Freddie Viggers
|
Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers KCB CMG MBE DL |
|
|---|---|
| Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod | |
|
In office 30 April 2009 – 28 October 2010 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Sir Michael Willcocks |
| Succeeded by | David Leakey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 June 1951 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Member of the Order of the British Empire Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | Freddie |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1972–2008 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Commands |
Adjutant-General to the Forces Multi-National Division (South-West) Commander, Royal Artillery 3rd Division 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery |
| Battles/wars |
Bosnian War Iraq War |
Sir Frederick Richard "Freddie" Viggers KCB, CMG, MBE, DL (born 29 June 1951) is a former senior British Army officer, who served as Adjutant-General to the Forces immediately prior to his retirement in 2008. He served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from 30 April 2009 to 28 October 2010. He also served in Bosnia in the aftermath of the breakup of Yugoslavia, and in the Iraq War.
Viggers was educated at Wellington School, Somerset.
Having attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Viggers was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a second lieutenant on 14 April 1972. He was promoted lieutenant on 14 October 1973, and captain on 14 April 1978. In 1983 he attended the Staff College, Camberley and was promoted major on 30 September 1983, and assumed command of a battery of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (3RHA). In December 1985 he was appointed Chief of Staff to 1st Infantry Brigade, the brigade's main task was as NATO's "UK Mobile Force", which would have seen it reinforcing Denmark, or the Schleswig-Holstein area of Germany. As a result of his performance in this post, especially for his organisation of British participation in the NATO multi-national Operation Bold Guard, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1988 New Year Honours. The citation for this honour remarked: "1st Infantry Brigade is closer in size to a normal division[, its] strength rising to over 15,000 when formed into the United Kingdom Mobile Force (UKMF)... Viggers enjoys a responsibility and workload far greater than that normally given to a Grade 2 officer... [His contribution] has been quite outstanding, and far beyond the call of duty expected of an officer of his age and service." He was promoted lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1988, and was initially posted to the directing staff at Camberley before taking command of 3RHA in 1989. The regiment transferred from Germany to Colchester Garrison in early 1990, joining 19th Infantry Brigade.
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