▁ 1 9 5 7 – 1 9 6 0 . ▁▁ ▁He ▁attended ▁the ▁Royal ▁Naval ▁Staff ▁College ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁and ▁then ▁was ▁on ▁the ▁Direct ing ▁Staff ▁of ▁the ▁Staff ▁College , ▁Cam ber ley ▁ 1 9 6 2 – 1 9 6 5 . ▁He ▁was ▁second ▁in ▁command ▁of ▁ 4 5 ▁Comm ando , ▁in ▁A den , ▁ 1 9 6 5 – 1 9 6 6 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 6 – 1 9 6 9 ▁he ▁was ▁on ▁the ▁staff ▁of ▁the ▁Chief ▁of ▁the ▁Def ence ▁Staff , ▁including ▁service ▁with ▁the ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 0 ▁he ▁was ▁in ▁command ▁of ▁ 4 0 ▁Comm ando , ▁in ▁Singapore , ▁and ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 0 – 1 9 7 3 ▁Colonel ▁General ▁Staff ▁to ▁the ▁Command ant ▁General ▁Royal ▁Mar ines . ▁ ▁After ▁att ending ▁the ▁Royal ▁College ▁of ▁Def ence ▁Studies ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁major ▁general ▁and ▁served ▁as ▁Commander ▁Training ▁Group ▁Royal ▁Mar ines ▁ 1 9 7 5 – 1 9 7 7 . ▁ ▁Alexander ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁Royal ▁Mar ines ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁and ▁was ▁Director - General ▁of ▁the ▁English - Spe aking ▁Union ▁ 1 9 7 7 – 1 9 7 9 , ▁and ▁Command ant ▁of ▁the ▁Scottish ▁Police ▁College ▁