My watch is ended: British Army chief explains decision to step down

[@WizardOfCheese]

Respect, I believe him when he says the newer generation should not fear making mistakes, we have to, if we want to be "adaptable" in this rapidly changing world.

[@robertwelsh6878]

Thanks for your service Gen Sanders a Chosen man until the end!

[@림준식]

thanks, sir!

[@leeforeman3656]

Thank you for the service you provided over the decades. No doubt more of that commitment from your successor.

[@skip123davis]

awesome interview, and great attitude from the general. our greatest attribute is gratitude, which he displays in abundance.

[@justinkeogh123]

Loved your words about youth. Inspiring and optimistic. And Thank you for your service sir. I hope we see more of you in leadership roles - don't stop, we need guys like you

[@VK6AB-]

It was drivel.

[@michil75]

Come on guys, the man has served 40 years and he is Chief, he knows what he's doing. Show some respect in the comments.

[@importantjohn]

most of the negative comments are from guys who sit in their bedsits wanking over pornhub videos, criticising a man who has served on the front lines of N Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

[@deloughi1887]

Your comment tells me that you have no clue of how the internet works, lmao

[@anthonylocke3366]

agreed thanks for your service chief 🇬🇧🥃👍

[@anthonylocke3366]

@@deloughi1887 internet wow what were on the internet,is that the place,where if you make comments little boys/girls can't handle it and report that person

[@stephensmith4480]

@@deloughi1887 What on earth are you talking about you child. This Man is talking about Real Warriors, NOT The Keyboard variety.

[@xXXDeadlyHavocXXx]

Thank you for your service. 🇬🇧

[@bmorristown]

Lots of memorable, inspirational quotes from this dude. Kudos on your career and thank you for your service.

[@whya2ndaccount]

Stand down, congratulations on all your have done and thank you for your commitment and service.

[@grandprixforge]

Thank you for your service.

[@PhineasPhule]

Respect, General. Well done and nobly served, Sir.

[@johnsabini2330]

Too outspoken for politicians but type of person needed in senior positions of our defence forces.

[@Plan-C]

Good man. Thank you.

[@samisaadi407]

My watch is ended ! ... a real solid personality... a man of character and true grit.

[@howardcopestake1036]

Congratulations sir, your commitment is admirable. I don’t blame you in your decision to leave now, If I had to look forward of working for/with. Grant Schapps, my shoulder boards would have been on the desk a lot quicker!!!

[@gt4viking789]

What a great character…respect!!

[@sosayweall7290]

Thank you General, you're a fine man.

[@GerKaiNeknete]

Guys when he talkes about mistakes he referres to the young soldier, not himself! Calm down, jeezus

[@림준식]

thanks, sir

[@Icestorm294]

Theres a bitterness here… was he told to go? 🤔 - someone who loves their job generally want to extend their time doing it, but he refuses to answer that… Interesting…

[@markm4106]

I don't think so, he was a wee bit avoidant on one question there, but it seems perfectly within reason to be a difficult choice to step down and let the next guy step up. It's hard because he doesn't want to leave, he loves the job. He likely also knows its not appropriate to hold the post forever, times change and that means leadership too. The comment is appropriate, his watch has ended, a new watch begins. I wish him and his successor the best of luck

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

Look at the recent change in defence secretary, thats your answer. An honourable man cant serve under a lightweight conman and its time the government stopped using the defense secretary position as reward for the loyalty of complete fools with no military knowledge or experience like Schapps and Gavin williamson.

[@jameskellard5075]

The Guardian on 29th of last month had an article that he (and Ben Wallace) threatened to resign if further defence cuts were imposed (manpower rather than spending) and that both have had to fall on their swords in defence of the armed forces

[@geoffstainforth352]

I love his comment "Cross party support" You don't need me to explain !

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

I don’t think there’s anything I ever want to rely on you for an explanation

[@rogerrees9845]

Sir Patrick has been such a great leader... I believe his personal mission was to make the British Army one of the best in the world...in that he succeeded....The type of Army he created will flourish in the future....... Roger... Pembrokeshire

[@VK6AB-]

It has been decimated and he wasn't.

