David Pennefather
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= David Pennefather
|image=
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption=
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1945|05|17|df=yes}}
|birth_place=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= Royal Marines
|serviceyears= 1965–1998
|rank= Major General
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= Commandant General Royal Marines
3 Commando Brigade
42 Commando
|battles= The Troubles
Falklands War
Bosnian War
|awards= Companion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Major General David Anthony Somerset Pennefather, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CB|OBE}} (born 17 May 1945) is a former Royal Marines officer who served as Commandant General Royal Marines from 1996 to 1998.
Military career
Pennefather was educated at Wellington College and joined the Royal Marines in 1963.[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U30509 PENNEFATHER, Maj.-Gen. David Anthony Somerset], Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, 2017 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2016) He was commissioned as an acting lieutenant in 1965.{{London Gazette|issue=43836|page=11546|date=10 December 1965}} He was mentioned in despatches for service during the Falklands War.{{London Gazette|issue=49134|page=12842|supp=y|date=8 October 1982}}
Pennefather was Commanding Officer of 42 Commando from 1988 to 1990,[http://members.chello.nl/j.docter/pages/special/units-us-cos.htm Combat Zone] and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 "in recognition of meritorious service in Northern Ireland".{{London Gazette|issue=52324|supp=y|page=17199|date=5 November 1990}} He became commander of 3 Commando Brigade in 1992 and commander of the United Nations Rapid Reaction Force during the Bosnian War,[https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/rp95-100/ War and Peacekeeping in the Former Yugoslavia] for which he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.{{London Gazette|issue=54393|page=6546|date=10 May 1996}} He went on to be Commandant General Royal Marines in 1996 before retiring in 1998.[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf Royal Navy Senior Appointments] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315105247/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf |date=March 15, 2012 }}
Later life
In retirement Pennefather became Secretary of the Royal Humane Society,[http://menmedia.co.uk/tamesideadvertiser/news/s/385323_sailor_carl_hailed_a_hero_after_digger_sea_rescue Sailor Carl hailed a hero after digger sea rescue] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130421040246/http://menmedia.co.uk/tamesideadvertiser/news/s/385323_sailor_carl_hailed_a_hero_after_digger_sea_rescue |date=21 April 2013 }} Tameside Advertiser, 8 December 2004 and a director of the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth.[https://www.duedil.com/director/915632427/david-anthony-somerset-pennefather Major General David Anthony Somerset Pennefather]
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Sir Robin Ross}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commandant General Royal Marines|years=1996–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=Robert Fulton}}
{{s-end}}
{{RM Commandant General}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pennefather, David}}
Category:Royal Marines major generals
Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:United Nations personnel in the Bosnian War
Category:People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire