Amyas Borton
Encyclopedia
Air Vice-Marshal
Amyas Eden Borton CB
, CMG
, DSO
, AFC
(20 September 1886 – 15 August 1969) was a pilot and commander in the Royal Flying Corps
during World War I
and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force
during the 1920s. He saw active service on the Western Front
, in Palestine
and in Iraq
. In the latter part of his career, Borton was the second Commandant of the RAF College at Cranwell before becoming the Air Officer Commanding
the RAF's Inland Area.
. His elder brother, called Arthur Borton like their father, was known as "Bosky" whereas Amyas was known as "Biffy".
He was commissioned into the Black Watch
Militia in January 1904. In 1906, while remaining in the Black Watch, Borton transferred to the Regular Army. Borton learned to fly whilst on leave from his regiment in 1911, gaining Royal Aero Club
certificate no. 170 on 9 January 1912.
Borton was seconded to the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps
, serving as a pilot on No. 5 Squadron
at Netheravon
. Following the start of the War in June, Borton flew with his Squadron to France. It is recognized that while serving on the Western Front
, Borton invented the slang term "archie" for anti-aircraft fire
. The usage came about because Borton was probably the first pilot to shout the words "Archibald, certainly not" (from a popular music-hall song written by George Robey
) as he flew between the exploding German shells.
In November Borton was promoted to captain and made a flight commander and posted to a different squadron which resulted in his return to England to take up duties at Brooklands
. Amyas was joined by his brother at Brooklands who was an RFC observer at that time. In April 1915 Borton returned to France as a flight commander on No. 8 Squadron. On 7 June, while engaged in aerial combat, Borton received a bullet wound to the head and neck. Although the injury was severe, Borton and his observer Captain Anthony Marshall managed to bandage the wound. Despite severe loss of blood, Borton kept control of his aircraft, completing the reconnaissance sortie and landing safely. He was later awarded the DSO
for his actions.
Borton's recovery was prolonged. In early July, he was still judged to be "not yet out of danger" and it was not until late October 1915 that he returned to duty, being promoted to major and made the officer commanding of No. 10 (Training) Squadron
which was in England at that time. Just over two months later he was given a new squadron, being appointed officer commanding No. 27 Squadron
on 27 December. Initially based at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
, Middlesex
and later on the Western Front, Borton remained in command until the end of July 1916. During this time members of Borton's squadron flew missions delivering secret agents behind enemy lines.
On 1 August 1916, Borton was recalled to England and promoted to lieutenant colonel. Back in England he was appointed Officer Commanding of a new training wing
at Felton near Bristol
.
on 5 February 1917 succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel Joubert de la Ferté
. Borton's new command comprised two squadrons at the time and had a total of 42 aircraft. The Fifth Wing played an important role in the First and Second Battle of Gaza
while Borton was in command.
In October 1917, Borton was moved sideways to head the newly created Fortieth Wing
which was based in the Middle East. Having set up the Fortieth Wing, on 14 December Borton was promoted to brigadier-general and given command the Palestine Brigade
which consisted of the Fifth and Fortieth wings. As Officer Commanding the Palestine Brigade, Borton was General Allenby's
air commander although he also reported to the General Officer Commanding the Royal Flying Corps in the Middle East, Major-General Salmond
. Borton played an important role in Palestine Campaign
during his time in command. In late July and early August 1918, Borton along with Major Archibald McLaren flew a Handley Page 0/400 biplane bomber from Manston, England to Alexandria in Egypt. The aircraft later played a key role in the Battle of Megiddo
when it was used to bomb the Turkish Headquarters and telephone exchange in Al-Fuleh. Later in the Battle, the aircraft of Borton's Palestine Brigade destroyed the Turkish Seventh Army
which marked the end of any Turkish power west of the Jordan.
(the equivalent rank to his substative former rank of lieutenant-colonel). However, Borton was rapidly promoted to group captain
and by the end of 1919 he was the officer in charge of administration at the RAF's command headquarters at Halton
.
At the start of 1921, Borton returned to the Middle East, this time as the Officer Commanding the newly established Mesopotamian Group which was the air element of the Army
-led British forces in the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. Borton instigated air control measures as a means of pacifying the region. After the Kingdom of Iraq
was established under British oversight, Borton's command was renamed the Iraq Group in October 1921. In October 1922, the British Armed Forces in Iraq were reorganized as Iraq Command
under Air Vice-Marshal John Salmond
. Borton remained in Iraq into 1923, working for Salmond.
From 1923 to 1926, Borton was the second officer to hold the appointment of Commandant of the RAF College and the air officer commanding RAF Cranwell. Several months after becoming Commandant, Borton married Muriel Agnes Slater at the Savoy Chapel
in London.
