Mark Underhill
British Army officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colonel Mark Charles Heath Underhill, OBE, DL (born c. 1960) is a retired British Army officer, and a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside. He retired as the Chief Executive of the North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association in February 2025.[1] Underhill is a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside and is Also Chair of the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund, A charity set up in 1993 with the consent of Elizabeth II to support local good causes and community initiatives within the north west[2]
Mark Underhill | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959–1960 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Service years | 1978 – 2013 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 507550 |
| Unit | Royal Corps of Transport Royal Logistic Corps |
| Commands | Royal Logistic Corps TA |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
| Alma mater | King William's College |
Military career
Underhill commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 7 April 1979, into the Royal Corps of Transport, initially on a short service commission.[3] He was promoted to lieutenant on 7 April 1981,[4] and after spending time as a troop commander in the Gurkha Transport Regiment in Hong Kong,[5] he completed the Regular Careers Course and was once more promoted to captain on 7 October 1985.[6] Upon promotion to major on 30 September 1990,[7] Underhill returned to Hong Kong in command of a squadron, and deployed with the UN as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. After transferring to the Royal Logistic Corps upon its formation in April 1993,[8] he once more returned to Hong Kong as the second-in-command of the newly raised Hong Kong Logistic Support Regiment RLC.[5] Promotion to lieutenant colonel then followed on 30 June 2000,[9] along with the role of overseeing the formation of the tri-Service International Military Advisory and Training Team (Sierra Leone). After a posting at the Defence Transport and Movements Agency; and as Commander of Logistic Support, London District; Underhill was once more promoted to colonel on 30 June 2007,[10] and took up the role of commander the Royal Logistic Corps Territorial Army.[5]
As a staff officer, Underhill served as the Assistant Head for Operational Energy Management of the Defence Fuels Group; Commander, Logistic Support & Infrastructure at 4th Division; and finally as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Support, at Headquarters Support Command.[5] Underhill retired in 2013, at the rank of Colonel.[11]
Underhill has been Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside since 2019;[12] the Honorary Colonel of 158 Regiment RLC since 2013;[5][13] and the Honorary Life President of the Army Rugby Union since 2016.[11] He was, until his retirement in February 2025, the Chief Executive of the North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.[14]
Underhill was appointed an MBE in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours.[15] He was further advanced to an OBE in the Operation TELIC honours list in 2003.[16]
Personal life
Underhill is married to Debbie and they have two adult children.[5]