John Pullinger (Parachute Regiment)
John Robert William Pullinger is a retired officer in the Parachute Regiment.
Pullinger attended Mons Officer Cadet School before receiving a short service commission in the Parachute Regiment on 31 October 1970. His army number was 490374.[1]
Pullinger received a mention-in-despatches, announced in the London Gazette of 15 February 1972 in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August 1971 to 31 October 1971.[2] He received a regular commission on 20th June 1972.[3]
He was promoted to Lieutenant on 31 October 1973,[4], to captain on 31 October 1976,[5] to Major on 30 September 1982.[6]
Colin Dunne recounts the following story about Pullinger and his wife, the journalist Philippa Kennedy from this period:
- was attempting to write a book, a thriller that involved a certain amount of guns-and-violence. I knew nothing about either, which is pretty amazing when you think that I was working for Kelvin MacKenzie at the time.
- Philippa – Mirror, Express, editor of Press Gazette – volunteered her husband, who was then a major in the Paras, to give me an intensive education in both. And, helpful chap that he is, he did. He took me out double-tapping with a Browning 9mm (see how well I speak the language now?) on the army ranges and hurled me around the shrubbery to the great delight of their two little daughters.[7]
Pullinger was promoted to Lt. Colonel on 31 December 1993.[8] He received an appointment at the Ministry of Defence in November 1993.[9]
Pullinger was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours List published in December 1999.[10] He retired and was appointed to the Reserve of Officers on 28 April 2000.[11]
Author Julia Llewellyn Smith recounts a meeting with Pullinger in her book, Travels without my aunt.[12]
Post-Army Career
According to the Gulf Daily News Pullinger "was stationed in the Green Zone from 2003-2004 with British international development company Crown Agents, who were supporting the work of US government agency USAID."[13]
- Lt Col John Pullinger was working in difficult conditions in Baghdad's Green Zone when former members of Britain's SAS, then working with a private security company, introduced him to a furniture salesman who was to have a big influence on his life.
- That salesman was Chris Exline, president of Home Essentials, the world's largest furniture leasing company outside the US.
- Mr Pullinger, who went on to become managing director of infrastructure at the company's Dubai office, recalled the circumstances which brought them together in a talk to members of the British Business Group for Dubai and the Northern Emirates yesterday.[14]
Notes
- ↑ London Gazette Issue 45236, page 12860, 20 November 1970.
- ↑ issue 45598, page 1896, 15 February 1972.
- ↑ London Gazette issue 4585, page 13427, 13 November 1972.
- ↑ London Gazette issue 46115, page 12871, 29 October 1973.
- ↑ London Gazette, issue 47056, page 14759, 1 November 1976.
- ↑ London Gazette, issue 49142, page 13573, 18 October 1982.
- ↑ Colin Dunn, Brought to book, Gentlemen Ranters, 3 July 2009.
- ↑ London Gazette issue 53527,page 20680, 31 December 1993.
- ↑ Service appointments, The Independent, 20 November 1993.
- ↑ London Gazette issue 55710, page 6, 31 December 1999.
- ↑ London Gazette issue 55835, page 4830, 2 May 2000.
- ↑ Julia Llewellyn Smith, Travels without my aunt: in the footsteps of Graham Greene, Penguin, 2001, p.88.
- ↑ UK paratrooper building houses for the future... , Gulf Daily News, 28 June 2007.
- ↑ UK paratrooper building houses for the future... , Gulf Daily News, 28 June 2007.