[@rogerrees9845]

@@VK6AB- The people responsible for that are the “here today gone tomorrow" Ministers of ALL Political Parties since WW2 not one single General of the British Army... Roger

[@Kroner1941]

Many more to come 😌

[@wingaard]

A quality leader.

[@petedunning9871]

This man is a perfect gentleman and now he has earned the right to go and ride his Triumph Speedmaster, that I sold him, into the sunset. Thank you Sir, for your service.

[@Applecompuser]

I am American, but admire the brits and am concerned for their future. Perhaps, we do not get a full perspective here based on reading online. God Bless from across the Pond!

[@johnallen7807]

But with an Army now smaller than it was at the time of Waterloo when are we going to see any senior officer turn round to the government and say "This is unacceptable, here is my resignation"?

[@ashwinstewart]

Probably infrequently. I mean it’s their livelihood.

[@johnallen7807]

The services are more than "a livelihood", aside from which if they resigned a couple of years early they would still get a massive pension but they would be making a big statement about what they believed.@@ashwinstewart

[@jameskellard5075]

I believe you just did, Sanders and Ben Wallace

[@johnallen7807]

Neither of them are senior officers!@@jameskellard5075

[@Charlie25068]

That's not how they got promoted there in the first place, so no, you won't. They got promoted, a nice pension and a few shiny gongs, by implementing and defending it.

[@ThomasOfTheWarband]

It must have been hard to see his country go from the largest military power in Europe to a shell of its former self.

[@importantjohn]

Uk is still the largest army in Western Europe and the 3rd largest in the world

[@Alienalloy]

@@importantjohnyou sure about that? I mean we both have google at our fingertips to check.

[@anthonypatterson]

Google don,t take into account quality of Soldier, like we are seeing in Ukraine with the Russian military@@Alienalloy

[@Grogritark]

@@importantjohn Couldn't be further from the truth. The French have a bigger army than us in Western Europe (despite having a population almost half the size). On the world scale I doubt we even come in the top 50 largest armies.

[@john-xo9mg]

@@anthonypatterson You keep believing that,Very old saying quantity has a quality all of it's own. Our forces are not fit for purpose may be ok for peace keeping duty but not much else these days and you can blame the we are your friend training regime as well as the government for cheaping out on equipment.

[@sam3346]

Someone help , he said hes the longest serving cheif.. but he's only been incharge for a year and 80 days (to date), his predecessor did 4 years?

[@Bigdangleebles]

He does like to tell a tale...

[@jameskellard5075]

For my part I'm sad to see him go. Ben Wallace has gone and will be missed, Matthew Holmes lost his career and ultimately his life in defence of the Royal Marines. I think more will go as they've not been able to make the Sunak accept that decades of under investment has led to a severe lack of almost everything and need to get a grip on how the defence budget is spent (not simply throwing it at industry and hoping some good will come of it). I also think there is an underlying belief that the country is sleep walking to a Liebour government that no one wants to serve under

[@shaunowardo]

He’s knows what’s around the corner. WWlll

[@death_parade]

That has always been around the corner during the past 75-odd years, just like fusion reactors with Q>1.

[@abhishekmhatre1554]

I didn't know Dominic West was the chief of army staff.

[@RMG-w9p]

He had the final say on split arses in infantry lol and pony tails hanging down - two bit decision boss .

[@garagenigel]

Said split arses have more balls than most of the male infanteers nowadays!

[@evanguillen6805]

Sad 😢

[@cypeman8037]

Was he kicked out or did he resigned? He would not answer that. When I make mistakes a delivery is missed, I can put that right, his mistakes could cost lives.

[@Sanity800]

As a veteran of 30 yrs, perspective. Outgoing CGS was frustrated by Whitehall, DefSec - No10. Treasury and PM using SDSR/ISDR to cut further manpower. Who needs a domestic and foreign enemy when HM Government is decimating our military.

[@regarded9702]

It is weird that he refused to answer that question.

[@Sanity800]

@@regarded9702 publicly CGS unlikely to say, behind scenes he & Ben Wallace both decided to resign at similar times, why? Treasury is consistently demanding efficiency savings, ie department austerity.

