Amyas Borton
| Amyas Eden Borton | |
|---|---|
Brigadier General Amyas Borton, c.1917–18
|
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| Nickname(s) | Biffy |
| Born |
20 September 1886 Tanfield, Durham, England |
| Died | 15 August 1969 (aged 82) Maidstone, Kent, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army (1904–18) Royal Air Force (1918–33) |
| Years of service | 1904–33 |
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
| Commands held |
Inland Area (1929–33) Royal Air Force College Cranwell (1923–26) Mesopotamian Group (1921–22) Palestine Brigade (1917–18) 40th (Army) Wing (1917) Fifth Wing, RFC (1917) No. 27 Squadron RFC (1915–16) No. 10 Squadron RFC (1915) |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| 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 Amyas Eden Borton, CB, CMG, DSO, AFC (20 September 1886 – 15 August 1969) was a pilot and commander in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War 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 RAF Inland Area.
Amyas Borton was born on 20 September 1886 in Tanfield, Durham, the younger son of Irish-born Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Borton, a soldier and barrister. His elder brother, named 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.
Two months prior to the outbreak of the First World War, Borton was seconded to the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, serving as a pilot on No. 5 Squadron at RAF 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.
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