# Amyas Borton

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Amyas Eden Borton Brigadier General Amyas Borton, c. 1917–1918 Nickname Biffy Born (1886-09-20)20 September 1886 Tanfield, Durham, England Died 15 August 1969(1969-08-15) (aged 82) Maidstone, Kent, England Allegiance United Kingdom Branch British Army (1904–1918) Royal Air Force (1918–33) Service years 1904–1933 Rank Air vice marshal Commands Inland Area (1929–1933) Royal Air Force College Cranwell (1923–1926) Mesopotamian Group (1921–1922) Palestine Brigade (1917–1918) 40th (Army) Wing (1917) Fifth Wing, RFC (1917) No. 27 Squadron RFC (1915–1916) No. 10 Squadron RFC (1915) Conflicts World War I Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Air Force Cross Mentioned in Despatches Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd Class with Swords (Russia) Commander of the Order of the Nile (Egypt) Order of Al Nahda, 3rd Class (Kingdom of Hijaz) Relations Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Drummond Borton (brother)

[Air Vice Marshal](/source/Air_Vice_Marshal) **Amyas Eden Borton**, [CB](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath), [CMG](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George), [DSO](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order), [AFC](/source/Air_Force_Cross_(United_Kingdom)) (20 September 1886 – 15 August 1969) was a pilot and commander in the [Royal Flying Corps](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps) during the [First World War](/source/First_World_War) and a senior commander in the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) during the 1920s. He saw active service on the [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)), in [Palestine](/source/Palestine_(region)) and in [Iraq](/source/Iraq). In the latter part of his career, Borton was the second Commandant of the [RAF College at Cranwell](/source/RAF_College_Cranwell) before becoming the [Air Officer Commanding](/source/Air_Officer_Commanding) [RAF Inland Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RAF_Inland_Area&action=edit&redlink=1).

## Early life and infantry service

Amyas Borton was born on 20 September 1886 in [Tanfield, Durham](/source/Tanfield%2C_Durham), the younger son of Irish-born Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Borton, a soldier and barrister. His elder brother, named [Arthur Borton](/source/Arthur_Borton_(VC)) like their father, was known as "Bosky" whereas Amyas was known as "Biffy".[1]

He was commissioned into the [Black Watch](/source/Black_Watch) Militia in January 1904.[2] In 1906, while remaining in the Black Watch, Borton transferred to the Regular Army.[2] He learned to fly whilst on leave from his regiment in 1911, gaining [Royal Aero Club](/source/Royal_Aero_Club) [certificate no. 170](/source/List_of_pilots_awarded_an_Aviator's_Certificate_by_the_Royal_Aero_Club_in_1912) on 9 January 1912.[2]

## First World War

### England and the Western Front

Two months prior to the outbreak of the [First World War](/source/First_World_War), Borton was seconded to the Military Wing of the [Royal Flying Corps](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps) (RFC), serving as a pilot on [No. 5 Squadron](/source/No._5_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Netheravon](/source/RAF_Netheravon).[2] Following the start of the war in June, Borton flew with his squadron to France. It is recognised that while serving on the [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)), Borton invented the slang term "archie" for [anti-aircraft fire](/source/Anti-aircraft_warfare). The usage came about because Borton was probably the first pilot to shout the words "Archibald, certainly not" (from a popular [music-hall](/source/Music-hall) song written by [George Robey](/source/George_Robey)) as he flew between the exploding German shells.[2] Lieutenant [Maurice Baring](/source/Maurice_Baring) who was attached to RFC headquarters during the war, noted in his diary that the term was already popular among the pilots of 5 Squadron by 15 September 1914, and that there seemed to be only a single gun which gave them trouble.[3]

In November Borton was promoted to [captain](/source/Captain_(British_Army_and_Royal_Marines)) and made a flight commander and posted to a different squadron which resulted in his return to England to take up duties at [Brooklands](/source/Brooklands). Amyas was joined at Brooklands by his brother, who was an RFC observer at that time. In April 1915 Borton returned to France as a flight commander on [No. 8 Squadron](/source/No._8_Squadron_RAF). On 7 June, while engaged in aerial combat, Borton received a bullet wound to the head and neck. Although the injury was severe, he 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 [Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) for his actions.[4]

