William Donovan Stamer
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William Donovan Stamer CB, CBE, DSO, MC |
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Stamer pictured shortly before his retirement from the army in 1948
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| Born |
14 June 1895 Keele, Staffordshire |
| Died | 21 September 1963 (aged 68) Eastbourne, East Sussex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1948 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Service number | 4225 |
| Unit | North Staffordshire Regiment |
| Commands held | 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment 161st Infantry Brigade 161st Indian Infantry Brigade 1st Sudan Defence Force Brigade 131st Infantry Brigade General Officer Commanding Sudan and Eritrea |
| Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
| Awards |
Companion of the Bath Order of the British Empire Companion of the Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Legion of Merit Mentioned in despatches (3) |
Major General William Donovan Stamer CB, CBE, DSO, MC (14 June 1895 – 21 September 1963) was a senior British Army officer who was commissioned into the North Staffordshire Regiment at the outbreak of the First World War and served in the Army until retirement in 1948, finishing his career with the temporary rank of Major-general and serving as General Officer Commanding Sudan and Eritrea.
Stamer was born in Keele, Staffordshire, the eldest son and third child of the Reverend Frederick Stamer and Ethel Donovan. His paternal grandfather was the 3rd Baronet Stamer, Lovelace Stamer. After being educated at Rugby School, Stamer attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the North Staffordshire Regiment on 19 August 1914 (just two weeks after Great Britain declared war on Germany), although this was subsequently backdated to 8 August 1914.
Stamer joined the 1st Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment on the Western Front, then serving as part of the 17th Brigade of the 6th Division, in November 1914 and was promoted to lieutenant in December 1914. After a period as an acting captain, Stamer was promoted to captain in March 1917. In November 1917 he was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front, and about the same time was appointed the battalion adjutant. Stamer was still the battalion adjutant when the German Army launched its Spring Offensive in March 1918. On the first day of the offensive the battalion headquarters position was overrun and Stamer led a rearguard action despite during which he was wounded in the head. For his actions on that day he was awarded the Military Cross, the citation read:
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