Anthony Boam

Major General Thomas Anthony Boam, CB, CBE (14 February 1932 – 20 November 2023) was a British Army officer who was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong from 1985 to 1987.

Anthony Boam
Born	(1932-02-14)14 February 1932
Died	20 November 2023(2023-11-20) (aged 91)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1952–1987
Rank	Major General
Commands	British Forces in Hong Kong British Army Advisory Team in Nigeria 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
Battles / wars	The Troubles
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Biography

Educated at Bradfield College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Boam was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1952.^[1] He became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards and was deployed to Northern Ireland, where he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services there in 1973.^[2] He became commander of the British Army Advisory Team in Nigeria in 1976, Brigadier General Staff at Headquarters UK Land Forces in 1978 and chief of staff for British Forces in Hong Kong in 1979.^[3] He was appointed Head of the British Defence Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1981,^[4] and Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong in 1985.^[5] In that capacity he hosted a visit by Princess Margaret.^[6] He retired in 1987,^[7] and died on 20 November 2023, at the age of 91.^[8]

References

1. "No. 39649". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 September 1952. p. 5021.
2. "No. 45965". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1973. p. 5458.
3. Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-1414-8
4. "No. 48809". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 November 1981. p. 15277.
5. "No. 50141". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1985. p. 7715.
6. Princess Margaret Eugene Register Guard, 28 May 1987
7. "No. 51121". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1987. p. 14140.
8. "(Major General) Thomas Anthony Boam". The Times. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Roy Austen-Smith	Head of the British Defence Staff in Washington, D.C. 1981–1984	Succeeded by Ronald Dick
Preceded by Sir Derek Boorman	Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong 1985–1987	Succeeded by Sir Garry Johnson