John Tremayn Babington
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Sir John Tremayne Babington KCB
, CBE
, DSO
, RAF
(20 July 1891 – 20 March 1979) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force
. In 1944, he retired and the following year he renounced his surname for Tremayne, thus becoming Sir John Tremayne Tremayne.
in the Royal Navy
in 1908. During World War I
, Babington was a member of the Royal Naval Air Service
. He participated in the air raid on the Friedrichshaven Airship Factory
, Germany on 21 November 1914. On 2 January 1920, Babington was removed from the Navy List and awarded a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force
. He was appointed Station Commander at RAF Gosport in 1927 and went on to be a Station Commander in Iraq
in January 1929 before becoming British Air Representative to the League of Nations
in November 1929. He became Station Commander of RAF Halton
and Commandant, No. 1 School of Technical Training in 1934, Air Officer Commanding No. 24 Group in 1936 and Air Officer Commanding, RAF Far East Command in 1938.
He served in World War II
as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command
and then Head of RAF Mission in Moscow
before retiring in 1944.
In retirement served as High Sheriff of Cornwall
.
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir John Tremayne Babington KCB
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...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 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...
, RAF
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...
(20 July 1891 – 20 March 1979) was 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...
. In 1944, he retired and the following year he renounced his surname for Tremayne, thus becoming Sir John Tremayne Tremayne.
RAF career
Babington was commissioned as a MidshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1908. 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...
, Babington was a member of the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
. He participated in the air raid on the Friedrichshaven Airship Factory
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
, Germany on 21 November 1914. On 2 January 1920, Babington was removed from the Navy List and awarded a permanent commission 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...
. He was appointed Station Commander at RAF Gosport in 1927 and went on to be a Station Commander 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 January 1929 before becoming British Air Representative to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
in November 1929. He became Station Commander of RAF 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:...
and Commandant, No. 1 School of Technical Training in 1934, Air Officer Commanding No. 24 Group in 1936 and Air Officer Commanding, RAF Far East Command in 1938.
He served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command
RAF Technical Training Command
Technical Training Command was an organization within the Royal Air Force which controlled units responsible for delivering aircraft maintenance training and other non-flying training, initially in Berkshire then in Cambridgeshire.-History:...
and then Head of RAF Mission in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
before retiring in 1944.
In retirement served as High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
.
Honours and awards
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath - 11 Jun 1942 (CB - 2 Jan 1939)
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 4 Jun 1934
- Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe 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...
– 1 Jan 1915 - Commander of the Legion of Honour - 19 May 1916
- Deputy LieutenantDeputy LieutenantIn the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(Cornwall) - 1945 - High SheriffHigh SheriffA high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
(Cornwall) - 1954