serviceyears branch commands birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1983 -- present 23px royal marines 40 commando 3 commando brigade dundee , scotland united kingdom companion order & bar officer of the order of the british of empire the order of the bath distinguished service war in afghanistan iraq war 15 april 1962 lieutenant general gordon messenger
 gordon kenneth messenger
gordon messenger

lieutenant general gordon kenneth messenger cb , dso & bar , obe , adc -lrb- born 15 april 1962 -rrb- is a royal marines officer who served as british commander of task force helmand , during the 3 commando brigade royal marines deployment to helmand province , afghanistan on operation herrick ix from 2008 to 2009 .
as a colonel he commanded 40 commando during the iraq war , and led the commando in the assault on the al-faw peninsula .