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](/source/Major_(United_Kingdom)) and made the officer commanding of [No. 10 (Training) Squadron](/source/No._10_Squadron_RAF) which was in England at that time.[2] Just over two months later he was given a new squadron, being appointed officer commanding [No. 27 Squadron](/source/No._27_Squadron_RAF) on 27 December.[2] Initially based at [Hounslow Heath Aerodrome](/source/Hounslow_Heath_Aerodrome), [Middlesex](/source/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](/source/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_Kingdom)). Back in England, he was appointed officer commanding of a new training [wing](/source/Wing_(air_force_unit)) at [Felton](/source/Felton%2C_Somerset) near [Bristol](/source/Bristol).

### Palestine

By mid December 1916, Borton had received his orders for [Palestine](/source/Mandatory_Palestine), although he was able to spend Christmas and the New Year with his father and other family members at Cheveney. Borton departed [Plymouth](/source/Plymouth) on 10 January on the troop ship *Devon*, arriving in [Alexandria](/source/Alexandria), Egypt, 28 January.[5] He took up his new post as officer commanding the [Fifth Wing RFC](/source/No._5_Wing_RAF) on 5 February 1917,[2] succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel [Joubert de la Ferté](/source/Philip_Joubert_de_la_Fert%C3%A9). His 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](/source/First_Battle_of_Gaza_(1917)) and [Second Battle of Gaza](/source/Second_Battle_of_Gaza) while Borton was in command.

In October 1917, Borton was moved sideways to head the newly created [Fortieth Wing](/source/No._40_Wing_RAF)[2] which was based in the Middle East. Having set up the Fortieth Wing, on 14 December he was promoted to brigadier general and given command of the [Palestine Brigade](/source/Palestine_Brigade_RAF)[2] which consisted of the Fifth and Fortieth wings. As Officer Commanding the Palestine Brigade, Borton was [General Allenby's](/source/Edmund_Allenby%2C_1st_Viscount_Allenby) air commander although he also reported to the general officer commanding the Royal Flying Corps in the Middle East, Major-General [Salmond](/source/Geoffrey_Salmond). Borton played an important role in the [Palestine campaign](/source/Sinai_and_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](/source/Handley_Page_0%2F400) biplane bomber from [Manston](/source/RAF_Manston), England to Alexandria.[6] The aircraft later played a key role in the [Battle of Megiddo](/source/Battle_of_Megiddo_(1918)) 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](/source/Seventh_Army_(Ottoman_Empire)) 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.[2] When the RAF introduced its own rank titles in 1919, he was regraded as a [wing commander](/source/Wing_Commander_(rank)) (the equivalent rank to his substantive former rank of lieutenant-colonel). However, he was rapidly promoted to [group captain](/source/Group_captain) and by the end of 1919 he was the officer in charge of administration at the RAF's command headquarters at [Halton](/source/RAF_Halton).[2]

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](/source/British_Army)-led British forces in the [British Mandate of Mesopotamia](/source/British_Mandate_of_Mesopotamia).[2] Borton instigated [air control](/source/Air_supremacy) measures as a means of pacifying the region.[7] After the [Kingdom of Iraq](/source/Kingdom_of_Iraq) was established under British oversight, Borton's command was renamed the Iraq Group in October 1921.[2] In October 1922, the British Armed Forces in Iraq were reorganized as [Iraq Command](/source/RAF_Iraq_Command) under Air Vice Marshal [John Salmond](/source/John_Salmond). Borton remained in Iraq into 1923, working for Salmond.[7]

From 1923 to 1926, Borton was the second officer to hold the appointment of commandant of the [RAF College](/source/RAF_College) and the air officer commanding RAF Cranwell.[2] Several months after becoming commandant, he married Muriel Agnes Slater at the [Savoy Chapel](/source/Savoy_Chapel) in London.[8] Prior to his marriage, Borton had met and dated Agatha Miller (later the famous author, [Agatha Christie](/source/Agatha_Christie)), who rejected him.[9]

