James Bowder

Major General James Maurice Hannan Bowder, OBE is a senior British Army officer. He currently serves as General Officer Commanding, London District and the Major-General commanding the Household Division.

James Bowder
Bowder in 2022
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Years of service	1996–present
Rank	Major General
Unit	Grenadier Guards
Commands	London District Household Division 6th (United Kingdom) Division 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Officer of the Order of the British Empire Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

Military career

Following training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Bowder was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards on 13 April 1996.^[1] He became commanding officer of 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards in 2011, in which role he was deployed to Afghanistan.^[2]

He went on to be commander of the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade in June 2016, Head of Strategy for the Army in June 2018,^[3] and General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command in July 2019.^[4] Force Troops Command was renamed as 6th (United Kingdom) Division on 1 August 2019.^[5] He then became Director Army Futures in September 2021.^[6] He has been the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards since 18 June 2022, a ceremonial appointment.^[7]

Bowder inspects a band of the Household Division in 2024

Bowder was appointed General Officer Commanding, London District and the Major-General commanding the Household Division in September 2023.^[8]