Hew Pike Lieutenant - General Sir Hew William Royston Pike KCB , DSO , MBE ( born 24 April 1943 ) is a retired British Army officer known for his service in the Falklands War and for his command in Northern Ireland . Education and early career . The son of army officer Lieutenant General Sir William Pike , Pike was educated at Winchester College and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , and commissioned into The Parachute Regiment as a second lieutenant on 21 December 1962 . He served as a platoon commander in Bahrain and saw active service in the Aden Emergency . He was promoted lieutenant on 21 June 1964 , and captain on 21 December 1968 . For much of the 1970s , he was in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom . He attended Staff College , Camberley in 1975 , was promoted major on 30 June 1975 , and was then appointed Brigade Major of 16th Parachute Brigade . During his period there , the unit underwent a major reorganisation becoming 6th Field Force , Pike was largely responsible for the writing of the initial concept study detailing the proposed new structure , and also for its implementation , something which required cooperation from other army units , and the Royal Air Force , as well as liaison with NATO headquarters . As a result he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire ( MBE ) in the 1978 New Year Honours , the recommendation for the award concluded : " his careful planning [ has ] undoubtedly saved much time and money . He has surpassed all that would normally be expected for an officer of his rank and age . " From 1978 he was a company commander in 3rd Battalion , The Parachute Regiment ( 3PARA ) . Falklands War . Pike was promoted lieutenant - colonel on 30 June 1980 , and became Commanding Officer of 3PARA . On 6 October 1981 he was Mentioned in Despatches for his command of the battalion while in Northern Ireland . He was still CO when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 , triggering the Falklands War . The battalion was attached to 3 Commando Brigade to bring that unit up to full strength . He landed with his battalion in San Carlos bay on 21 May . Due to the lack of transport helicopters , lost when the transport ship Atlantic Conveyor was sunk , the battalion had to cover the difficult terrain on foot . 3PARA was engaged in one of the fiercest encounters of the war in the Battle of Mount Longdon . His men suffered heavy casualties taking the mountain in a battle that lasted from 9pm to 7am the next day . Pike was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his " cool example and inspiring leadership " . The award was recommended by the brigade commander , Brigadier Julian Thompson , and " Very strongly recommended " by the other senior commanders , Major General Jeremy Moore , Lieutenant General Sir Richard Trant and Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse . He relinquished command of 3PARA in 1983 . Later career and retirement . Pike then held staff positions , first with I Corps and then at the School of Infantry . He was promoted colonel on 30 June 1985 , and brigadier on 31 December 1987 ( with seniority from 30 June 1987 ) . From 1987 - 1989 he commanded 22 Armoured Brigade in Germany . After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies , he was promoted acting Major General on 13 April 1992 ( substantive from 1 June 1992 ) and was made General Officer Commanding ( GOC ) , 3rd ( UK ) Division until 11 April 1994 . He was then made Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1 May 1994 . He was also appointed to the honorary positions of Colonel Commandant of the Small Arms School Corps on 1 April 1992 , holding that post until 1 December 1997 . On 1 July 1995 he was promoted acting lieutenant general and appointed Deputy Commander - in - Chief Land Command and Inspector General Territorial Army . He received substantive promotion on 9 September 1995 ( with seniority from 30 June ) , and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1997 New Year Honours . On 23 November 1997 was appointed as Director of Operations ( DCOMOPS ) of the NATO SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina . From 26 October 1998 to 2000 was GOC and Director of Operations in Northern Ireland . On 1 July 1999 he was appointed Honorary Colonel , Royal Rifle Volunteers , Territorial Army , and held that post until 1 September 2003 . He retired as a Lieutenant General on 14 March 2001 . In retirement , Pike has written of his family history . External links .