[@dig3671]

Who was the lady in the portrait?

[@andrigeogiou8420]

I just want to ask the general , .. Does ever ,the British army makes any plans ,how to take's out of Cyprus ,the Turkey's occupation forces ? Britain, is still a quarantor power of the independence of the island Cypriot

[@toasttesting1604]

Ukraine is thankful❤

[@toasttesting1604]

@TheBritEmpire why are you so rude?

[@patshiels5429]

Did not answer the question

[@richardjones7984]

As an old man I have watched our Army go from successfully defending a vast Empire to failing to defend our own country. So it seems this guy is at fault.

[@LuisRuizUK]

Sounds like he was pushed

[@garagenigel]

Which major arms manufacturer has awarded him a seat on the board!

[@normanboyes4983]

You will have to wait and see.

[@Bigdangleebles]

That will surely be GD

[@SimonPerry-cz4ke]

The Sort of Man we need in Politics unlike todays Shower of Doo Doo

[@2210ethan]

Respect

[@davidlawton7845]

He was lucky to be allowed to serve as long as he did. Us lower ranks hardly figure in their thoughts….

[@kranson8514]

Maybe a period of national service again would install stronger belief in basic values for themselves and to others, our forces have so very much to offer young people from all backgrounds. We need to invest ten times more in our services such as apprenterships - education - transferable skills, so those with the aptitude and determination get on and make something more of themselves than they ever thought possible. Maybe our country's societies will become far less disjointed with more pride of who they have become, and what they contribute to their society. Thank you sir.

[@meme4one]

Off to a juicy job in industry?

[@lemontadams3029]

North Korea has agreed to send three-hundred-thousand (300,000) to five-hundred thousand (500,000) troops to Russia to assist with its Special Military Operation in Ukraine, against NATO. The first deployment will be about 20,000 soldiers to assist with Logistics.

[@nerijusbutkys-c1v]

My father told me Back in the days if you bad behavior in public Soviet police grabs you and make you run 10000 meters without stopping or until you drop down for good 😄 next day you will be angel and go work with smile

[@ventus5th]

Now I have another person I want to be like when I’m older. (I’m in my 30s)

[@davequinn2369]

A leader wants volunteers

[@ginabrierley9925]

You can’t afford mistakes in the military it costs lives

[@belong53]

When its time to go, its time to go. The defence minister has gone so now its a good time.

[@FuriousFire898]

As long as the war strategy doesn’t change im cool with it

[@sergeipetrov_rzn]

England is at war?

[@FuriousFire898]

@@sergeipetrov_rzn nope.

[@sergeipetrov_rzn]

@@FuriousFire898 what "war strategy" then?

[@normanboyes4983]

@@sergeipetrov_rznHe never mentioned England.

[@denisrivarola2387]

Not a single Night's Watch Jon Snow joke.

[@Player-unknown93]

Thankyou for your service my man ❤ my your retirement be exacting how you want it to be and my you find the peace you are seeking ❤❤

[@mikeb1417]

Getting out of a sinking ship the British army is finished wokey jokey army now heartbreaking to see it now compared to what it was

[@Jarrosnshajahwh]

You dont have to be laddish to be lethal apparently...

[@schuletrip]

Is this the bloke who wanted to stamp out laddish behaviour from the army? Now we have fat loners who couldn’t likely pass a 90s style BFT or CFT.

[@simeontam2434]

The next head of the British Army's job won't be easy

[@iamspartacus8219]

Quitting because there’s no army to command any more. We’re now just a brigade of the US Army.

[@Павел-ь2ш2с]

The West and South of Europe were occupied by the Arabs, the East and the North by the Huns. The modern European is a mixture of Semite and Mongol.

[@garylyall811]

He’s in for a shock when he realises the millions of men in this country that will not fight for this corrupt country

[@bensmith7536]

as a govt employee for the last 20 years, i do not trust a man of this rank..... he is a politician looking after his own skin, not the people below him.

