Commander in Chief, Land Forces

Updated on Nov 01, 2023

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Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces (CINCLAND), was a senior officer in the British Army. CINCLAND commanded HQ Land Forces, an administrative apparatus that had responsibility for all of the army's fighting units in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), Germany and Brunei, together with training garrisons in Nepal, Belize, Canada and Kenya. CINCLAND was also the Standing Joint Commander (UK) (SJC(UK)), with responsibility for the provision of Military Aid to Civil Power within the United Kingdom. The position had existed since 1968, when it was known as General Officer Commanding Army Strategic Command. In 1972 it became Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Land Forces (CINCUKLF). As from 1 April 2008, HQ Land Command was renamed HQ Land Forces (HQLF). Therefore, the Commander-in-Chief became Commander-in-Chief of HQ Land Forces.

CINCLAND headed the Commanders-in-Chief Committee, a body established for contingency planning purposes.

The post changed to a three-star position, Commander Land Forces, after 1 November 2011 following a major army command reorganisation.

General Officer Commanding, Army Strategic Command

Holders of the post have been:

General Sir John Mogg 1968–1970

Lt General Sir Mervyn Butler 1970–1971

Lt General Sir Frank King 1971–1972

Commander-in-Chief, UK Land Forces

Holders of the post have been:

General Sir Basil Eugster 1972–1974

General Sir Roland Gibbs 1974–1976

General Sir Edwin Bramall 1976–1978

General Sir John Archer 1978–1980

General Sir Timothy Creasey 1980–1981

General Sir John Stanier 1981–1982

General Sir Frank Kitson 1982–1985

General Sir James Glover 1985–1987

General Sir John Chapple 1987–1988

General Sir Charles Huxtable 1988–1990

General Sir John Waters 1990–1993

General Sir John Wilsey 1993–1995

Commander-in-Chief, Land Command

Holders of the post have been:

General Sir John Wilsey 1995–1996

General Sir Roger Wheeler 1996–1997

General Sir Michael Walker 1997–2000

General Sir Michael Jackson 2000–2003

General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman 2003–2005

General Sir Richard Dannatt 2005–2006

General Sir Redmond Watt 2006–2008