Allegiance United Kingdom Years of service 1946 - 1985 | Rank Lieutenant-general Name Steuart Pringle | |
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Commands held 45 CommandoRoyal Marines Died April 17, 2013, London, United Kingdom Awards Order of the Bath, Distinguished Service Cross | ||
Battles and wars Operation Banner | ||
Lieutenant General Sir Steuart Robert Pringle, 10th Baronet, (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.
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Early life
Pringle was born on 21 July 1928. He was educated at Sherborne School.
Military career
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.
Later life
In retirement he became Chairman and Chief Executive of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
Awards and decorations
He succeeded his father, Squadron Leader Sir Norman Hamilton Pringle as 10th Baronet in 1961.
He was awarded a Honorary DSc of City University London in 1982 and a Honorary LLD of Exeter University in 1994. He was also an Honorary Admiral of the Texas Navy.
Family
In 1953 he married Jacqueline Marie Gladwell.