Commander Land Forces is a senior post in the British Army that commands Land Forces Command.
Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces (CINCLAND), was a senior officer in the British Army. CINCLAND commanded HQ Land Forces, an administrative apparatus that had responsibility for all of the army's fighting units in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), Germany and Brunei, together with training garrisons in Nepal, Belize, Canada and Kenya. CINCLAND was also the Standing Joint Commander (UK) (SJC (UK)), with responsibility for the provision of Military Aid to the Civil Power within the United Kingdom. The position had existed since 1968, when it was known as General Officer Commanding Army Strategic Command. In 1972 it became Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Land Forces (CINCUKLF). As from 1 April 2008, HQ Land Command was renamed HQ Land Forces (HQLF). Therefore, the Commander-in-Chief became Commander-in-Chief of HQ Land Forces.HQ Land Forces on the move Drumbeat, June 2008
CINCLAND headed the Commanders-in-Chief Committee, a body established for contingency planning purposes.
The post changed to a three-star position, Commander Land Forces, after 1 November 2011 following a major army command reorganisation.Army Command reorganization Defence Marketing Intelligence, 10 November 2011 In November 2015, the post of Commander Land Forces was redesignated as Commander Field Army.
On 16 March 2026, it was announced that the post of Commander Land Forces would be reinstated with a global remit for operations, training, and warfare development with Lieutenant General Zac Stenning taking up the role.
Post holders Holders of the post have been:Army Commands ImageRankNameTerm beganTerm endedRefCommander-in-Chief Army Strategic CommandGeneralSir John MoggApril 1968May 1970GeneralSir Mervyn ButlerMay 1970November 1971Whitaker's Almanack 1971GeneralSir Frank KingNovember 1971April 1972Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Land ForcesGeneralSir Basil EugsterApril 1972April 1974GeneralSir Roland GibbsApril 1974May 1976GeneralSir Edwin BramallMay 1976April 1978GeneralSir John ArcherApril 1978January 1980GeneralSir Timothy CreaseyJanuary 1980April 1981GeneralSir John StanierApril 1981July 1982GeneralSir Frank KitsonJuly 1982June 1985GeneralSir James GloverJune 1985June 1987GeneralSir John ChappleJune 1987September 1988GeneralSir Charles HuxtableSeptember 1988October 1990GeneralSir John WatersOctober 1990March 1993GeneralSir John WilseyMarch 1993April 1995Commander-in-Chief Land CommandGeneralSir John WilseyApril 1995March 1996Debrett's People of Today 1994GeneralSir Roger WheelerMarch 1996January 1997GeneralSir Michael WalkerJanuary 1997March 2000GeneralSir Michael JacksonMarch 2000January 2003GeneralSir Timothy Granville-ChapmanJanuary 2003March 2005GeneralSir Richard DannattMarch 2005August 2006GeneralSir Redmond WattAugust 2006February 2008Commander-in-Chief Land ForcesGeneralSir David RichardsFebruary 2008July 2009GeneralSir Peter WallJuly 2009July 2010GeneralSir Nick ParkerJuly 2010November 2011 Commander United Kingdom Field ArmyLieutenant GeneralRedmond Watt September 2003March 2005Lieutenant GeneralRobin Brims March 2005October 2007Lieutenant GeneralGraeme Lamb October 2007July 2009Lieutenant GeneralBarney White-Spunner July 2009October 2011Lieutenant GeneralNick CarterOctober 2011January 2012Commander Land ForcesGeneralSir Nick ParkerNovember 2011December 2012Lieutenant GeneralAdrian BradshawJanuary 2013November 2013Defence Viewpoints, Up and Out: Promotions, leavers, new jobs May 2012Lieutenant-GeneralNick CarterNovember 2013September 2014Lieutenant-GeneralJames EverardSeptember 2014November 2015Commander Field ArmyLieutenant GeneralSir James EverardNovember 2015December 2016Lieutenant GeneralPatrick SandersDecember 2016March 2019Lieutenant GeneralIvan JonesMarch 2019April 2021Lieutenant GeneralRalph WooddisseApril 2021March 2024Lieutenant GeneralMike ElvissMarch 2024March 2026Commander Land ForcesLieutenant-GeneralZachary StenningMarch 2026Incumbent
See also Commander-in-Chief Fleet Commander-in-Chief of Air Command
References