Former British Army Chief General Sir Mike Jackson Dies at 80

 

General Sir Mike Jackson, the former head of the British Army who led troops during the 2003 Iraq war, has passed away at the age of 80. He died on October 15, surrounded by his family.

Known for his calm demeanor and distinctive gravelly voice, Jackson earned the nickname “the Prince of Darkness” during his military career. He held several senior command positions, including in Kosovo during the 1990s, and had a distinguished service record spanning over four decades.

The British Army announced his death on social media platform X, expressing deep sadness: “It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of General Sir Mike Jackson GCB, CBE, DSO, on 15 October surrounded by his family. General ‘Jacko’ served with distinction for over 40 years, finishing his career as Chief of the General Staff. He will be greatly missed and long remembered. Utrinque Paratus.”

Born into a military family, Jackson was commissioned as an officer from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1963. He joined the Parachute Regiment in 1970, undertaking multiple tours in Northern Ireland and leading the regiment's 1st battalion from 1984 to 1986. A father of three, he also served in Bosnia.

In 1989, while a brigadier, he spent six months at Cambridge University as a services fellow at Wolfson College, where he completed his thesis just weeks before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Jackson's military career included a controversial moment as the adjutant of the Parachute Regiment’s 1st battalion during Bloody Sunday on January 30, 1972, when paratroopers shot and killed 13 Roman Catholic men during a civil rights march. In 2011, he issued a full apology for the shootings, acknowledging that the men were killed “without justification” following the publication of the Saville inquiry report, which described the incident as a “catastrophe” for Northern Ireland.

He was appointed Chief of the General Staff just before the controversial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and served in that role until 2006, when he was succeeded by General Sir Richard Dannatt. Jackson retired from the army after nearly 45 years of service.

His leadership in operations, particularly in Kosovo, earned him a Distinguished Service Order (DSO), recognizing his “highly successful command.” He eventually rose to the rank of commander-in-chief of United Kingdom Land Command.

The Parachute Regimental Association paid tribute to Jackson, describing him as a “great leader of men” who will be “missed by many.”