War hero who survived Taliban bomb set to become head of British Army

War hero Lieutenant General Roly Walker who survived a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan is set to become the head of the British Army

• Roland Walker is the Deputy Chief of the General Staff at the Ministry of Defence

A war hero who survived a Taliban bomb is set to become the head of the British Army.

Afghan veteran Lieutenant General Roland Walker is currently the Deputy Chief of the General Staff at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), where he is number two to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the entire British armed forces.

Lt. Gen. Walker looks set to succeed General Patrick Sanders as head of the Army, having reportedly impressed the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

Last night the MoD did not deny that Lt. Gen. Walker had got the top job.

In his current role, the 53-year-old is based in the MoD’s main Whitehall building where he has had ‘a lot of face time’ with Mr. Wallace, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Afghan veteran Lieutenant General Roly Walker is currently the Deputy Chief of the General Staff at the Ministry of Defence

In his current role, the 53-year-old is based in the MoDs’ main Whitehall building where he has had ‘a lot of face time’ with defence secretary Ben Wallace

‘There is mutual respect,’ one source said, adding that the two have worked very closely since Lt. Gen. Walker took on his current role last year.

They have known each other since serving in the military together 30 years ago, reportedly sharing a room in Belfast.

Lt. Gen. Walker has enjoyed a distinguished career in the armed forces, serving in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In 2009, he was the commanding officer of the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards when his men were shot dead inside an Afghan police compound known as Blue 25, one of the most dangerous areas in Helmand province.

And while on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2010, the Ridgeback armoured vehicle he was travelling in with five others struck an explosive device that blasted the wheels off the truck and threw it into the air.

He appears to have staved off competition from Lieutenant General Sir Nick Borton, the commander of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Also in the running is Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, who could have been the first female chief of the general staff, and Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Wooddisse, Commander Field Army.

General Sanders, who became Chief of the General Staff last June, will stand down after a reported row with ministers over the cutting of troop numbers.

In 2021, it was announced that the number of fully-trained soldiers is set to fall to 72,500. Lt Gen Walker is believed to be fully supportive of cuts.

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