On 1 November 1926, Borton was appointed Director of Personal Services at the Air Ministry
in succession to Air Vice-Marshal Longcroft. Borton remained Director of Personal Services until 1 July 1929 when he was succeeded by Air Commodore Peregrine Fellowes. Borton took up his final appointment as Air Officer Commanding
Inland Area on the 1 November 1929, continuing in post until he retired from the RAF on 23 August 1933 in the rank of air vice-marshal
.
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Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Amyas Eden Borton CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(20 September 1886 – 15 August 1969) was a pilot and commander in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the 1920s. He saw active service on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. In the latter part of his career, Borton was the second Commandant of the RAF College at Cranwell before becoming the Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
the RAF's Inland Area.
Early life and infantry service
Amyas Borton was born on 20 September 1886, the younger son of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Borton who was from Cheveney in KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. His elder brother, called Arthur Borton like their father, was known as "Bosky" whereas Amyas was known as "Biffy".
He was commissioned into the Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
Militia in January 1904. In 1906, while remaining in the Black Watch, Borton transferred to the Regular Army. Borton learned to fly whilst on leave from his regiment in 1911, gaining Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
certificate no. 170 on 9 January 1912.
England and the Western Front
Two months before the start of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Borton was seconded to the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, serving as a pilot on No. 5 Squadron
No. 5 Squadron RAF
No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the operator of the new Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar aircraft and is based at RAF Waddington.-History:As No...
at Netheravon
Netheravon
Netheravon is a village and civil parish on the River Avon, about north of the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire.-Notable people:The writer Frank Sawyer , although born in Bulford, spent most of his life in Netheravon as river keeper River Avon and died on the banks of the river near the parish church...
. Following the start of the War in June, Borton flew with his Squadron to France. It is recognized that while serving on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, Borton invented the slang term "archie" for anti-aircraft fire
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
. The usage came about because Borton was probably the first pilot to shout the words "Archibald, certainly not" (from a popular music-hall song written by George Robey
George Robey
Sir George Edward Wade , better known by his stage name, George Robey, was an English music hall comedian and star. He was marketed as the "Prime Minister of Mirth".-Early life:...
) as he flew between the exploding German shells.
In November Borton was promoted to captain and made a flight commander and posted to a different squadron which resulted in his return to England to take up duties at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. Amyas was joined by his brother at Brooklands who was an RFC observer at that time. In April 1915 Borton returned to France as a flight commander on No. 8 Squadron. On 7 June, while engaged in aerial combat, Borton received a bullet wound to the head and neck. Although the injury was severe, Borton and his observer Captain Anthony Marshall managed to bandage the wound. Despite severe loss of blood, Borton kept control of his aircraft, completing the reconnaissance sortie and landing safely. He was later awarded the DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for his actions.
Borton's recovery was prolonged. In early July, he was still judged to be "not yet out of danger" and it was not until late October 1915 that he returned to duty, being promoted to major and made the officer commanding of No. 10 (Training) Squadron
No. 10 Squadron RAF
No. 10 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron. The squadron served in a variety of roles over its 90 year history...
which was in England at that time. Just over two months later he was given a new squadron, being appointed officer commanding No. 27 Squadron
No. 27 Squadron RAF
No. 27 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Boeing Chinook HC2 from RAF Odiham.-The Great War:27 Squadron formed at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome on 5 November 1915, soon being equipped with Martinsyde Elephant fighter aircraft, hence the use of an elephant for the squadron badge...
on 27 December. Initially based at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome was a grass airfield, operational 1914-1920. It was situated in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was the location from which the first scheduled daily international commercial air services took place.-1909-1914:...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and later on the Western Front, Borton remained in command until the end of July 1916. During this time members of Borton's squadron flew missions delivering secret agents behind enemy lines.
On 1 August 1916, Borton was recalled to England and promoted to lieutenant colonel. Back in England he was appointed Officer Commanding of a new training wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
at Felton near Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Palestine
By mid December 1916, Borton had received his orders for Palestine, although he was able to spend Christmas and the New Year with his father and other family members at Cheveney. Borton departed Plymouth on 10 January on the troop ship the Devon, arriving in Alexandria 28 January. Borton took up his new post as Officer Commanding the Fifth Wing RFCNo. 5 Wing RAF
Number 5 Wing of the Royal Air Force was a wing of aircraft squadrons which was originally established as the Fifth Wing of the Royal Flying Corps. Currently inactive, the wing has been formed and disbanded five times over the course of its history....
on 5 February 1917 succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel Joubert de la Ferté
Philip Joubert de la Ferté
Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Bennet Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the 1930s and the Second World War.-RAF career:...
