Lieutenant-Colonel Kendal George Fleming Chavasse, Defence Science Organisation and bar, was an Irish-born officer in the British Army who saw service in World World War World War II
Education
Two brothers served (with distinction) in the Royal Navy (Commander Evelyn Chavasse, Defence Science Organisation, Distinguished Service Cross and Captain Paul Chavasse, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Cross and Barometer
Career
Chevasse was also intended to join the Royal Navy and to that end he was educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. However, illness prevented his timely start as a naval cadet until he was too old to do so, but, through family contacts, he was accepted into the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1923. He was commissioned into the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 30 August 1924 and subsequently (1942 - 1945?) had wartime service as Commanding Officer of the 56th Reconnaissance Regiment (nicknamed "Chavasse"s Light Horse").
"56 Recce" fought in Tunisia as part of the 78th Division and between 25 November and 10 December 1942, it operated east of Oued Medical Jerga.
Despite being outnumbered and outgunned and without effective air protection, "56 Recce" dominated its area. 56 Reccy stayed with 78th Division during the Italian campaign and at Termoli on 5 October, Chavasse led a mixed force consisting of part of his regiment, 3 Commando, a troop of the Special Raiding Squadron and an anti-tank battery.
This force held an exposed position under heavy attack. Superior forces were held off during the day and when ordered to withdraw, Chavasse extracted his force almost entirely.
Once again, much was attributed to his leadership and he was awarded a bar to his Defence Science Organisation.
The praised his "exceptional leadership, coolness and devotion to duty" and stated that "his personal example was the mainspring of a gallant and effective defence which did much to ensure the successful outcome of the operations". From March 1946 he served as GSO1 with the 1st Armoured Division at Padua. He commanded the Royal Irish Fusiliers" 2nd Battalion in December, a role he continued in Egypt and Palestine until his retirement in 1947.
Chavasse retired to a new family home, a farm in Company
Waterford. Once again, he displayed customary enthusiasm and action, and became an innovative farmer, pioneering methods new to his area. He was a devout Christian and became the longest-serving lay reader in Ireland, assisting with services, including the annual Armistice Day service, throughout the diocese.
He also represented his diocese at the 1963 World Anglican Conference in Toronto.
Views
Quotations:
"exceptional leadership, coolness and devotion to duty".