Yalding, Kent. Buried Hunton Parish Burial Ground, Hunton, Maidstone, Kent

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1 Yalding, Kent Arthur Drummond (Bosky) BORTON VC, CMG, DSO Commanding Officer 2/22 nd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment 60 th (London) Division 181 st Brigade Buried Hunton Parish Burial Ground, Hunton, Maidstone, Kent On 30 th October 1917 the 60 th (London) Division were assembling 6 miles south-west of the town of Beersheba in a small place known as Wadi Mirtaba. The 181 st Brigade and the 179 th Brigade were given the task of attacking the Turkish defence line at Beersheba. This attack was commenced the following day (31 st October 1917). By early afternoon all objectives had been taken. On 6 th November 1917 the 60 th Division moved forward to the outskirts of Tel-El- Sheria where the Turkish Army was still holding some high ground. On 7 th November 1917 The 2/22 nd Battalion, London Regiment advanced to Wadi Sheria arriving there in the early morning. It was here that the battalion came under sustained fire from the enemy. The battalion pressed forward towards the Turkish held positions. By the end of the day all objectives had been taken albeit at considerable cost in terms of human life 5 officers and 19 men killed and a further 99 wounded (some of whom went on to die of wounds). It is believed the enemy suffered enormous losses. 1

2 London Gazette 18 th December 1917 VC Citation 7 th November 1917 For most conspicuous gallantry and leadership. Under the most difficult conditions in darkness and in an unknown country, he deployed his battalion for attack, and at dawn led his attacking companies against a strongly held position. When the leading waves were checked by a withering machine gun fire, Lieutenant Colonel Borton showed an contempt of danger, and moved freely up and down his lines under heavy fire. Reorganising his command, he led his men forward, and captured the position. At a later stage of the fight he led a party of volunteers against a battery of field guns in action at point blank range, capturing the guns and detatchments. His fearless leadership was an inspiring example to the whole brigade. Arthur Drummond (Bosky) Borton was born 1 st July 1883 at Cheveney, Yalding near Maidstone Kent (Cheveney was the family residence). Arthur was the eldest son of Colonel A.C Borton DL,JP. Educated at Eton and at the Royal Miltary Academy Sandhurst. Arthur was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (60 th Rifles) in He served in the last few months of the Boer War and took part in operations in the Tranvaal. On 9 th May 1906 Arthur was promoted to Lieutenant but two years later was invalided from the army unfit for further active service. Arthur returned to England in 1910 with the Queen s South Africa Medal with 3 clasps. Arthur emigrated to the USA where he tried his hand at fruit farming. Upon the outbreak of war Arthur answered the call of his mother country and immediately returned home to Cheveney. On 22 nd October 1914 Arthur reenlisted in his old regiment the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. At some stage Arthur threw in his army commission and joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as an Observer. In January 1915 Arthur left for France with No 3 Squadron RFC a Lieutenant. On 3 rd March 1915 Arthur was involved in a serious flying accident resulting in him breaking his neck in 2 places! For a second time Arthur was invalided unfit for further active service. 2

3 Somehow Arthur then obtained a commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve! He was immediately sent to Gallipoli as a Lieutenant Commander where he commanded two squadrons of Motor Machine Gun Armoured Cars (Royal Naval Air Service). Arthur took part in the Suvla Bay landings of 7 th August It was at this stage in his military career that Arthur won his DSO. 3

