Hugo de Pree

Hugo de Pree
Born	25 December 1870 Brome, Suffolk
Died	30 March 1943
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1890 - 1931
Rank	Major-General
Commands held	13th Indian Infantry Brigade 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
Battles/wars	Second Boer War First World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order

Major-General Hugo Douglas de Pree, CB, CMG, DSO (25 December 1870 - 30 March 1943) was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

Military career

Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,^[1] de Pree was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 25 July 1890.^[2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 25 July 1893, and served on the North West Frontier of India in 1897. Promotion to captain followed on 3 February 1900,^[3] when he was divisional adjutant at Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich.^[4] After the outbreak of the Second Boer War in South Africa, he volunteered for service with the Imperial Yeomanry. He served originally with the 17th Battalion, but was on 3 May 1902 appointed Second in Command of the 7th Battalion, with the temporary rank of major.^[5]

He later served in the First World War.^[2] He was appointed Commander of the 13th Indian Infantry Brigade in 1920, General Officer Commanding 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division in 1925 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1926^[6] before retiring in 1931.^[2]

There is a memorial to de Pree at All Saints' Church, Beckley.^[7]

Family

Pree married firstly Diones Thornhill;^[7] they had three sons and one daughter. He later married Mary Fisher.^[7]

References