Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Chase, William St. Lucian

1499263Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement, Volume 1 — Chase, William St. Lucian1912Henry Meredith Vibart

CHASE, WILLIAM ST. LUCIAN (1856–1908), lieut.-colonel, eldest son of Captain Richard Henry Chase of the control department of the war office, was born in St. Lucia, West Indies, on 21 Aug. 1856. He was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and entered the army as sublieutenant in the 15th foot on 10 Sept. 1875, becoming lieutenant and joining the Bombay staff corps on 31 May 1878. He served in the Afghan war of 1879 to 1880, taking part In the defence of Kandahar. With Private James Ashford of the royal fusiliers he showed conspicuous gallantry on the occasion of the sortie from Kandahar on 16 Aug. 1880 against the village of Deh Kwaja. Chase and Ashford then rescued a wounded soldier, Private Massey of the royal fusiliers, who had taken shelter in a blockhouse, and brought him to a place of safety, carrying him over 200 yards under the fire of the enemy. For this service both Chase and Ashford were awarded the Victoria Cross (4 Oct. 1881) and were mentioned in despatches.

Chase served with the Zhob Valley expedition in 1884 as deputy assistant quartermaster-general, and was again mentioned in despatches. From 1 Nov. 1882 to 10 Dec. 1887 he was deputy assistant adjutant-general, Bombay. Promoted captain on 10 Sept. 1886, he was appointed on 28 Aug. 1889 wing commander of the 28th Bombay native infantry (pioneers). He took part in the Lushai expeditionary force in 1889-90, and was again mentioned in despatches, receiving also the medal with clasp. In 1893 he officiated as second in command of the regiment. Promoted major on 10 Sept. 1895, he served on the N.W. frontier in 1897-8 against the Mohmands (Lond. Oaz. 11 Jan. 1898), receiving the medal with clasp, and was also present in the Tirah campaign of 18978, taking part in the capture of the Sampagha Pass, in the operations at and around Datoi, in the action of 24 Nov. 1897, and in the operations in the Bara Valley, 7 to 11 Dec. 1897 (Despatches, Lond. Gaz. 5 April 1898).

On 10 June 1899 he became regimental commandant of the 28th Bombay native infantry, with the temporary rank of lieut.-colonel. He was nominated C.B. in 1903. Later he became assistant adjutant-general Quetta division, and was on leave when promoted to command the Fyzabad brigade. He returned to Quetta, where he died of brain disease on 30 June 1908.

He was a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society and of the Royal Geographical Society. He married in 1901 Dorothy, daughter of Charles Edward Steele, district magistrate of Hyderabad.

[Hart's and Official Army Lists; The Times, 20 July 1908; H. B. Hanna, The Second Afghan War, 1910, iii. 456.]

H. M. V.