Geoffrey Howlett

British Army general (1930–2022)

Sir Geoffrey Howlett

Born| (1930-02-05)5 February 1930
British India
Died| 21 April 2022(2022-04-21) (aged 92)
Allegiance| United Kingdom
Branch| British Army
Years of service| 1950–1990
Rank| General
Service number| 411979
Commands| Allied Forces Northern Europe (1986–1989)
South East District (1983–1985)
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (1982–1983)
1st Armoured Division (1979–1982)
16th Parachute Brigade (1975–1977)
2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (1971–1973)
Battles / wars| Malayan Emergency
Suez Crisis
Cyprus Emergency
The Troubles
Awards| Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Officer of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry
Military Cross
Relations| Bernard Howlett (father)

General Sir Geoffrey Hugh Whitby Howlett, KBE, MC (5 February 1930 – 21 April 2022) was a senior British Army officer who was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe.

## Military career

[edit]

Educated at Wellington College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Howlett was commissioned into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1950.[1] He was awarded the Military Cross in 1952.[1][2]

In 1971 Howlett was appointed Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and in 1975 he was made Commander of 16th Parachute Brigade.[1] He was General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division from 1979 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1982 to 1983 when he became GOC South East District.[1] He was made Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe in 1986; he retired in 1989.[1][2]

Howlett was Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1983 to 1990.[1]

He died on 21 April 2022, at the age of 92.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Who's Who 2009
2. ^ a b "General Sir Geoffrey Howlett". Paradata. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
3. ^ "General Sir Geoffrey Howlett obituary". The Times. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.

Military offices

Preceded by

Richard Lawson

|  GOC 1st Armoured Division
1979–1982  | Succeeded by

Brian Kenny

Preceded by

Richard Vickers

|  Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
1982–1983  | Succeeded by

Richard Keightley

Preceded by

Sir Richard Trant

|  GOC South East District
1983–1985  | Succeeded by

Sir Michael Gray

Preceded by

Sir Richard Lawson

|  C-in-C Allied Forces Northern Europe
1986–1989  | Succeeded by

Sir Patrick Palmer