Stanley von Donop
Major-General Sir Stanley Brenton von Donop,, was a British Army officer who served as master-general of the Ordnance from 1913 to 1916.
Early life and education
Donop was born in Bath, Somerset, the youngest of four sons of Vice Admiral Edward von Donop and his wife, Louisa Mary Diana Brenton. His eldest brother was P. G. von Donop, and his grandfather was the German official and historian Georg von Donop, an illegitimate grandson of Charlotte Sophie of Aldenburg. He was educated at Wimbledon College and at the Royal Somersetshire College at Bath before attending the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.Military career
Donop was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery as a lieutenant on 18 January 1880, was promoted to captain on 1 April 1888, and was promoted to major on 9 October 1897. He was a professor at the Royal Military Academy until early 1900, when he resigned for active service in South Africa during the Second Boer War. In November 1900 he was appointed commanding officer of Lord Methuen's Composite Regiment of Australian Bushmen, with the local rank of lieutenant colonel. He led an important action at Kleinfontein the following year. For his service in the war, he was mentioned in despatches and received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the South Africa honours list published on 26 June 1902.In April 1904 he was appointed secretary of the Ordnance Committee and in January 1907 was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1908, Donop was appointed chief instructor at the School of Gunnery, and in February 1911, he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general and appointed director of artillery at the War Office, in the place of W. E. Blewitt.
Donop had a key role in the First World War, having been appointed master-general of the Ordnance in 1913. He was promoted to major general in October 1914. He ordered 6-inch howitzers, which were the main instrument for the bombardments on the Western Front. He was also colonel commandant of the Royal Artillery.