S C Elworthy

Baron - 30 Mar 1972 (Conferred 11 May 1972), KG - 26 Apr 1977, GCB - 1 Jan 1962 (KCB - 1 Jan 1961, CB - 1 Jan 1960), CBE - 1 Jan 1946, DSO - 22 Apr 1941, LVO (MVO 4th Class) - 16 Jul 1953, K StJ -: 8 Oct 1976, DFC - 7 Mar 1941, AFC - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 24 Sep 1941, MiD - 1 Jan 1943, MiD - 14 Jan 1944, MA.

(RAF): Plt Off: 3 Mar 1936 [3 Dec 1934], Fg Off: 3 Sep 1936 [3 Jun 1936], Flt Lt: 3 Sep 1938 [3 Jun 1938], Act Sqn Ldr: 6 Sep 1939, (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Mar 1940, Act Wg Cdr: 14 Dec 1940, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Sep 1941, Sqn Ldr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Mar 1940], Act Gp Capt: 9 May 1942, Wg Cdr (WS): 9 Nov 1942, Act A/Cdre: 22 Aug 1944, Gp Capt (WS): 22 Feb 1945 - 1 Nov 1947, Wg Cdr: 1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1949, Act A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1953, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1956, Act AVM: 1 Jan 1957, AVM: 1 Jul 1957, Act AM: 15 Nov 1959, AM: 1 Jul 1960, ACM: 1 Sep 1962, MRAF: 1 Apr 1967.

14 Aug 1933: Appointed to a Commission in the RAFO, Class A

15 Jan 1935: Relinquished his commission in RAFO

15 Jan 1935: Appointed to a commission in Auxiliary Air Force as a Pilot Officer.

15 Jan 1935: Pilot, No 600 Sqn AuxAF.

28 Oct 1935: Attached to RAF from AuxAF.

28 Oct 1935: Pilot, No XV Sqn.

3 Mar 1936: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Pilot Officer.

3 Mar 1936: Relinquished his commission in the AuxAF.

22 Nov 1937: PA to AOC in C, Bomber Command.

11 Jan 1939: Pilot/Flight Commander, No 108 Sqn.

8 Apr 1940: CFI, No 13 OTU.

26 Aug 1940: 'A' Flight Commander, No 82 Sqn.

14 Dec 1940: Officer Commanding, No 82 Sqn.

6 May 1941: Air Staff - Operations, HQ No 2 Group.

20 Oct 1941: Air Staff - Operations, HQ Bomber Command.

9 May 1942: Group Captain - Operations, HQ Bomber Command.

16 Apr 1943: Officer Commanding, RAF Waddington.

4 Apr 1944 : HQ Bomber Command Representative to ACM Tedder.

22 Aug 1944: SASO, HQ No 5 Group.

1 Dec 1945: Staff, Central Bombing Establishment.

6 Mar 1947: SASO, No 2 (Indian) Group.

1 Nov 1947: Officer Commanding, RPAF Station, Drigh Road.

23 May 1949: Attended Joint Service Staff College.

19 Dec 1949: Deputy Director of Personnel (2).

5 Dec 1951: Officer Commanding, RAF Tangmere.

13 Mar 1953: Officer Commanding, RAF Odiham.

1 Dec 1953: Commander, Metropolitan Sector.

9 Jan 1956: Attended Imperial Defence College.

1 Jan 1957: Commandant, RAF Staff College - Bracknell.

15 Nov 1959: Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.

3 Aug 1960: C in C, HQ British Forces Arabian Peninsula.

1 Mar 1961: C in C, HQ Middle East Command

1 Sep 1963: Chief of the Air Staff.

1 Apr 1967: Chief of the Defence Staff (Designate)

4 Aug 1967: Chief of the Defence Staff.

13 Apr 1971 - 1 Aug 1978: Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle.

7 May 1971: Placed on half pay.

Born in New Zealand, he studied Law at Trinity, Cambridge gaining a First Class Honours degree and was called to the Bar, Lincoln's Inn in 1935. However, whilst at University he had enrolled in the RAFO where he learnt to fly before transferring to the Auxiliary Air Force in 1934. Forsaking a career in Law he applied to join the RAF and was accepted for a permanent commission in 1936. Posted to No ? Squadron he flew ? until 1937 when he became PA to AOC in C, Bomber Command.

He returned to operations as a Flight Commander on Blenheims and was involved in some of the early low level daylight operations undertaken by No 2 Group. Taking over command of No 82 Sqn in 1941, he continued to build up experience and a reputation for leadership. His operational experience was then put to good use as a Staff Officer at No 2 Group HQ.

During his tenure as OC at Odiham he was tasked with responsibility of hosting the 1953 Coronation Review on 15 July attended by the recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II as well as the RAF's founding father, Viscount Trenchard, less than three years before the great man's death. Post-war, he progressed steadily, becoming Commandant of the Staff College at Bracknell and later taking command of British Forces Arabian Peninsula in 1960, his success in commanding a unified command led to the formation of further such commands. The first was HQ Middle East Command (Aden) formed on 1 March 1961. Thirty years before the more famous Kuwait crisis he became involved in a lesser known Gulf incident when the Iraqi government of the day made threatening moves towards their neighbour.

In 1964, one of his duties as CAS was to lay the foundation stone of the new Trenchard Hall at Cranwell to house the RAF Technical College on it's amalgamation with the RAF College in 196?. On retirement from the RAF, he became Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and two years later Lord Lieutenant of Greater London. He acted as Chairman to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, to King Edward VII Hospital for Officer and the Royal Over-Seas League (until 1976). He also served on the Governing bodies of Bradfield College, Wellington College and Marlborough College. He became a Honorary Freeman of The Skinners’ Company in 1968 and for the period 1973 - 74 he was Master of the company . However, he retired from all these activities in 1978, if not before, and returned to his native New Zealand.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order

“Acting Wing Commander Samuel Charles ELWORTHY, D.F.C., A.F.C.(36056). No.82 Squadron.

In March, 1941, this officer was detailed to carry out an attack on enemy shipping off Le Havre. Sighting two enemy tankers of approximately 3,000 tons, escorted by flak ships, he proceeded to attack one of the tankers from a low altitude and, in spite of heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire from the flak ships, scored a direct hit which set the tanker on fire. On another occasion whilst returning from a successful attack against an enemy dump near Flushing aerodrome he was attacked by two Messerschmitt 109’s, but though his rear gunner was wounded, he managed by skilful flying to throw off the enemy fighters and return safely to base. By his magnificent leadership and complete disregard of danger, Wing Commander Elworthy has brought his squadron to the highest pitch of war efficiency.”