Courage, comradeship and innovation
The overall vision is to create a unique ‘dual’ heritage experience, offering specialist visitors bespoke access to The John Collection within the elegant setting of this Grade I listed C18th residence.
The John Collection is regarded as the finest private collection of medals and memorabilia from the Battle of Britain and as one of the leading private collections of World War Two aviation in the world.
The John Collection at Chandos House will combine these remarkable heritage assets to provide an unparalleled immersive experience in the collection and its surroundings.
Chandos House at No 2. Queen Anne Street, is considered to be one of the best London townhouses by the leading Neo-classical architect, Robert Adam.
Specialist audiences will be drawn from four target groups: Aviation and Military Enthusiasts, Serving and Retired Military Personnel and their families, London Universities, and Architectural History Enthusiasts.
Permanent and temporary displays will be presented in the five principal reception rooms of Chandos House, with light touch, layered interpretation proposed around the themes of ‘courage’, ‘comradeship’, ‘innovation’, and the stories of ‘Chandos House through time’.
The Collection
An example from The John Collection: the outstanding Second World War fighter ace’s immediate D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, A.F.C. group of ten awarded to Group Captain Arthur Donaldson, Royal Air Force (click each image for more information).
‘My Spitfire was riddled with bullets. One came through the side, took away the throttle and then entered the engine, putting it out of action. I looked down and to my horror I saw two of the fingers of my left hand lying on my lap! There was blood everywhere, petrol was streaming into my eyes and I wasn’t at all happy. The controls seemed O.K. so I rolled over, stuck the nose down and beat the hell out of it … ‘
Finger Trouble — Arthur Donaldson (unpublished autobiography, also part of the John Collection).
The collection, comprising an estimated 5000 items, is currently in the process of being catalogued and prepared for display in full. Primarily focussed on the airmen involved in the Battle of Britain and their unique stories and achievements, her collection features memorabilia from over 50 high scoring Battle of Britain pilots.
These include the highest scoring Allied pilot, the highest scoring British pilot, the second highest scoring British pilot, the highest scoring American pilot in the European theatre, the highest scoring Allied night-fighter pilot as well as highly significant groups of medals awarded to pilots from Poland, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
Each group contains not only the medals, but logbooks, insignia, and in some cases, uniforms and relics from the aircraft such as the control column or cockpit clock.
Together the collection is regarded as the finest and most extensive for Battle of Britain medal groups.
In recent years, The John Collection has been expanded to include other medal groups and items beyond the Battle of Britain.
For instance, it features the Victoria Cross medal group awarded to World War Two Lancaster pilot William “Bill” Reid VC (1921-2001), the Dicken Medal to Rip, DM the dog, who saved 105 lives during the London Blitz, as well as medals awarded to Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton CVO, OBE, FRGS, FRSGS (1874-1922).
The collection also includes the first gallantry medal ever awarded to a woman: Grace Darling (1815-1842). Darling was an English lighthouse keeper’s daughter recognised for her role in the rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838.
Endorsements for the proposed museum
‘It is most exciting to hear of the possibility that Ms Melissa John may at last find a quiet corner for this magnificent collection of WWII medals and memorabilia linked to the Battle of Britain in which my Grandfather played such a key role. London would surely benefit by granting permission for such a unique world-class display.’
— Piers Dowding, 3rd Baron, Bentley Priory
‘I recently became aware of your extensive and important collection of medals and memorabilia connected to the Battle of Britain and the plans to put this collection of display in a private museum in central London … I am pleased to add my support to your cause. I understand the collection under your care also contains medals from Francis “Gabby” Gabreski, which I find particularly noteworthy, since Gabreski was the top American ace over Europe during World War II’.
— Thomas “Shack” Graham, Assistant Air Attaché, Defense Attaché Office, Embassy of the United States of America
‘As you know our Association is one of two principal Battle of Britain heritage stakeholder associations. We consider that your plan to bring the collection to the public in a museum in the superb Chandos House, which is ideally suited to accommodate the collection, is visionary and one which we wholeheartedly support and and we stand ready to help in any way we can.’
— Group Captain Tim Willbond DL RAF (Rtd), The Association of ROYAL AIR FORCE Fighter Control Officers
‘Your incredible collection is unique and captures the true bravery, essence and heroism of the men and women who fought and succeeded in saving our nation. To provide a befitting home for the collection and a place where people can reflect, remember and pay tribute to those who have gone before us, is essential. Your project will provide members of the Royal Air Force both past and present, a permanent location where the true heroism and sacrifice on which we have built the service of today can be seen and never forgotten. Therefore, the Royal Air Force is proud to unequivocally support the development of Chandos House.’
— Group Captain Martin Cunningham RAF, NATO Headquarters, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
‘It is my pleasure to write a letter in support for your proposal for a museum dedicated to the Battle of Britain … For a number of years, you have been actively engaged in preserving the memory and raising awareness of the Battle of Britain by collecting remarkable and worthy of remembrance artefacts associated with the battle, including those commemorating the Polish contribution to the Allied effort, as well as supporting various organisations in their mission of reading knowledge about those momentous events … I fully support your efforts to establish a museum dedicated to the memory of the Battle of Britain and I am convinced that this generous act of friendship would be greatly appreciated by not only the British public, but also the Polish and international community in London and in the United Kingdom. ’
— Arkady Rzegocki, The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Court of St James’s
‘It is my pleasure to write in support of your proposal to create a museum within Chandos House, to commemorate the sacrifices made during the Battle of Britain and to publicly display your private collection.’
— Air Marshal Sue Gray CB OBE RAF, Chairman, The Royal Airforce Club
‘The Polish Airmen’s Association UK fully supports the idea of a private museum within Chandos House. Your collection of medals and memorabilia is world class and this building without doubt would lend itself to an exceptional display of these artefacts.’
— Artur Bildziuk, Chairman, Polish Airmen’s Association UK
‘Having witnessed and having had the pleasure of working with you on the RAF and Allied Airmen Exhibition at Bentley Priory Fighter Command Museum a number of years ago, I was astounded by the quality of the Collection and thoroughly enjoyed the educational narrative which was of the highest order. Cleave are very much looking forward to supporting you in this venture.’
— Stephen Connely, Director, Cleave
‘Your WW2 Fighter Pilot Heraldic collection planned for Chandos House will play a significant part in telling stories of bravery, sacrifice, endeavour and selflessness and I am confident that your collection will provide a superb vehicle for us to keep those who did their duty in the minds of us all … bringing the collection together in one place will provide a fitting environment for these special medals to be displayed and come alive.’
— Chris Elliot CBE MA BSc, Controller, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
‘I would like to extend on behalf of the museum board, staff and membership our enthusiastic support for your efforts to found a private museum based at Chandos House … The outstanding depth to the collections that will be displayed and the rarity of the artefacts demands a venue as impressive as Chandos House.’
— Gerald M Kochan, Executive Director, Polish American Museum, Port Washington, N.Y.