Henry Graham Dudley de Chair DSC, RN
| Born | 10 Sep 1905 |
| Ranks
Retired: 10 Sep 1955 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Henry Graham Dudley de Chair, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Thracian (D 86) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 14 Aug 1938 | 12 Nov 1940 |
| HMS Vimy (D 33) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 20 May 1941 | 1 Dec 1942 |
| HMS Venus (R 50) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 16 Oct 1944 | 16 Dec 1945 |
Career information
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Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Vimy (D 33)
21 Sep 1941
The Italian submarine Luigi Torelli (offsite link) is heavily damaged by
depth charges from HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) while escorting the convoy HG-73 in the North Atlantic.
The loss of the Italian submarine Alessandro Malaspina (offsite link) that is often credited to HMS Vimy is incorrect. Her fate was revised in March 2004 by Dr. Axel Niestlé and Eric Zimmerman.
3 Sep 1942
German U-boat U-162 was sunk in the mid-Atlantic north-east of Trinidad, in position 12°21'N, 59°29'W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) HMS Pathfinder (Cdr. E.A. Gibbs, DSO and Bar, RN) and
HMS Quentin (Lt.Cdr. A.H.P. Noble, DSC, RN).
18 Sep 1942
HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) picks up 17 survivors of the American merchant West Lashaway that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-66 about 375 miles east of Trinidad on 30 August.
Destroyer HMS Venus (R 50)
16 May 1945
On 9 May 1945 the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro and the Japanese destroyer Kamikaze (both offsite links) left Singapore for a transport run to the Andaman Islands. They were sighted the next day in Malakka Strait by the British submarines HMS Statesman (Lt. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN) and HMS Subtle (Lt. B.J.B. Andrew, DSC, RN). To intercept the Japanese ships a task force made up of 2 battleships, 1 heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers, 4 escort carriers and 8 destroyers left Trincomalee. Aircraft from the escort carriers attacked the Nicobar Islands on the 11th, forcing Haguro and Kamikaze to head back to Singapore.
On the 14th the Japanese ships again depart from Singapore for the Andaman Islands. They were spotted the next day north-east of Sabang by aircraft the British escort carrier HMS Shah (Capt. W.J. Yendell, RN). A few hours later they were attacked by aircraft from the British escort carrier HMS Emperor (Capt. Sir C. Madden, RN) causing light damaged to Haguro. In the meantime Japanese aircraft have sighted Allied destroyers closing in on Haguro and once again the Japanese ships reverse course.
In anticipation on the Japanese reversal of course the commander of the British 26th DF, Capt. M.L. Power, CBE, DSO with Bar, RN on board HMS Saumarez and the other British destroyers HMS Venus (Cdr. H.G.D. De Chair, DSC with Bar, RN), HMS Verulam (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, DSC, RN), HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, DSC, RN) and HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, DSC, RN) plotted a course to intercept the Japanese ships which they did shortly before midnight on the 15th. After careful manoeuvring the destroyers began attacking the Japanese ships from all sides shortly after one o'clock on the 16th. The Haguro was hit by torpedoed and gunfire and sank around 0230hours in position 04°49'N, 99°42'E but not before she hit the Saumarez with gunfire. The escorting Japanese destroyer Kamikaze escapes with only minor damage.