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Sir John Archer
Born(1924-02-12)12 February 1924
Died12 March 1999(1999-03-12) (aged 75)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1944–1980
Rank General
Service number323707
Unit Royal Norfolk Regiment
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
Commands held UK Land Forces
British Forces in Hong Kong
2nd Division
1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
Battles/wars Second World War
Malayan Emergency
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

General Sir Arthur John Archer, KCB, OBE (12 February 1924 – 12 March 1999) was a senior officer of the British Army who served as Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces from 1978 to 1980.

Military career

Educated at King's School, Peterborough, and St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, John Archer was commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1944. [1] He transferred to the Devon and Dorset Regiment in 1946 and served with the regiment during the Malayan Emergency. [1] He was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Devon and Dorset Regiment from 1965 to 1967. [1] He then went on to command British Land Forces in The Gulf from 1968 to 1969. [1] He was General Officer Commanding 2nd Division from 1972 to 1974. [1] He was then Director Army Staff Duties at the Ministry of Defence from 1974 to 1976 and Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong from 1976 to 1978. [1] [2] He served as the Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces, from 1978 to 1980 when he retired. [1]

Later career

In retirement, Archer was a Director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Chief Executive of The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. [3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Debrett's People of Today 1994
  2. ^ List of British Commanders in Hong Kong
  3. ^ General Sir John Archer, Obituary Archived 2010-10-25 at the Wayback Machine The Telegraph, 22 March 1999
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer Commanding 2nd Division
1972–1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong
1976–1978
Succeeded by
Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces
1978–1980
Succeeded by