William St Lucien Chase

William St. Lucien Chase
Born	2 July 1856 St Lucia, British West Indies
Died	24 June 1908 (aged 51) Quetta, North West India
Buried	English Cemetery, Quetta Cemetery, Pakistan
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Indian Army
Rank	Colonel
Unit	15th Regiment of Foot Bengal Staff Corps
Battles / wars	Tirah Campaign Second Anglo-Afghan War First Mohmand Campaign
Awards	Victoria 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.

Details

Chase was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the Bengal Staff Corps, serving with the 28th Bombay Native Infantry, 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. He was awarded the VC for his actions.

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.

He later achieved the rank of colonel. The medal is now on display in the Army Museum of Western Australia.

References

• Burial location of William Chase "Pakistan"
• News item "William Chase's Victoria Cross donated to the Army Museum of Western Australia"
• Find-A-Grave profile for William St. Lucien Chase