Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

David McDowall

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(born 16 August 1954) is a former

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

officer who commanded 2nd Division.

Military career

McDowall joined the

as a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in the

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...

at the age of 18.Scotland's top soldier on his rise through the ranks from council estate to top brass
Daily Record, 11 August 2008 He was commissioned into the Corps in 1981 and later commanded a squadron in operations in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

and a regiment in operations during the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( sh, Rat u Bosni i Hercegovini / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The war is commonly seen as having started ...

. He went on to be Commander 1st Signal Brigade and then Signal Officer-in-Chief before being appointed General Officer Commanding 2nd Division and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 2007 and retiring in 2009.Army Commands
He has served as a member of the Government's Panel on Fair Access to the Professions and military advisor to the

First Minister of Scotland The first minister of Scotland ( sco, heid meinister o Scotland; gd, prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba ) is the head of the Scottish Government and keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. The first minister chairs ...

.Salmond faces flak on recruitment of military adviser
Glasgow Herald, 9 October 2009

Family

He is married to Valerie; they have two sons and a daughter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcdowall, David 1954 births Living people British Army generals Royal Corps of Signals officers Commanders of the Order of the British Empire NATO personnel in the Bosnian War British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)