Lieutenant General James Ian Bashall, (born 3 April 1962) is a former British Army officer who served as Commander Home Command from 2015 to 2018. From 2019 to 2023 he was the National President of the Royal British Legion.
Early life and education Bashall was born on 3 April 1962 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007 He was educated at Marlborough College, a private boarding school.
Military career Bashall was commissioned in to the Parachute Regiment in 1984. By 2002 he had become Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute RegimentInto the Afghan Minefield BBC News, 24 February 2002 serving in Afghanistan.Day the white tin hats met the Red Berets Daily Telegraph, 11 January 2002
He commanded 1st Mechanized BrigadeThe 'proxy war': UK troops are sent to Iranian border The Independent, 12 September 2007 based in Basra in Southern Iraq during Operation Telic in 2007.Commander who led SAS rescue is hero of Iraq war Evening Standard, 28 February 2011 He was appointed Director Army Division of the Defence Academy at Shrivenham in January 2009 and went on to be Chief of Joint Force Operations in December 2009:Handover of UK Armoured division takes place in Germany British Forces News, 1 April 2011 in this capacity he masterminded the covert Special Air Service rescue operations across war-torn Libya in early 2011. He became General Officer Commanding 1st (UK) Armoured Division in April 2011, Chief of Staff, Operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood in August 2012Defence Viewpoints; Promotions, leavers, new jobs; May 2012 and Commander Personnel and Support Command in June 2015 (his role was re-designated Commander Home Command in May 2016). Bashall retired from the British Army on 27 October 2018.
Later life
Bashall was appointed as the National President of the Royal British Legion in May 2019. When appointed, Bashall said "It is an honour to be appointed as the National President of The Royal British Legion, a charity with an esteemed history, and one that plays a vital role in today’s Armed Forces community." He served in his position until May 2023.
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