4 Distinguished Service Order (DSO) London Gazette 31 st May 1916 In recognition of most valuble services whilst in command of a detachment of Royal Marine Motor Machine Guns in difficult and dangerous parts of the line on the Gallipoli Peninsular. Arthur remained in Gallipoli until January he was one of the last to be evacuated to Egypt (via Mudros). In June 1916 Lieutenant Commander Arthur Drummond Borton DSO, RNVR somehow managed to obtain a commission in the army once more (Arthur was indeed a remarkable man)! Arthur was promoted Major and was appointed secon in command of the 2/22 nd London Regiment. In July 1916 Athur was in France with his battalion. In November 1916 his battalion was sent to Salonika (Greece). Arthur served continuously at the front and was eventually given command of the battalion. This was without doubt the happiest time of Arthur s life, he was absolutely elated to have been given the honour of commanding his own battalion. In June 1917 Arthur and his battalion left Salonika for Egypt. Upon arriving in Egypt the 2/22 nd London s were rested for a short while before moving to the Palestine theatre (where Arthur was to win the VC). After the war Arthurs life was virtually downhill all the way. He was unable to hold down a job and ran up large debts. Athur started to drink heavily. It was this state of affairs that led his father to change his will. Arthur although the eldest son, was not given Cheveney the family residence. Arthur took this very badly and decided to move to 3 Park Lane, Southwold in Suffolk with his wife Lorna. They lived here on a private income. Arthur s father died in By this time the drink had well and truly taken hold of poor Arthur. On 5 th January 1933 Arthur became ill and was taken to the cottage hospital in Southwold. At some stage he had a stroke. Athur died later that day never having regained conciousness (the drink had finally got him)! On 9 th January 1933 Arthur s body was returned to Cheveney in Kent for burial in the Hunton parish burial ground. The army provided a guard of honour from 2 nd London Regiment who also supplied 2 buglers to sound Reville and the Last Post. Arthur s coffin was draped in the Union flag and then placed in the grave. His headstone read Arthur Drummond Borton VC, CMG, DSO Lieutenant Colonel 60 th Rifles 2/22 nd London Regiment (The Queen s) Son of the late Colonel A.D Borton DL, JP of Cheveney, Yalding, Kent 4

5 Headstone 1977 (still in a reasonable condition) Arthur was a truly remarkable man. He was very much of his era. A public school educated man from a posh military family. Arthur was only really happy when on active service. Never lacking in personal courage it was peacetime that seemed to give him problems. As you can see from the attached images, Arthur s headstone is now extremely worn (2006). It has plainly been allowed to gradually deteriorate over many years. It is a national disgrace that often deceased VC men have no headstone or their headstones are decayed to the extent you can no longer read their names. We think this reflects very badly on the United Kingdom and in particular the local inhabitants where the grave lies. It is ludicrous that the worlds fourth richest country neglects it s heros like this! The VC men are surely fine examples to our sons and daughters - NOT the badly behaved, overpayed footballers and drug-ridden half-men of the pop industry the media often seeks to falsely lionise. Neil Clark and David Hughes are attempting to raise funds for a new headstone. They want to restore his original headstone and then erect a Victoria Cross Military Pattern Portland headstone behind it. Unfortunately the Hunton parish council and local clergy are not in the slightest bit interested in helping out. The Parish Council passes the buck to the church and the church prefers to do nothing by citing the old nut - it s what the family erected and should not be interfered with. Arthur s old regiment (now represented by the Trustees of the Queen s Royal Surrey Regiment Association) refuse to act independently of the vicar. What they really mean is that they all simply can t 5

6 be bothered! The same kind of lame excuses that we came across at Charing with Ronald Stuart VC, DSO, RD, RNR (U.S Navy Cross) LINK TO CHARING HERE. A remarkable man like Arthur deserves better than this 6

7 Arthur s father Col A.D Borton 7

8 Lorna Borton 8

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10 Arthur s handwritten request to serve in Russia

11 The Rector that doesn t care He wrote to us stating that Arthur s grave was merely one of many that need restoration. He didn t seem to be interested in the fact that Arthur won the countries highest decoration for valour. According to him the headstone is an original grave marker and it shouldn t be touched! 11

12 November

13 Arthur s headstone when we found it in 2003! Arthur s headstone 2006 better but still not good enough 13

14 November 2006 The following photos are of the BORTON family s graveyard plot in the St Mary s (Hunton Parish) Churchyard. 14

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18 Arthur s brother Biffy Borton 18

19 Biffy Borton during the Second World War 19

20 Arthur A.D Borton - A Brave man indeed 20

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