Imperial General Staff

Chief of the General Staff (CGS) has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board; he is also the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Army Board. Prior to 1964, the title was Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). Since 1959, the post has been immediately subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the post held by the professional head of the British Armed Forces.

The current Chief of the General Staff is General Sir Roland Walker, who succeeded General Sir Patrick Sanders in the role on 15 June 2024.

Responsibilities

The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is the professional head of the Army, with responsibility for developing and generating military capability from an integrated Army (Regular and Reserve) and for maintaining the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Service. The CGS reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and, as a Service COS, has a right of direct access to the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister. The CGS is a member of the Defence Council and the Army Board, the Armed Forces Committee, the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Senior Appointments Committee. Responsibile for:

* Maintains the institutional health of the Army by exercising Full Command responsibility for all Army personnel
* Ensures the efficient and effective governance of the service
* Chairs the Executive Committee of the Army Board and the Army Command Group
* Contributes to the conduct of defence higher level business, with a particular responsibility for providing specialist advice on Army matters
* Develops future Army capability within the context of Defence strategic direction and resource allocation
* Leads the senior management team of the British Army

Background

The title was also used for five years between the demise of the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in 1904 and the introduction of Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1909. The post was then held by General Sir Neville Lyttelton and, briefly, by Field Marshal Sir William Nicholson.

Throughout the existence of the post the Chief of the General Staff has been the First Military Member of the Army Board.

Roles

The Chief was responsible for commanding the entire British Army. During the Second World War, General Brooke focused on grand strategy, and his relationships, through the Combined Chiefs of Staff with his American counterparts. He was also responsible for the appointment and evaluation of senior commanders, allocation of manpower and equipment, and the organisation of tactical air forces in support of land operations of field commanders; he also had primary responsibility for supervising the military operations of the Free French, Polish, Dutch, Belgian, and Czech units reporting to their governments in exile in London. Brooke vigorously allocated responsibilities to his deputies, and despite the traditional historical distrust that had existed between the military and the political side of the War Office, he got along quite well with his counterpart, the Secretary of State for War, first David Margesson and later, Sir James Grigg.

Appointees

The following table lists all those who have held the post of Chief of the General Staff or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:

, -style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=7, Chiefs of the General Staff

, -style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=7, Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff

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! colspan=7, Chiefs of the General Staff

See also

* Chief of the Defence Staff
* First Sea Lord / Chief of the Naval Staff
* Chief of the Air Staff
* Deputy Chief of the General Staff

Notes

References

Bibliography

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{{Chief of the army by country

1904 establishments in the United Kingdom
Senior appointments of the British Army
United Kingdom
Chiefs of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff
Military history of the British Empire and Commonwealth in World War II
War Office
War Office in World War II