George Barrett Chainey

Lieutenant-Commander (retired) George Barrett Chainey, O.B.E. (16 October, 1865 – 28 July, 1927) served in the Royal Navy, initially as a warrant officer. He would prove adept at saving lives at sea.

Life & Career

As a seaman, Chainey was awarded the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for saving life at sea. He was just getting warmed up.

Chainey was promoted to the rank of Gunner on 17 July 1893.

In 1897, Chainey was awarded a second Royal Humane Society Silver Medal while appointed to Dryad, for successively saving four men shipwrecked from a cutter off Retimo. This feat also earned him a Stanhope Medal, being judged the most profound act of lifesaving bravery in the year.

Chainey made an unsuccessful attempt to save a yeoman of signals who had fallen into the sea on 23 June, 1905 for which he received the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal.

Chainey was promoted to the rank of Chief Gunner on 5 May, 1911.

Chainey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 9 December, 1915.

Chainey later served on the staff at the R.N.A.S. Depot at the Crystal Palace as a disciplinary trainer.

Placed on the Retired List on account of age on 16 October, 1920, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander (retired) on 9 December, 1925.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia