William St Lucien Chase

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.

Early life Chase was born in Saint Lucia, West Indies, on 2 July 1856. After attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned in September 1875 as a lieutenant in the 15th Foot (East Yorkshire Regiment). In May 1878 he joined the Bengal Staff Corps and transferred to the Indian Army.

VC action Chase was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the Bengal Staff Corps, serving with the 28th Bombay Native Infantry (Pioneers), 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. Both he and Private Ashford were awarded the VC for their actions. The citation in The London Gazette of 7 October 1881 stated:

William Chase was invested with his Victoria Cross by the General Officer Commanding Bombay at Poona, India, on 23 January 1882.

Chase was promoted to brevet colonel in September 1904 and substantive colonel in April 1906. In 1908 he was selected to command the Faizabad brigade. He however died of brain disease on 30 June 1908, aged 51, before he could take up the post.

The medal is now on display in the Army Museum of Western Australia, Fremantle.