New army chief appointed for NI

An officer who joined the Parachute Regiment more than 30 years ago has been appointed the new General Officer Commanding (GOC…

An officer who joined the Parachute Regiment more than 30 years ago has been appointed the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the British army in Northern Ireland, succeeding Lieut Gen Sir Roger Wheeler.

Lieut Gen Sir Rupert Smith (52), who served with the Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, took over as GOC at the weekend.

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