John Waters (British Army officer, born 1935)

For other people named John Waters, see John Waters (disambiguation).

General Sir Charles John Waters, GCB, CBE (2 September 1935 – 29 January 2025) was a British Army officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces from 1990 to 1993.

Sir John Waters
Born	(1935-09-02)2 September 1935 Rangoon, British Burma
Died	29 January 2025(2025-01-29) (aged 89)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Years of service	1956–1994
Rank	General
Service number	445998
Unit	Gloucestershire Regiment
Commands	Land Forces Headquarters Northern Ireland Staff College, Camberley 4th Armoured Division 3rd Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Battles / wars	Cyprus Emergency Falklands War Operation Banner
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Military career

Waters was born in Rangoon, British Burma on 2 September 1935.^[1] Educated at Oundle School, Waters was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment in February 1956.^[2] He was made commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment in 1975.^[2] He was appointed commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in 1979, Deputy Commander of Land Forces in the Falklands during the Falklands War in 1982 and General Officer Commanding 4th Armoured Division in 1983.^[2] He went on to be commandant of the Staff College, Camberley, in 1986, General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland in 1988 and Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces in 1990.^[2] Finally he was made Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1993 until 1994 when he retired.^[2]

Later career

In retirement, Waters was Deputy Chairman of the National Army Museum.^[3] He was also the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry from 1992 to 1997.^[4]

Death

Waters died on 29 January 2025, at the age of 89.^[5]