TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 119

MAJOR GENERAL R W L MCALISTER OBE

DEPUTY COMMANDER LAND FORCES

Major General Ronnie McAlister was born 26 May 1923, educited at Sedbergh School and commissioned from OTC Bangalore into the 3rd QAO Gurkha Rifles on 4 October 1942. He was Adjutant of the 1st Battalion in Burma,

1945, and was Mentioned in Despatches.

In 1944 he was granted a Regular Commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, his father's regiment, but continued to serve with 3rd Gurkhas until transferred to the permanent cadre of the 10th PMO Gurkha Rifles in 1948. He was Adjutant of 2/10 GR 1948 to 1952 in Hong Kong and Malaya and was again Mentioned in Despatches. He was an instructor at the School of Infantry (1952-55), attended the Staff College Camberley (1956), and was Brigade Major 99 Gurkha Brigade in Malaya from 1957 to 1959, when he was awarded the MBE. After a year in Hong Kong as a Company Commander, he attended the JSSC (1961-63) and then became an Assistant Secretary, Chiefs

of Staff Secretariat in MOD (1962-64).

Returning to regimental duty he was 21C 2/10 GR in Borneo 1964-65 and

then commanded 1/10 GR in Borneo, 1966, for which he was Mentioned in

Despatches for the third time. For services during the Hong Kong troubles

of 1967 he was made OBE.

After vacating command of 1/10 GR, he was GS01 (DS) at JSSC in 1968 but was scon promoted to command Berlin Infantry Brigade (1968-71). He

then attended the Canadian National Defence College in 1971-72, following

which he became Exercise Controller to the UK Commanders-in-Chief, a post

he held from October 1972 to October 1974.

Major General McAlister is married. with two daughters (9% and 8).

Both he and his wife Sally are keen golfers.