Sir Steuart Pringle | |
---|---|
Born | 21 July 1928 |
Died | 18 April 2013 | (aged 84)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Marines |
Years of service | 1946–85 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held |
Commandant General Royal Marines 45 Commando |
Battles/wars |
Malayan Emergency Suez Crisis Cyprus Emergency Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Operation Banner |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Lieutenant General Sir Steuart Robert Pringle, 10th Baronet, KCB (21 July 1928 – 18 April 2013) was a Royal Marines officer who served as Commandant General Royal Marines from 1981 to 1985 and was seriously injured by an IRA car bomb in 1981.
Pringle was born on 21 July 1928. He was educated at Sherborne School.
Pringle joined the Royal Marines in 1946. He was appointed commanding officer of 45 Commando in 1971 and, after a tour at Headquarters Commando Forces from 1974 in which role he was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel, he became Major General Commando Forces in 1978.
He went on to be chief of staff to the Commandant General Royal Marines in 1979 and Commandant General Royal Marines in 1981. On the 17 October 1981 Pringle was injured by an IRA car bomb attached to his red Volkswagen car outside his home in Dulwich, South London as he went to take his pet black Labrador, Bella to the park for a run. One of the first questions he asked was, “How’s my dog?” His dog, Bella, was unscathed but Pringle lost a leg in the incident. As Commandant General of the Royal Marines, he was seen welcoming the Commandos home following the Falklands War. Pringle was named BBC Pebble Mill Man of the Year for his "outstanding achievement and bravery". He returned to duties after his ordeal, and retired in 1985.
In retirement he became Chairman and Chief Executive of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.