CHANT, Stuart Whitemore

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Known as: 
Surname later CHANT-SEMPILL
Rank: 
Lieutenant (later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel)
Unit / Base: 
5 Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Gordon Highlanders
Service: 
Army
Service Number: 
105159
P.O.W. number: 
18784
P.O.W. camps: 
Front Stalag 133, nr. Rennes, France
Oflag IX-A/H (9A/H), Spangenberg, Germany
Oflag IX-A/Z (9A/Z), Rotenburg, Germany.
Honours & Awards: 
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Military Cross (MC)
Born: 
Sunday, March 11, 1917
Birthplace: 
Alton, Hampshire
Died : 
Saturday, July 27, 1991
Stuart Chant 5 Commando
Private (Cadet) Chant, Artists Rifles TA, granted an emergency commission 22 October 1939 rank Second Lieutenant having attended 163rd O.C.T.U. [1]. 
  • October 1940 volunteered for the Army Commandos; attached to No.5 Commando [2].
  • Awarded the Military Cross for gallantry during Operation Chariot at St Nazaire on 28 March 1942. He led a demolition team from HMS Campbeltown who successfully destroyed the pumping station by the dry dock. Wounded and prisoner of war [3][3a][3b][3c][3d][7].
  • 1944 Repatriated to the UK [3b].
  • 17 April 1951 promoted Captain (Gordon Highlanders) and granted the honorary rank of Major [4]. 
  • 1954 Birthday Honours (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel)(Gordon Highlanders) appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) [5]. 
  • 11 March 1967 retired and granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel [6].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 34722, page 7396.
[2]  St Nazaire Commando, author Stuart Chant-Sempill.
[3] London Gazette 37162, page3493.
[3a] National Archives file WO373/46/27.
[3b] Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/3 and 5.
[3c] Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1
[3d] German Record Cards of British PoW's / National Archives file WO416/62/254 (Stalag 133).
[4] London Gazette 39219, page 2510.
[5] London Gazette 40188, page 3263.
[6] London Gazette 44267, page 2886.
[7] Nominal Roll in the St Nazaire Society 75th Anniversary Newsletter (PoW Camps).
 
Photo of Commando in Gallery: 
Yes
Additional content: 
'St. Nazaire - Operation Chariot'
Archive pages : 
No 5 Commando
St Nazaire Commandos
Prisoners of War

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