Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Jeremy 'Robin' Ross, KCB, OBE 1939-2025
- Si Biggs
- 50 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Lieutenant-General Sir Robin Ross, KCB, OBE, died 29 July, 2025. He was 85.
Ross was a dynamic Royal Marine who led British humanitarian effort after first Gulf War.
His career spanned nearly four decades and culminated in his appointment as Commandant General Royal Marines; he led Operation Haven in Northern Iraq in 1991, and later was instrumental in ensuring the future of Britain’s amphibious warfare capability.
Ross was appointed the British commander of Operation Haven when, after the First Gulf War, some 6,000 Allied troops were tasked with safeguarding the people of Northern Iraq after Saddam Hussein had crushed their rebellion in March 1991.
Ross’ diplomatic skill and leadership, tested amid a complex international and humanitarian crisis, earned him great respect, and he was decorated with the Legion of Merit from the United States and the Medal of Merit in Gold from the Queen of the Netherlands.
He was born 28 November, 1939, son of Lt-Col Gerald Whitehill Ross (1904-1988), Royal Marines, and his wife Margaret Dorothy Ross-Bell (1916-1992). An ancestor, Major General Robert Ross, with an army of 4,500 men including 1,000 Royal Marines from the fleet, captured Washington during the War of 1812 and set fire to the White House.
He was Major General Training Reserve and Special Forces (1988-90), Major General Commando Forces (1990-93), and Commandant General Royal Marines (1993-96), the last to serve in the rank of Lieutenant-General.
He was appointed KCB in 1994.
Ross was chairman of SSAFA Forces Help from 2000-10, and a liveryman of the Plaisterers’ Company.
He married 15 May, 1965, (Dorcas) Sara Curtis (1932-2023), daughter of Col William Patrick Stewart Curtis, OBE (1899-1965), scion of the Curtis baronets, by his wife the former Margaret Pamela Adderley Cradock (1908-79), scion of that landed gentry family. [1]
From 2000 to 2010, he was National Chair of the trustees of SSAFA.
He is remembered fondly by those still involved with SSAFA, including National Vice Chair Lady Alex Walmsley, who said: “Robin always had the most cheery smile and was one of those people who made you feel uplifted by being in his company.
“He was the driving force behind establishing our Corporate Friends programme, believing that the defence industry should be better connected with SSAFA to understand the work we do.”
Another SSAFA trustee, David Rowe, added: “He was the chairman who asked me to advise SSAFA and then to become a trustee. Robin had a natural ability to charm people that was most obvious when he osted a group of us at Number 10 when Gordon Brown was PM. Robin always gave me confidence, and I was felt he would ‘have my back’ if needed.
On his retirement in March 2010, Sir Robin was presented with the SSAFA Gold Medal for his commitment, understanding, integrity, and exceptional service to SSAFA. This award was approved in 2008 by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for exceptional service over a period of 10 or more years, and has been presented only three times since its introduction.
All at SSAFA send their best wishes to Sir Robin’s family and friends. [2]
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References/ Further Reading:
[1] Peerage News - Obituary
[2] saafa - Obituary
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