Field Marshal Sir John Chapple died peacefully at home in Wiltshire on the 25th of March 2022 after a short illness. He had a most distinguished military career culminating in his appointment in 1988 as Chief of the General Staff.

Educated at Haileybury and Trinity College Cambridge, John Chapple was commissioned into the 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) in 1954. He commanded the First Battalion of his Regiment in the early 70’s and went on to fulfil a number of important command and staff appointments at home and abroad including Commander British Forces Hong Kong coupled with that of Major General Brigade of Gurkhas, Director of Military Operations at the Ministry of Defence and Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Land Forces.

Following his retirement from the Army in 1992 Sir John was promoted Field Marshal and served as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar between 1993 and 1995. He was a Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater London between 1997 and 2005. Among a wide range of other appointments, he was a Commissioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and President of the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation and the Combined Services Polo Association.

The Field Marshal was a committed regimental officer and a strong supporter of the Gurkha soldier, his welfare and heritage and his homeland of Nepal. He was Colonel of his Regiment 1986-1994.

Sir John Chapple was a strong conservationist and took an active role in many associated organisations including Presidency of the Zoological Society of London, Trustee of WWF, Chairman of the UK Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal. He also served on the Council of the National Army Museum, as President of the Kipling Society and was a Vice Patron of the Gurkha Museum at Winchester. He was an avid collector of military memorabilia and a very keen birdwatcher. His keen scholarship and varied interests and leadership in a remarkable range of broader endeavours were widely recognised and deeply appreciated.