Steuart Pringle

Sir Steuart Robert Pringle, 10th Baronet, KCB, DSC (21 July 1928 – 18 April 2013) was a Royal Marines officer who became Commandant General Royal Marines and who was seriously injured by an IRA car bomb.

Early life

Pringle was born on 21 July 1928. He was educated at Sherborne School.

Military career

Pringle joined the Royal Marines in 1946. He was appointed commanding officer of 45 Commando in 1971 and, after a tour at Headquarters Commando Forces from 1974 in which role he was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel, he became Major-General Commando Forces in 1978.

He went on to be chief of staff to the Commandant-General Royal Marines in 1979 and Commandant-General Royal Marines in 1981. On the 17 October 1981 Pringle was injured by an IRA car bomb attached to his red Volkswagen car outside his home in Dulwich, South London as he went to take his pet black Labrador, Bella to the park for a run. One of the first questions he asked was, “How’s my dog?” His dog, Bella, was unscathed but Pringle lost a leg in the incident. As commandant general of the Royal Marines, he was seen welcoming the Commandos home following the Falklands War. Pringle was named BBC Pebble Mill Man of the Year for his "outstanding achievement and bravery". He returned to duties after his ordeal until his retirement in 1985.