John Smedley (British Army officer)

Brigadier John Edward Bruce Smedley, LVO is Private Secretary to TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

He was educated at Felsted School, commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment as a University Cadet and read Economics at Reading University. All his regimental service was with 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, mainly in Germany,and with tours in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and England. He also held staff appointments in Hong Kong and the Ministry of Defence in London. After the Joint Services Defence College he commanded the UNFICYP Support Regiment in Nicosia, was Assistant Chief of Staff HQ BAOR, Commander Recce ACE Rapid Reaction Corps and the last Chief of Staff of the Army Staff College at Camberley. His last appointment was Deputy Commander 1st (UK) Armoured Division in Germany.

He is married and has two sons.

Smedley was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 2010 New Year Honours.