John Adrian Chamier | |
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Chamier in 1931
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Nickname(s) | "Founding Father of the ATC" |
Born | 26 December 1883 |
Died | 3 May 1974 | (aged 90)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1902-29 |
Rank | Air Commodore |
Commands held | Air Training Corps |
Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
Awards |
Knight Bachelor Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Mention in Despatches (2) |
Other work | Secretary of the Air League of the British Empire Director of Vickers (Aviation) Ltd. BBC Correspondent |
Air Commodore Sir John Adrian Chamier CB CMG DSO OBE (26 December 1883 – 3 May 1974) was a British officer of the Royal Air Force. Chamier is known as "The Founding Father of the ATC" for his role in the foundation of the Air Training Corps.
Chamier was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After passing out on 27 August 1902, his name was added to the Unattached List of the Indian Army. He was commissioned into the Indian Army as a second lieutenant on 11 January 1904, but with seniority from 27 August 1902, and on 5 February 1904 was attached to the 33rd Punjabis, an Indian Army regiment. He was promoted captain on 27 August 1911. Chamier was commissioned as a flying officer into the Royal Flying Corps on 26 August 1915 and 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. From November 1921 to February 1922, as Deputy Director, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, Air Ministry, he was a delegate to the Washington Conference on the Limitation of Armaments.
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 Corps, which on 5 February 1941 evolved into 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.