[@jpevans01]

I hear you - however I served with then colonel Patrick in Basra palace, and can assure you he cared deeply about his soldiers and those he lost. He felt it very personally - and I thought he was an inspirational commander. Very much respected him, and glad he’s risen so high.

[@billballbuster7186]

If he was telling the truth he would have mentioned the British army decline in the last 40 years. The physical standards are the lowest they have ever been because of women recruitment. The Army is still using equipment, especially armoured vehicles, that were old 40 years ago. Army strength has dropped from 320,000 (1980) to only 77,540 today. It could not conduct a military operation the size of Operation Telic 2003 Gulf War, yet the World is a much more dangerous place.

[@Azazel-xb6sd]

Bro women still have to meet the same standards as men lol. What are you chatting? Also the army is 100k+ strong not 77k. Give your head a wobble mate.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@Azazel-xb6sd You always get the dumbo, standards were lowered The old Battle PT Test was Double March 7 Miles in full Battle Order with Rifle. Go over the Assault Course, Carry a man your size 100 meters with you carrying all his kit and rifle. Shoot at least a 65% score on the range. Time 1hr 45 min Now its 50 sit-ups in 2 Minutes. Men 44 Press-Ups in 2 minutes, Women 21 Press-Ups in 2 Minutes. 2.4Km timed run Men 10 min 30 sec Women 12 min 45 sec Fitness Test CTF 8 miles full kit in 2 hours

[@Azazel-xb6sd]

@@billballbuster7186 shows how much you know - the fitness test for the current British Army is nothing like that. Its currently: Mid-thigh Pull Medicine Ball Throw MSFT to cap badge standard 4km Tab 40kg in under 50 mins 2km Tab 25kgs in under 15mins immediately after 7.5 bounds in full kit followed by 15m crawl and 15m sprint in under 55 seconds 110kg bag pull in under 35 seconds Two 22kg jerry can carry over 240m in under 4mins Research first lol. And that's just the initial test. Plenty of other tests such as the assault course and casualty carry that goes on throughout training. It's called progression.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@Azazel-xb6sd Well sonny I know the old Battle PT Test Because I did it on a yearly basis, The Modern PT tests are quoted from the British Army website. as is the current 2023 strength of 77.540. I believe them rather than you.

[@Grogritark]

@@billballbuster7186 Currently serving in the infantry and this is not the fitness test. The current fitness test is the RFT, a 4k tab followed by a 2k best effort, after which several tasks including tactical bounds and jerry can carries are carried out. Azazel is correct.

[@robertwaye803]

This sounds like more cuts and he is getting out before being kicked out .

[@normanboyes4983]

CGS does not make cuts. Politicians make cuts - the military have to implement them. Would you rather live in a military dictatorship?

[@garydonoghue4565]

Steps down after making false claims and comments about the BA Hahahah

[@budte]

The people that should be standing down are those responsible for discriminating against patriotic native Brits to recruit those whose heritage and allegiance may be elsewhere.

[@Grogritark]

That was the RAF. Pretty sure the army don't 'positively discriminate'. At least honestly.

[@budte]

@@Grogritark If you are in any doubt, look at the recruitment ads.

[@rats2864]

tried to add back? all they did is took and took until armed forces is the joke it is today. Wouldn't last a week in Ukraine with the current equipment we have

[@MBGA123]

You should have to commit to the job for longer than a year

[@Smakheed]

2nd job... The first being a fried chicken resteraunt?

[@ginojaco]

Generally - no pun intended - a good man, but a let the side down regarding women in the infantry and regarding not standing up for increased numbers. A pity, because otherwise a job well done.

[@normanboyes4983]

The size of the Army is a political decision, serving officers can only present and argue the case - the Treasury always wins. It is exactly why we call them Defence reviews but there is no real review of anything but the defence budget and that always invokes real term cuts which always involves manpower reductions.

[@ginojaco]

@@normanboyes4983 Of course it is and nobody has claimed otherwise. But senior ranks speak openly in private of the absurdity of such small numbers, yet do not use their strongest hand to 'encourage' politicians to do the necessary, i.e. resign on the issue. I do not write of resigning their commissions, nor from the service, but from the appointment of COtGS. He wouldn't lose his pension, and it would send a huge public message. And he let girls into the infantry, an appalling mistake...

