A former Special Forces chief and Afghanistan veteran is to steer the Army, say Whitehall sources.

Lt Gen Roland “Roly” Walker is a 53-year-old married dad of three daughters who has additionally served in Iraq and Northern Ireland.

The soldier averted loss of life in Helmand Province in 2010 when a mine threw his Ridgeback armoured car six ft into the air. All six inside have been unhurt.

He is about to be promoted to Chief of the General Staff when General Sir Patrick Sanders steps down.

Lt Gen Walker will tackle essentially the most senior function within the Army at a time when it's dealing with its largest troop cuts.

At the second Lt Gen Walker is Deputy Chief of Defence Staff and directs all navy operations on behalf of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the pinnacle of the Armed Forces.

It is known that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Lt Gen Walker, who have been born a day aside in 1970, “get on well”. The two have identified one another since their Army days 30 years in the past, and are mentioned to have shared a room in Belfast as platoon commanders.

A supply mentioned: “There is mutual respect,” including that Lt Gen Walker works “closely with Wallace on a very regular basis”.

Lt Gen Walker was born in Kenya and educated at Harrow. He was sponsored by the Army on the Royal Agricultural College, gaining a science diploma.

He was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1993 earlier than becoming a member of the twenty second Special Air Service Regiment in 1997.

He then moved to the Grenadier Guards and by 2011 was promoted to the General Staff.

His final function earlier than promotion was Director Special Forces.

In 2009 5 of Lt Gen Walker’s males have been shot lifeless in an Afghan police compound. He realised “you have got to take control of the situation and deal with the living”.

Sources claimed Sir Patrick was compelled out after criticising the choice to slash troops to their lowest because the Napoleonic period. The claims have been later denied by an admiral.

The Ministry of Defence declined to remark.