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John Adrian Chamier

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John Adrian Chamier
Chamier in 1931
Nickname(s)"Founding Father of the ATC"
Born(1883-12-26)26 December 1883
Died3 May 1974(1974-05-03) (aged 90)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1902-29
RankAir Commodore
CommandsAir Training Corps
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight Bachelor
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Mention in Despatches (2)
Other workSecretary of the Air League of the British Empire
Director of Vickers (Aviation) Ltd.
BBC Correspondent

Air Commodore Sir John Adrian Chamier, CB, CMG, DSO, OBE (26 December 1883 – 3 May 1974) was a British officer of the Royal Air Force. Chamier is known as "The Founding Father of the ATC" for his role in the foundation of the Air Training Corps.

Military career

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Indian Army and Royal Air Force

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Chamier was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After passing out on 27 August 1902, his name was added to the Unattached List of the Indian Army,[1] and he was in October posted to the Punjab command.[2] He was commissioned into the Indian Army as a second lieutenant on 11 January 1904, but with seniority from 27 August 1902, and on 5 February 1904 was attached to the 33rd Punjabis, an Indian Army regiment. He was promoted captain on 27 August 1911. Chamier was commissioned as a flying officer into the Royal Flying Corps on 26 August 1915 and served as a pilot in the First World War.

After the war, he transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force, in which he served the rest of his career, eventually retiring in 1929.[3] From November 1921 to February 1922, as Deputy Director, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, Air Ministry, he was a delegate to the Washington Conference on the Limitation of Armaments.[4]

Air Training Corps

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After retirement from the RAF, Chamier became secretary of the Air League of the British Empire.[3] During his tenure as secretary Chamier became involved with the founding, in 1938 of the Air Defence Cadet Corps, which on 5 February 1941 evolved into the Air Training Corps because the ADCC was seen as too forceful and decided to change it to a more subtle name of ATC.[3] He set up the ATC to promote recruitment in the RAF and to get young people who are interested in aviation to be able to go to their local squadron at their own free will, making it more enjoyable.

After it was founded, Chamier became the Air Training Corps' first Commandant, until his retirement in 1944. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage.

Civilian career

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Between 1928 and 1931 Chamier was a director on the board of Vickers (Aviation) Limited.

In the 1930s, Charmier and his company, Chamier, Gilbert-Lodge and Co acted as consultants for airport design and construction including those at Belfast Harbour and Luton.[5][6]

Chamier was, at one time, the aviation correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Aircraft

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Chamier had a Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea light aircraft registered G-ADME in his name between 1935 and 1938.[7]

Decorations

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Chamier received several decorations for his service to the British Empire. He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, the Order of St. Michael and St. George[8] and the Distinguished Service Order,[9] and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. In 1944 he was knighted as a Knight Bachelor.[10]

Politics

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Chamier was a member of and speaker at meetings of the January Club of the British Union of Fascists.[11][12][13][14]

Published works

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References

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  1. ^ "No. 27468". The London Gazette. 26 August 1902. p. 5536.
  2. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36933. London. 24 November 1902. p. 7.
  3. ^ a b c Air Cadet Publication 31: General Service Training, 2000. Section 1, p. 31.1.1-1
  4. ^ Register of the Department of State 1922
  5. ^ "Opening of Belfast Harbour Airport". Lennon Wylie. 16 March 1938. p. 4. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Air Transport News - New Manufacturing Base". Commercial Motor Archive. 6 March 1936. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  7. ^ United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority - G-ADME Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "No. 31378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1919. p. 7026.
  9. ^ "No. 13033". The Edinburgh Gazette. 1 January 1917. p. 21.
  10. ^ "No. 36544". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1944. p. 2565.
  11. ^ Holman, Brett (19 June 2010). "The far right and the air". Airminded. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  12. ^ Holman, Brett (2 November 2006). "The many mysteries of Sir Malcolm Campbell". Airminded. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  13. ^ "British Union of Fascists". Spartacus Educational. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  14. ^ "January Club". Spartacus Educational. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
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