22 Facts About Montagu Stopford

Montagu Stopford's mother was Mabel Georgina Emily, daughter of George Alexander Mackenzie.

Montagu Stopford was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Montagu Stopford was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade on 20 September 1911, His fellow graduates included Edward Williams, of the Rifle Brigade, John Evetts, Eric Nares, and Kenneth Anderson, all of whom would, like Stopford himself, become general officers.

Montagu Stopford was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the regiment, then serving in Rawalpindi, India, until shortly after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914.

Montagu Stopford ended the war with the substantive rank of major, and had been twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross.

Montagu Stopford then returned to England, where he attended the Staff College, Camberley, from 1923 to 1924.

In February 1926 Montagu Stopford became a General Staff Officer at the Small Arms School at Hythe, Kent.

In February 1930 Montagu Stopford was made a brigade major with the 11th Infantry Brigade.

In January 1938, towards the end of the interwar period, Montagu Stopford returned to the Staff College, Camberley, this time with the role of Senior Instructor, and was promoted to colonel on 25 July.

Montagu Stopford was still there by the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.

Montagu Stopford took over as Commandant from Major General Robert Collins, who ironically had been one of his instructors there when he was attending as a student in the 1920s.

Montagu Stopford, promoted to temporary major general in January 1942, was there for just over a year, where many important lessons were learnt from the fighting in North Africa, until, in November 1942 Montagu Stopford handed over to Major General Sir Alan Cunningham.

Montagu Stopford's next posting was to XII Corps, this time as its GOC, with a promotion to the acting rank of lieutenant general.

Montagu Stopford's arrival coincided with a new role conceived for his corps, which then consisted of only the British 2nd Infantry Division.

Montagu Stopford outlined the priorities as Dimapur, the Ledo Road and Kohima and ordered the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade to defend the Nichugard Pass, safeguarding Dimapur but leaving Kohima uncovered.

Montagu Stopford's objective was to drive the Japanese away from Kohima, the 2nd Division being the main initial tool for the job, although significant reinforcements were on the way.

Montagu Stopford knew Nicholson as a fellow instructor at the Staff College before the war, to take command of other units who had been brought up from India.

The battle over, Montagu Stopford made the decision to sack Grover and to replace him with Nicholson.

Montagu Stopford executed his superiors' order to the letter as, in mid-January 1945, the 19th Indian Infantry Division established two bridgeheads across the river, north of the city of Mandalay, and in late February the division moved towards the city.

Montagu Stopford retired from the British Army in 1949, with the rank of full general, having been promoted to that rank in October 1946.

Montagu Stopford was Colonel Commandant of the Rifle Brigade from 1951 to 1958, and Chairman of the Army Cadet Force Association from 1951 to 1961, later becoming vice president from 1961.

Montagu Stopford married Dorothy Deare, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Foulkes Deare, on 12 April 1921.