John Adrian Chamier
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
Sir John Adrian Chamier CB
, CMG
, DSO
, OBE
(26 December 1883 - 3 May 1974) also known as "The Founding Father of the ATC" for his role in the foundation of the Air Training Corps
, was born in 1883.
. After graduating in 1902 he was commissioned in the Punjabi Regiment of the British Indian Army
, where he served until 1915. After leaving India, Chamier joined the Royal Flying Corps
, in which he 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.
, which on February 5, 1941 evolved in to the Air Training Corps
because the ADCC was seen as too forceful and decided to change it to a more subtle name of ATC. 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
.
.
Chamier was, at one time, the aviation correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Flying Flea light aircraft registered G-ADME in his name between 1935 and 1938.
, the Order of St. Michael and St. George, the Companion of Distinguished Service Order. In 1944 he was knight
ed as a Knight Bachelor
.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir John Adrian Chamier CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(26 December 1883 - 3 May 1974) also known as "The Founding Father of the ATC" for his role in the foundation of the Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
, was born in 1883.
Royal Air Force
Chamier was educated at RMA SandhurstRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. After graduating in 1902 he was commissioned in the Punjabi Regiment of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, where he served until 1915. After leaving India, Chamier joined the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, in which he served as a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the war, he transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, in which he served the rest of his career, eventually retiring in 1929.
Air Training Corps
After retirement from the RAF, Chamier became secretary of the Air League of the British Empire. During his tenure as secretary Chamier became involved with the founding, in 1938 of the Air Defence Cadet CorpsAir Defence Cadet Corps
In 1938, Air Commodore Chamier's plan to form an Air Defence Cadet Corps came to fruition. His idea was to attract and train young men who had an interest in aviation, from all over the country...
, which on February 5, 1941 evolved in to the Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
because the ADCC was seen as too forceful and decided to change it to a more subtle name of ATC. 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
Commandant Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets is the title given to the Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for running the Air Cadet Organisation, embracing the Air Training Corps and the RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force...
, until his retirement in 1944. He was succeeded by Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Leslie Gossage
Leslie Gossage
Air Marshal Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage KCB, CVO, DSO, MC . He was a former artillery officer who become a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War...
.
Civilian career
Between 1928 and 1931 Chamier was a director on the board of Vickers (Aviation) LimitedVickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
.
Chamier was, at one time, the aviation correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Aircraft
Chamier had a Mignet HM.14Mignet HM.14
The Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea is a single-seat light aircraft first flown in 1933, designed for amateur construction. It was the first of a family of aircraft collectively known as Flying Fleas....
Flying Flea light aircraft registered G-ADME in his name between 1935 and 1938.
Decorations
Chamier has received several decorations for his service to the British Empire. He has been awarded the Order of the BathOrder of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, the Order of St. Michael and St. George, the Companion of Distinguished Service Order. In 1944 he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed as a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
.