# Vern Stokes

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Stokes
> Source revision: 1352661023
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{{notability|1=Biographies|date=September 2025}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2025}}
{{Short description|Soldier in the British Army (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [Warrant Officer Class 1](/source/Warrant_Officer_Class_1)
| name             = Vern Stokes
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|OBE|MVO|DL}}
| image            = State Opening of Parliament 2015 (18168558105).jpg
| caption          = The Garrison Sergeant Major, Billy Mott (left), alongside his successor-to-be Vern Stokes (right)at the State Opening of Parliament 2015.
| birth_date       = 1972
| death_date       = 
| birth_place      = [Madeley](/source/Madeley%2C_Shropshire), [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire), [England](/source/England)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk/gsm-andrew-vern-stokes-takes-on-patron-role-with-shropshire-charity/|title=GSM Andrew 'Vern' Stokes takes on patron role with Shropshire charity|first=Ruth|last=Martin|date=19 May 2025|website=Shropshire Community Foundation}}</ref>
| death_place      = 
| burial_place     = 
| nickname         = Vern
| allegiance       = United Kingdom
| branch           = {{army|UK}}
| service_years    = 1988–present
| rank             = [Warrant Officer Class 1](/source/Warrant_Officer_Class_1)
| service_number   = 
| unit             = [Coldstream Guards](/source/Coldstream_Guards)
| commands         = 
| battles          = [The Troubles](/source/The_Troubles)<br />[Operation Grapple (Yugoslavia)](/source/Operation_Grapple_(Yugoslavia)) <br />[Operation Telic](/source/British_involvement_in_the_Iraq_War) <br /> [Operation Herrick](/source/Operation_Herrick)
| awards           = [Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire](/source/Officer_of_the_Most_Excellent_Order_of_the_British_Empire)<br />[Member of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Member_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) <br /> [Deputy Lieutenant](/source/Deputy_Lieutenant) of Shropshire<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lordlieutenantofshropshire.org.uk/news/new-deputy-lieutenant-appointment-for-shropshire/|title=New Deputy Lieutenant appointment for Shropshire|first=Fiona|last=Rogers-Coltman|date=16 April 2024}}</ref>
| relations        = 
| other_work       = 
| signature        = 
}}
[Warrant Officer Class 1](/source/Warrant_Officer_Class_1) '''Andrew "Vern" Stokes''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|OBE|MVO||DL}} (born 1972) is a [British Army](/source/British_Army) soldier who has been one of the army's most senior [warrant officer](/source/warrant_officer_(United_Kingdom))s from 2015 to present.

==Military service==
Born in [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire), [England](/source/England), in 1972, Stokes enlisted in the [British Army](/source/British_Army) in June 1988. After passing out from the [Guards Depot](/source/Pirbright_Camp), he was posted to [2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards](/source/Coldstream_Guards). He saw operational tours in Northern Ireland, Belize, Kenya and Bosnia. After spending time as a section commander instructor at the [Infantry Battle School](/source/Infantry_Battle_School), he saw further operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as exercises in [Canada](/source/Canada). He was later posted to the [Royal Military Academy Sandhurst](/source/Royal_Military_Academy_Sandhurst) as both a colour sergeant instructor and later as the company sergeant major. He was promoted to the highest enlisted rank within the [Coldstream Guards](/source/Coldstream_Guards), Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, in 2010. He was appointed the Academy Sergeant Major of Sandhurst in 2011. In 2014 he began shadowing then [GSM](/source/garrison_sergeant_major) [Bill Mott](/source/Bill_Mott_(British_Army_soldier)), in preparation for his appointment as the [GSM](/source/garrison_sergeant_major) of the [London District](/source/London_District_(British_Army)). 

In his role as the GSM, Stokes has been involved with the planning and execution of the annual [Trooping the Colour](/source/Trooping_the_Colour), the [funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh](/source/Death_and_funeral_of_Prince_Philip%2C_Duke_of_Edinburgh), the [state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II](/source/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Elizabeth_II), and the [coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla](/source/Coronation_of_Charles_III_and_Camilla).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://champions-speakers.co.uk/speaker-agent/andrew-vern-stokes|title=Andrew 'Vern' Stokes &#124; Champions Speakers|website=champions-speakers.co.uk}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stokes, Vern}}
Category:Living people
Category:1972 births
Category:Coldstream Guards soldiers
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Members of the Royal Victorian Order
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)
Category:British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:British Army personnel of the Iraq War
Category:People from Madeley, Shropshire

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vern Stokes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Stokes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Stokes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.