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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 476

A rare East Africa D.S.C. awarded to Captain C. F. M. Chambers, Royal Naval Air Service

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., silver (Hallmarks for London 1917), the reverse contemporarily engraved 'F. S. Lt. C. F. M. Chambers R.N.A.S. 10th June 1917. Lindi. E. Africa', in its Garrard & Co. case of issue, good very fine

D.S.C. London Gazette 19 December 1917:

'During the combined operations in the neighbourhood of Lindi, East Africa, on the 10th and 11th June 1917, this officer flew his machine at all hours of the day under heavy fire with excellent results, bringing back to his Commanding Officer clear and concise reports.'

Charles Ferris Montagu Chambers was born at Middleberg, South Africa on 27 March 1892 and found a love for the air in his youth. Chambers earned Aero Certificate No. 168 at Hendon on a Valkyrie Monoplane on 12 December 1911, whilst living at St Augustines Road, Bedford. Before the Great War he worked at home in aircraft design and in the United States of America with Aeronautical Syndicate Ltd until 1914. He joined the Royal Flying Corps and transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in April 1916, being made Flight Sub-Lieutenant in June 1916. He was serving in East Africa with No. 8 Squadron at the time he was awarded his D.S.C. for the action at Lindi.

Lindi, a port of German East Africa, was occupied by British Forces in September 1915, but ever since that time had been practically bottled up, the surrounding country being held by the Germans. Lindi does not lie on the coast, but on the northern shore of the estuary of the river Lukuledi, which is some seventy miles north of the Portuguese frontier. In view of operations that had been planned, it became very desirable in the summer of 1917, to clear a larger area round Lindi in order to secure a better water supply and to prepare the main exits from the town and harbour.

Over the two days of the Battle, Chambers excellent himself and proved his skill as a Seaplane Pilot. He gathered vital information regarding the efforts of the British Combined attack, providing sightings for our Naval guns and observing Column movements. His Reports (CAB45/67, refers) shine light on those events and provide detailed accounts of the flight times and further detail. The actions proved a success, with the enemy driven inland, with a small number of decorations, including three awards of the C.G.M. to Naval ratings.

Chambers, having been awarded his D.S.C., was advanced Captain and saw further service in Italy. He fell ill and was discharged on 7 December 1918; sold together with a good file of research including Combat Reports and detailed extracts.


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Sold for
£3,100

Starting price
£480