational Commanders. Retrieved 20 May 2008
  4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54820, pages 7549–7550, 30 June 1997. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56373, page 12747, 30 October 2001. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  6. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56626, pages 8183–8184, 9 July 2002. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  7. ^ The Navy List 2006 retrieved 19 May 2008.
  8. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57100, page 4, 30 October 2003. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  9. ^ Operational Awards for Op TELIC retrieved 19 May 2008.
  10. ^ UK Colonel Outlines Afghan Vision retrieved 19 May 2008.
  11. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58309, page 5869, 24 April 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  12. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58660, page 5327, 8 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.

[edit] External links

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