| Major General Patrick Claude Marriott |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Patrick Claude Marriott |
| Born | 23 February 1958 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1977 – present |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands held | Queen's Royal Lancers 7th Armoured Brigade RMA Sandhurst |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
| Awards | CBE, QCVS, CB |
| Relations | Peter Barnsley Marriott (Father) |
Major-General Patrick Claude Marriott, CB, CBE (born 23 February 1958) is a British soldier and, since 2009, Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.[1]
His early career was with the 17th/21st Lancers and the Queen's Royal Lancers, which he commanded for two years. Postings include the Multinational Force in Sinai, Northern Ireland, West Germany, SHAPE, and a year in command of the 7th Armoured Brigade in Iraq.
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The son of Captain Peter Barnsley Marriott DSO DSC RN (1915–1989), by his marriage to Francis Jill Davis, a former Leading WREN (died 2009),[2] Marriott was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and at Sandhurst.[3]
Commissioned as a regular officer in May 1977,[4] Marriott was an officer of the 17th/21st Lancers from 1977 to 1982, then was a company commander in the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, 1982. He returned to the 17th/21st Lancers as Adjutant, 1982 to 1985, was an assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel & Logistics), 1985–1987, a squadron leader with the 17th/21st Lancers, 1987 to 1990, before passing the Staff College in 1990. Instructor at the Staff College, 1991–1993, before service with the Queen's Royal Lancers, 1993 to 1995, an appointment at the British Army Training Unit Suffield, 1995–1997, and a posting to SHAPE in 1998. He was Commanding Officer of the Queen's Royal Lancers from 1998 to 2000, then Chief of Staff, HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division, 2000–2004, took a Higher Command and Staff Course in 2004, then commanded 7th Armoured Brigade from 2005 to 2007 and was Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters, 2007 to 2009. Since 2009 he has served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[3]
While serving in post-invasion Iraq as commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade, Marriott was also in command of all British troops in southern Iraq from 2005 to 2006. While many soldiers were complaining about the politicians who had sent them into action without enough men or equipment, Marriott took the view that the British could never have gained the trust of the people of Basra, thanks to their history. In an interview with the journalist Oliver Poole he said "The people were immersed in cruelty. There's a sad culture of mistrust, especially of authority."[5] In celebration of his Brigade's nickname, "the Desert Rats", Marriott kept a large silver rat on his desk in Basra.[6]
Marriott has served as a member of the House of Laity of the General Synod of the Church of England since 2005,[7] and as a director of the British Forces Foundation since 2009.[3][8]
In 1989, Marriott married Karin Henrietta Warde Ingram, and they have two sons and one daughter.[3]
In 2005, he was granted a coat of arms by the College of Arms.[9]
Marriott was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2012 New Year Honours.[11][12]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by D J Rutherford-Jones |
Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 2009 - present |
Incumbent |