[@normanboyes4983]

@@ginojaco At CGS level if you resign - that’s it - you are out of the service there is no other job you will be appointed to. (Of course he will get a pension).

[@jpevans01]

Why do you think he was pushed out? Govt did not appreciate how vocal he was about Army cuts going too far. Therefore was never going to get the top job (CDS)

[@ginojaco]

@@normanboyes4983 No, that would be his choice to take gardening leave if he did not want to take a step down.

[@IAmLegendBoxing]

Late 50's ??? I'm glad that I am black.

[@ancientmachine9070]

hat

[@paultjiefick2239]

Go help Ukrain give them some advice. God Bless

[@WestWing99]

I hope his replacement is NOT a woman!😮

[@BornePlayss]

Tuck your shirt in.

[@georgemorley1029]

Wind your neck in.

[@capricorn1298]

Naw. A fairly useless chief. You presided over an army that can't fill a football stadium. More so you refused to acknowledge that the Russian army is way above your abilities. Is it a case of the rats abandoning the sinking ship ?

[@blitzroehre1807]

"Russian army is way above your abilities." ....Calm down comrade Trollanov, will ya? The Brit army would kick your stoopid "Z" backside right down to the pacific coast..

[@normanboyes4983]

hello Z bot. The only sinking ships are Russian ones, they are even sinking on dry land.

[@threethrushes]

"My watch is ended." When I served, our General Staff spoke the Queen's English correctly. This new generation of officer plays fast and loose with grammar at its peril. Sic transit gloria mundi.

[@importantjohn]

He was quoting a famous line verbatim from a TV series, you big plonker. He speaks fairly well, what more do you want?

[@LionXV1]

That's how it's written in the title of the video but if you listen back it's too difficult to tell whether or not he said "has ended" or "is ended" since watch ends with an H.

[@AlecanderWatson]

I think you'll find that the present perfect can use either 'to have' or 'to be' as its base verb. His use of 'is' in this instance is not wrong. (Source: Brinton & Arnovick, 2016) Ironically, you complain that officers used to speak the Queen's English yet you clearly have no clue what that sounds like. What he said was a little old-fashioned but entirely correct.

[@nicksnowbuildings]

Its a reference to a well known television show.

[@AirplaneDoctor_]

Feel free to make mistakes? Mistakes are what get troops killed, good thing he's out the door giving such poor advice.

[@johnharro2424]

I believe in context he's talking about new recruits training, and the "Ideas" youths bring, but like all interviews this is a lot of rambling that has been heavily cut down it seems.

[@michil75]

He means in training and growth as a soldier, not on the battlefield. If you can't make mistakes in a traiining situation it's a lot less easy to learn and grow, people freeze up.

[@sp7873]

Someone who risks nothing, risks everything in the long run. Thats what i think he is referring to and i think he is right!

[@studentaviator3756]

Mistakes do get people killed. But every war is littered with tactical errors and strategic errors. Wars are nearly always different from the prior one, and the generals are having to rewrite the manual. So, whilst failure must not be tolerated and recruits must be pushed for excellence. It's often only through those mistakes those recruits achieve excellence.

[@studentaviator3756]

​@michil75 I don't know its complicated. Because giving people room to make mistakes is important. But equally an organisation like the army had to be intolerant of relaxed standards

[@tw528]

nice one screamer

[@smudgerbugg]

Do you even know what a screamer is?

[@derf9465]

That saved £100000+ oh it didn't he is still paid that.

[@johnwright7895]

A failure promoted above his abilities.

[@johnwright7895]

This type of person is redundant.

[@JuniorJuni070]

ok game of thrones..

[@nickjohnparker1]

Run out of kick backs? Did ya? Move on and get a cushy long promised exec position with a top military manufacturer. Doing nothing for a fat salary!

[@johnwright7895]

Look at him.Does he inspire you like Tim,the man the British Army needed ?....😢😢😢He would not have had the guts to make the speech Tim Collins made.Politcian .Hope you are happy with the state of the army and how you bowed to the government.🦧AH.