Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne
Smyth-Osbourne in 2019
Born (1964-05-18) 18 May 1964
Plymouth, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1983–2022
RankLieutenant General
UnitThe Life Guards
Commands heldLondon District
Household Division
38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade
Household Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsGulf War
United Nations Protection Force
War in Afghanistan
AwardsKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches
Spouse(s)
Lucy Turner
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2

Lieutenant General Sir Edward Alexander Smyth-Osbourne, KCVO, CBE (born 18 May 1964) is a retired senior British Army officer.

Early life and education

Smyth-Osbourne was born on 18 May 1964 in Plymouth, England.[1] He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school in Berkshire. He studied at the University of St Andrews, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons).[1]

Military career

As GOC Household Division, on duty at the State Opening of Parliament 2015
At the Coronation of King Charles III as Regimental Colonel of The Life Guards

Smyth-Osbourne was commissioned into The Life Guards in October 1983.[2] He went on to be Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment in 2005[3] and in that role deployed to Afghanistan in 2007.[4] He then became commander of the 38th (Irish) Brigade in 2009,[5] Director of the ISAF Force Reintegration Cell in 2012,[6] and Major-General commanding the Household Division in July 2013.[7]

Smyth-Osbourne was Prince William's and Prince Harry's Commanding Officer in the Household Cavalry Regiment and acted as their military mentor. He was also Prince Harry's Commanding Officer when the prince undertook active service in Afghanistan. He was invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011.[4]

Smyth-Osbourne relinquished command of the Household Division on 11 June 2016 and was knighted and invested as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen.[8] He became Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy in July 2016,[9] and took command of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in July 2019.[10] He retired in April 2022.[11]

Smyth-Osbourne was appointed Colonel of The Life Guards and Gold Stick in Waiting to the Queen on 7 June 2019.[12]

Personal life

In 1996, Smyth-Osbourne married Lucy Turner. Together they have two children: one son and one daughter.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Smyth-Osbourne, Maj. Gen. Sir Edward Alexander, (born 18 May 1964), Deputy Commander NATO Rapid Deployable Corps, Italy, since 2016". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U257917. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "No. 49532". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1983. p. 14702.
  3. ↑ UK troops killed in ambush named BBC, 2 August 2006
  4. 1 2 Royal wedding guest list: who will be attending Prince William and Kate Middleton's big day The Telegraph, 23 April 2011
  5. ↑ "Senior Army Commands" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "DSC02119 copy". 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Service Appointments The Times, 8 February 2013
  8. ↑ "Court Circular". Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  9. ↑ Major-General Edward Alexander Smyth-Osbourne CBE NRDC-ITA, 24 May 2016
  10. ↑ "Top Brass Picks Up". The Imjin. p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  11. ↑ "No. 63685". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 May 2022. p. 8325.
  12. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
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