William St Lucien Chase

William St. Lucien Chase
Colonel William St. Lucien Chase
Born2 July 1856
St Lucia, British West Indies
Died24 June 1908 (aged 51)
Quetta, North West India
Buried
English Cemetery, Quetta Cemetery, Pakistan
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Indian Army
Years of service1875–1908
RankColonel
Unit15th Regiment of Foot
Bengal Staff Corps
28th Bombay Native Infantry
Battles / warsSecond Anglo-Afghan War
Chin-Lushai expedition
First Mohmand Campaign
Tirah Campaign
AwardsVictoria Cross
Order of the Bath

Colonel William St. Lucien Chase VC CB (2 July 1856 – 24 June 1908) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Chase was born in Saint Lucia, West Indies, on 2 July 1856. After attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned in September 1875 as a lieutenant in the 15th Foot (East Yorkshire Regiment). In May 1878 he joined the Bengal Staff Corps and transferred to the Indian Army.[1]

VC action

Chase was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the Bengal Staff Corps, serving with the 28th Bombay Native Infantry (Pioneers), British Indian Army during the Second Afghan War. On 16 August 1880 at Deh Khoja, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, Chase, with the help of Private Thomas Elsdon Ashford, rescued a wounded soldier and finally brought him to a place of safety. Both he and Private Ashford were awarded the VC for their actions. The citation in the London Gazette of 7 October 1881 stated:

For conspicuous gallantry on the occasion of the sortie from Kandahar, on the 16th August, 1880, against the village of Deh Khoja, in having rescued and carried for a distance of over 200 yards, under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier, Private Massey, of the Royal Fusiliers, who had taken shelter in a blockhouse. Several times they were compelled to rest, but they persevered in bringing him to a place of safety.[2]

William Chase was invested with his Victoria Cross by the General Officer Commanding Bombay at Poona, India, on 23 January 1882.[3]

Later service

Chase served as a staff officer with the Zhob valley expedition in 1884, and was promoted to captain in 1886. In August 1889 he re-joined the 28th Bombay Infantry, with which he took part in the 1889–90 Chin-Lushai expedition; and on the north-west frontier in 1897–8, including the Mohmand and Tirah campaigns. Promoted major in 1895, he took command of the 28th Bombay Infantry in June 1899, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel.[1] He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1903.[4]

Chase was promoted to brevet colonel in September 1904[5] and substantive colonel in April 1906.[6] In 1908 he was selected to command the Faizabad brigade. He however died of brain disease on 30 June 1908, aged 51, before he could take up the post.[1] He was buried in the English Cemetery at Quetta, now in Pakistan:[7]

The medal is now on display in the Army Museum of Western Australia, Fremantle.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c Vibart, H. M.; Jones, M. G. M. (2004). "Chase, William St Lucien". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32380. Retrieved 19 November 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "No. 25023". The London Gazette. 7 October 1881. p. 4990.
  3. ^ a b "The VC awarded to Colonel William St Lucien Chase, 28th Regiment, Bombay Native Infantry, Indian Army, has been donated to the Army Museum of Western Australia, Fremantle". www.victoriacross.org.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  4. ^ "No. 27568". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 June 1903. p. 4009.
  5. ^ "No. 27759". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 January 1905. p. 656.
  6. ^ "No. 28013". The London Gazette. 16 April 1907. p. 2577.
  7. ^ "Grave locations for holders of the Victoria Cross in Pakistan". www.victoriacross.org.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2021.