. Borton's new command comprised two squadrons at the time and had a total of 42 aircraft. The Fifth Wing played an important role in the First and Second Battle of Gaza
Second Battle of Gaza
The Second Battle of Gaza, fought in southern Palestine during the First World War, was another attempt mounted by British Empire forces to break Ottoman defences along the Gaza-Beersheba line...
while Borton was in command.
In October 1917, Borton was moved sideways to head the newly created Fortieth Wing
No. 40 Wing RAF
No. 40 Wing was a wing that formed part of the Royal Air Force Palestine Brigade during World War I and immediately after. It was established in October 1917 as 40th Wing, Royal Flying Corps , and become part of the RAF in April 1918, when the RFC merged with the Royal Naval Air Service...
which was based in the Middle East. Having set up the Fortieth Wing, on 14 December Borton was promoted to brigadier-general and given command the Palestine Brigade
Palestine Brigade RAF
The Palestine Brigade of the Royal Flying Corps, and later Royal Air Force, was formed 5 October 1917 in respose to General Allenby's request for an air formation for his planned offensive against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine.-Background:...
which consisted of the Fifth and Fortieth wings. As Officer Commanding the Palestine Brigade, Borton was General Allenby's
Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby
Field Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British soldier and administrator most famous for his role during the First World War, in which he led the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1917 and 1918.Allenby, nicknamed...
air commander although he also reported to the General Officer Commanding the Royal Flying Corps in the Middle East, Major-General Salmond
Geoffrey Salmond
Air Chief Marshal Sir William Geoffrey Hanson Salmond KCB, KCMG, DSO , commonly known as Sir Geoffrey Salmond, was a senior commander in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. Remaining in the Royal Air Force after the War, he held senior appointments in the Middle East, Great Britain and India...
. Borton played an important role in Palestine Campaign
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
during his time in command. In late July and early August 1918, Borton along with Major Archibald McLaren flew a Handley Page 0/400 biplane bomber from Manston, England to Alexandria in Egypt. The aircraft later played a key role in the Battle of Megiddo
Battle of Megiddo (1918)
The Battle of Megiddo took place between 19 September and 1 October 1918, in what was then the northern part of Ottoman Palestine and parts of present-day Syria and Jordan...
when it was used to bomb the Turkish Headquarters and telephone exchange in Al-Fuleh. Later in the Battle, the aircraft of Borton's Palestine Brigade destroyed the Turkish Seventh Army
Seventh Army (Ottoman Empire)
The Ottoman Seventh Army was a large military formation of Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although designated as an army, at least by 1918, it was only of corps strength....
which marked the end of any Turkish power west of the Jordan.
Inter-war years
After the war Borton remained in the newly established RAF and was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant-colonel. When the RAF introduced its own rank titles in 1919, he was regraded as a wing commanderWing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
(the equivalent rank to his substative former rank of lieutenant-colonel). However, Borton was rapidly promoted to group captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
and by the end of 1919 he was the officer in charge of administration at the RAF's command headquarters at Halton
RAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...
.
At the start of 1921, Borton returned to the Middle East, this time as the Officer Commanding the newly established Mesopotamian Group which was the air element of the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
-led British forces in the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. Borton instigated air control measures as a means of pacifying the region. After the Kingdom of Iraq
Kingdom of Iraq
The Kingdom of Iraq was the sovereign state of Iraq during and after the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. The League of Nations mandate started in 1920. The kingdom began in August 1921 with the coronation of Faisal bin al-Hussein bin Ali al-Hashemi as King Faisal I...
was established under British oversight, Borton's command was renamed the Iraq Group in October 1921. In October 1922, the British Armed Forces in Iraq were reorganized as Iraq Command
RAF Iraq Command
Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq...
under Air Vice-Marshal John Salmond
John Salmond
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond, GCB, CMG, CVO, DSO and Bar was a British military officer who rose to high rank in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I...
. Borton remained in Iraq into 1923, working for Salmond.
From 1923 to 1926, Borton was the second officer to hold the appointment of Commandant of the RAF College and the air officer commanding RAF Cranwell. Several months after becoming Commandant, Borton married Muriel Agnes Slater at the Savoy Chapel
Savoy Chapel
The Savoy Chapel or the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy is a chapel off the Strand, London, dedicated to St John the Baptist. It was originally built in the medieval era off the main church of the Savoy Palace...
in London.
On 1 November 1926, Borton was appointed Director of Personal Services at the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
in succession to Air Vice-Marshal Longcroft. Borton remained Director of Personal Services until 1 July 1929 when he was succeeded by Air Commodore Peregrine Fellowes. Borton took up his final appointment as Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
Inland Area on the 1 November 1929, continuing in post until he retired from the RAF on 23 August 1933 in the rank of air vice-marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
.
Further reading
- Borton, Arthur Close, ed Slater, Guy. My Warrior Sons. The Borton Family Diary 1914-1918
- A history of Yalding - Biffy Borton
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