On 1 November 1926, Borton was appointed director of personnel services at the [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) in succession to [Air Vice-Marshal Longcroft](/source/Charles_Longcroft).[10] Borton remained Director until 1 July 1929 when he was succeeded by Air Commodore [Peregrine Fellowes](/source/Peregrine_Fellowes).[11][12] Borton took up his final appointment as [Air Officer Commanding](/source/Air_Officer_Commanding) [Inland Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inland_Area_RAF&action=edit&redlink=1) on 1 November 1929, continuing in post until he retired from the RAF on 23 August 1933 in the rank of [air vice-marshal](/source/Air_vice-marshal).[2]

In 1935, he persuaded [Sir Harold Snagge](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harold_Snagge&action=edit&redlink=1), chairman of the [Napier](/source/D._Napier_%26_Son) engineering company, to make special arrangements to enable [Dorothy Spicer](/source/Dorothy_Spicer) to be the first woman to study and qualify for a 'D' licence, enabling her to inspect, pass out, and repair both engines and airframes, being qualified to build all aspects of an aircraft, airframe, and engine from scratch, and to approve the materials required for the work.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Cross and Cockade](http://www.crossandcockade.com/pdf/Borton.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090320021311/http://www.crossandcockade.com/pdf/Borton.pdf) 20 March 2009 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-air_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-air_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-air_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-air_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-air_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-air_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-air_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-air_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-air_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-air_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-air_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-air_2-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-air_2-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-air_2-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-air_2-14) [***p***](#cite_ref-air_2-15) [Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice-Marshal A E Borton](http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Borton.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Baring, Maurice](/source/Maurice_Baring) (1930) [1920]. [*Flying Corps Headquarters, 1914–1918*](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051387192&view=1up&seq=57). London: William Heinemann. p. 43.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["No. 29215"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29215/supplement/6533). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 2 July 1915. p. 6533.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Borton, Arthur Close (1973). Slater, Guy (ed.). *My Warrior Sons*. Military Book Society. pp. 86 to 90.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Flying the Furrow](http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200102/flying.the.furrow.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080720101632/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200102/flying.the.furrow.htm) 20 July 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Saudi Aramco World, March/April 2001

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Laffin_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Laffin_7-1) [Laffin, John](/source/John_Laffin) (1964). *Swifter than Eagles. A biography of Marshal of the RAF Sir John Salmond*. William Blackwood & Sons Ltd. pp. 175 to 176.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Married](http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200756.html) Flight International, 13 December 1923

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Where Agatha Christie Dreamed Up Murder | Travel | Smithsonian Magazine"](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/where-agatha-christie-dreamed-up-murder-158908115/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Appointments](http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1926/1926%20-%200847.html) Flight International, 18 November 1926

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Appointments](http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/1929-1%20-%200614.html) Flight International, 18 July 1929

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Appointments](http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/1929-1%20-%200684.html) Flight International, 1 August 1929

## Further reading

- Borton, Arthur Close, ed Slater, Guy. *My Warrior Sons. The Borton Family Diary 1914–1918*

- [A history of Yalding – Biffy Borton](http://yaldinghistory.webplus.net/page251.html)

Military offices Preceded by S Smith Officer Commanding No. 27 Squadron RFC 1915–1916 Succeeded by S Smith Preceded by Philip Joubert de la Ferté Officer Commanding Fifth Wing, RFC February–October 1917 Succeeded by Charles Burnett New title Officer Commanding 40th (Army) Wing October–November 1917 Succeeded by A Shekleton Preceded by Sefton Brancker Officer Commanding Palestine Brigade 1917–1918 Succeeded by C S Burnett New title Group established Officer Commanding Mesopotamian Group Officer Commanding Iraq Group from 13 October 1921 1921–1922 Succeeded by John Salmond As AOC Iraq Command Preceded by Charles Longcroft RAF College Commandant 1923–1926 Succeeded by Frederick Halahan Director of Personal Services 1926–1929 Succeeded by Peregrine Fellowes Air Officer Commanding Inland Area 1929–1933 Succeeded by Arthur Longmore

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Amyas Borton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyas_Borton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyas_Borton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.