Richard Vincent, Baron Vincent of Coleshill

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For the British playwright and director, see Richard Vincent (playwright)

The Lord Vincent of Coleshill
23 August 1931 -
Field Marshal The Lord Vincent of Coleshill Crown Copyright
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1951 - 1992
Rank	Field Marshal
Commands held	12 Light Air Defence Regiment 19 Airportable Brigade
Awards	GBE, KCB, DSO

Field Marshal Richard Frederick Vincent, Baron Vincent of Coleshill GBE, KCB, DSO, (born 23 August 1931), was Chair of the Military Committee of NATO, a post he had held since stepping down as Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) in 1992.

He was one of the select band of CDSs not to have been the professional head of their service, having instead been Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from 1987 to 1991, when he was appointed to the top job in the British Military.

[edit] Army career

Educated at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire Richard Vincent joined the Royal Artillery in 1951, initially as a National Service Officer. He served several times in Germany in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as at the Radar Research Establishment in Malvern from 1960 to 1961.

He attended the Army Staff College in Camberley in 1965, following which he served with the Commonwealth Brigade in Malaysia until 1968. Following a staff appointment at the Ministry of Defence from 1968 to 1970, he commanded the 12th Light Air Defence Regiment in Germany and Northern Ireland until 1972, following which he returned to Camberley where he was an Instructor at the Staff College until 1973.

He obviously found his niche in the academic area of military life, as he became Military Director of Studies at the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham from 1974 to 1975. After commanding 19th Airportable Brigade between 1975 and 1977, he then attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in Belgrave Square, London, following which he undertook the senior staff level appointment as Deputy Military Secretary from 1979 to 1980. He then returned to Shrivenham as Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science from 1980 to 1983, following which he was appointed as Master General of the Ordnance at the Ministry of Defence, a post in which he served until appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1987.

[edit] Later career

In addition to his full-time roles, he was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from 1981 until 1987, and Honorary Colonel of 100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA(V) from 1982 until 1991. Following his retirement and ennoblement as life peer with the title Baron Vincent of Coleshill, of Shrivenham in the County of Oxfordshire, he was appointed to the ceremonial role of Master Gunner, St. James's Park, a post he held until 2000.

[edit] References

• Heathcote, T.A. (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736-1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Patrick Hine	Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff 1988 – 1991	Succeeded by Sir Benjamin Bathurst
Preceded by The Lord Craig	Chief of the Defence Staff 1991–1992	Succeeded by Sir Peter Harding
Preceded by Sir Martin Farndale	Master Gunner, St. James's Park 1996–2000	Succeeded by Sir Alex Harley