Date of birth:

September 28th, 1904 (Waterford, Ireland)

Date of death:

March 31st, 2001 (Waterford, Ireland)

Service number:

30882

Nationality:

British

Kendal Chavasse was born on September 28th, 1904 as son to Major Henry Chavasse and Judith Isabella Chavasse (Fleming). He was the brother to Commander Evelyn Henry Chavasse and Captain Paul Chavasse. In 1930 he married Oonah Perceval-Maxwell.

Promotions:
August 30th, 1924: Second Lieutenant;
August 30th, 1926: Lieutenant;
October 2nd, 1935: Captain;
July 2th, 1940: Acting Major;
October 27th, 1940: Temporary Major;
June 3rd, 1941: Acting Lieutenant-Colonel;
August 30th, 1941: Major;
September 3rd, 1941: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel;
May 8th, 1942: Lieutenant-Colonel;
May 5th, 1945: Acting Colonel;
September 13th, 1945: Temporary Colonel;
March 20th, 1948: Honorary Colonel.

Career:
1923: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst;
August 30th, 1924: Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's);
1925: 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers;
May 17th, 1937: Adjutant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers;
January 21st, 1939: Staff College, Camberley;
1940: Brigade Major, 150th Infantry Brigade, BEF;
1940: Staff Officer, HQ Eastern & South Eastern Commands;
January 1942: Second-in-Command, 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment;
November 1942: Commanding Officer, 56th Reconnaissance Regiment ("Chavasse's Light Horse");
April 1945: British Deputy Chief of Staff, 5th US Army;
September 1945: Commanding Officer, Reconnaissance Training Centre, Catterick;
March 1946: General Staff Officer 1st Grade, 6th Armoured Division;
December 1946 - 1947: Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Awarded on:

December 22nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

56 Reconnaissance Regiment

Awarded on:

February 11th, 1943

Recommendation:
"Between 25 Nov and 10 Dec. Lt-Col Chavasse was in comd of his regt covering the right flank 78 Div EAST of OUED MED JERGA. During this period he successfully prevented Germand Armd C's and Tank patrols from interfering with our operations. Largely by his personal example, dash and daring, his unit of two week sqns, in spite of being outgunned, out armoured and frequqntly dive-bombed, dominated the area, and troughout rhe period he obtained valuable information of enemy movement. This officer showed outstanding qualities of leadership."

LG 35898/744
WO 373/1/4
Investiture at Buckingham Palace in July 1945.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel

Awarded on:

February 10th, 1944

Recommendation:
"During the night, October 4th-5th, Lieutenant-Colonel Chavasse occupied a position on the high ground some two miles west of Termoli with a mixed force of part Reconnaissance and Commando and other small detachments. This position was heavily attacked throughout October 5th by enemy infantry and tanks under cover of very heavy shelling and mortar and machine-gun fire. Both flanks of the position were driven in, but Lieutenant-Colonel Chavasse stoutly maintained the defence of the area around him during the hours of daylight, though surrounded on three sides at close range by enemy infantry and tanks. He only withdrew under orders about midnight, October 5th, bringing with him the whole of his party except a few vehicles which were immobile. During these operations Lieutenant-Colonel Chavasse showed exceptional leadership, coolness and devotion to duty. His reports enabled enemy concentrating for the attack to be dispersed by artillery fire while his personal example was the mainspring of a gallant and effective defence which did much to ensure the successful outcome of the operations."

Second DSO awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.
LG 36371/723
WO 373/4/335
Investiture at Buckingham Palace in July 1945.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel

Awarded on:

August 15th, 1946

LG 37686/4103
WO 373/147/205

• - British Army officers 1939-1945; -- C
  - The London Gazette of 29th August 1924, Issue 32969, Page 6500
  - The London Gazette of 3rd September 1926, Issue 33198, Page 5761
  - The London Gazette of 5th November 1935, Issue 34216, Page 6975
  - The London Gazette of 21st May 1937, Issue 34400, Page 3299
  - The London Gazette of 27 January 1939, Issue 34593, Page 606
  - Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 2nd September 1941, Issue 35265, Page 5145
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 11th February 1943, Issue 35898, Page 744
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8th February 1944, Issue 36371, Page 723
  - Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 13th August 1946, Issue 37686, Page 4103