General Sir Mike Jackson (1944-2024)

Mike Jackson as a general (top) when he was the Chief of General Staff (CGS), and below as a captain of the Parachute Regiment while he was on duty in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s.

Known to many under his command as "Darth Vadar" and "The Prince of Darkness", General Sir Mike Jackson the British Army officer who rose to the position of the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) has died aged 80.

Jackson's eventful career took him to theatres such as Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq.

Reviled by republican militants during "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, Jackson is famous for disobeying an order from U.S. General Wesley Clark, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), during the Kosovo War in 1999.

Fearing that Clark's order would result in clashes with Russian peacekeeping troops, the then Lieutenant General Jackson reputedly told Clark:

"Sir, I'm not going to start the Third World War for you".

Clark was later removed from his position by President Bill Clinton.

© Adeyinka Makinde

Adeyinka Makinde is a writer based in London, England.

Obituaries.

Daily Telegraph – “General Sir Mike Jackson, redoubtable former head of the British Army” – obituary”

Financial Times – “General Sir Michael Jackson, 1944-2024: Celebrated British soldier with varied and illustrious military career famed for clash with his Nato commander”

Footage.

General Mike Jackson speaking about the role of the MRF, the covert British Army counter-insurgency force, in the BBC Panorama programme titled “Britain’s Secret Terror Force” which was broadcast in November 2013: