Charles James Samouelle
(1920-1997), Flight-LieutenantSitter in 1 portrait
by Gordon Anthony
modern bromide print from original negative, circa 1944
NPG x38430
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Gerald Barrington Smith
21 August 2017, 17:52
Charles Samouelle was my cousin, my mother Phyllis Smith (nee Samouelle) was his aunt. He was reported as having made 11 kills, and two unconfirmed, during the war, I am not sure if he flew a Spitfire or Hurricane, I believe there is a pictue of him walking to Buckingham Palace, printed on the front page of the Daily Mail, on his way to receive his DFC.
Rebecca Chapman
23 December 2016, 13:50
This is a picture of my grandfather Wing Commander Charles James Samouelle who had a career in the Royal Air Force. He received the DFC and bar and the OBE. He started flying at the age of 18 and was considered an Air Ace of his time.
Arthur G Samouelle
30 January 2019, 14:23
This is a reply to Gerald Smith from his cousin Arthur Samouelle. Gerald Smith was always "Barry" when we were all growing up. I also am a 1st cousin of Charles Samouelle. Certainly a notable air ace and flew Spitfires. My father and Charles's father were brothers. There were fourteen children in the family of Charles's grandparents. About twenty years separated the eldest from the youngest. Therefore the off spring, the cousins, were separated by many years. My cousin Charles was eighteen years older than me. His twins, Margaret and Anne were in fact born in the same year as me. 1938. We will be 81 this year. I and my wife are still in touch with Margaret. Rebecca Chapman above, is the daughter of Margaret.
The Royal Air Force was the making of many young men. Charles was indeed simply a cocktail shaker at The Savoy. By the time he was 22 he was an air ace. Two DFC's in one week. His Daily Telegraph obituary along with picture above is something I cherish.