List of Royal Marines full generals


This is a list of full generals in the Royal Marines. The rank of general is the highest rank currently achievable by serving officers in the Royal Marines although no dedicated Royal Marines full general posts currently exist, unless they serve in tri-service positions. From the post's inception in 1943 up until 1977 the professional head of the Royal Marines, the Commandant General, held the rank of full general but since that time he has been of lower general officer rank. The rank of general is immediately superior to lieutenant-general.
PromotedNameBornDiedNotes
18381841
185417611855placed on the Retired List 1855
185517791865Promoted while on the Retired List
1855George Jones1857
1855George Beatty1857
1857Thomas Parke17801858
1857Sir Charles Menzies17831866
1858John Rawlins Coryton17911867
1862Sir Samuel Ellis17871865
1866 Henry Ivatt Delacombe17901878-
186617941880-
186717951880-
1870Sir Anthony Stransham18051900
187018071877
18701875
1875John Gascoigne18111893
1875
1897Sir Howard Jones18351912placed on the Retired List 1900
Frederick Gasper Le Grand18371905placed on the Retired List 1901
1900Samuel James Graham
1901Ardley Henry Falwasser Barnes18381910placed on the Retired List 1902
1902Edward Lee Rose18421903
1912Sir William Thompson Adair18501931
1912?
1914 James Henry Bor18571914
1914 William Inglefield Eastman18561941
1928Sir Lewis Halliday18701966
1945Sir Thomas Hunton18851970
1948Sir Dallas Brooks18961966
1951Sir Leslie Hollis18971963
Sir John Westall19011986
Sir Campbell Hardy19061984
1961Sir Ian Riches19081996
1964Sir Malcolm Cartwright-Taylor19111969
1967Sir Norman Tailyour19141979
1970Sir Peter Hellings19161990
1973Sir Ian Gourlay19202013
1977Sir Peter Whiteley19202016
2016Sir Gordon Messenger1962Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from May 2016 to May 2019