Andrew George Board

Air Commodore Andrew George Board CMG DSO DL (11 May 1878 – 25 February 1973) was an English soldier and airman. He was a pioneer aviator, first gaining a licence in 1910, who later became an air commodore in the Royal Air Force.

Andrew George Board
Born	(1878-05-11)11 May 1878 Westerham, Kent, England
Died	25 February 1973(1973-02-25) (aged 94) Morfa Bychan, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army South Wales Borderers Royal Flying Corps  Royal Air Force
Years of service	1900–1931
Rank	Air Commodore
Commands	5 Squadron RFC 7 Squadron RFC No. 1 School of Technical Training RAF No. 21 Group RAF
Battles / wars	World War I
Awards	Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order
Other work	Deputy Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire

South Wales Borderers

Following a time in the militia, Board was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers. In 1910, at his own expense, he learned to fly at Hendon.^[1] On 29 November 1910, flying a Bleriot monoplane there, he was awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 36.

In the 1911 Census he was listed as a captain of the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers at the Artillery Barracks Pretoria, South Africa.^[2]

Royal Flying Corps

By 1914, Board had become a flying instructor at the Central Flying School at Netheravon, Wiltshire. On 28 September 1914 he became the officer commanding 7 Squadron RFC at Netheravon before moving to the western front in April 1915 to command 5 Squadron RFC. He later commanded the 10th Wing RFC before taking over 20th (Reserve) Wing in Egypt.^{[citation needed]}

With the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, Broad was awarded a permanent commission as a lieutenant colonel. He rose to the rank of air commodore before retiring in 1931.^[1] In 1939 he re-joined the RAF as a group captain before retiring again in 1941.^[1] In 1943 he became a Deputy Lieutenant in Caernarvon.^[1][3]

Honours and award

• 1 January 1918 Distinguished Service Order to Maj (T /Lt -Col.) Andrew George Board, S W Borderers and RFC for distinguished service in the Field.^[4]
• 1 January 1919 Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George to Lt.-Col. (A./Col.) Andrew George Board, DSO, in recognition of distinguished services rendered during the War.^[5]

Family

Board was born in Westerham, Kent, on 11 May 1878, the third son of Major John Board and his wife Mary; his father was a magistrate.^[6] He married Mrs Phyllis Agnew at St James's Piccadilly on 18 August 1932.^[7]

References

1. "A History of RAF Organisation - Air Commodore A G Board". /www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
2. 1911 Census of Overseas Military, RG14/34977, RG14PN34977 RD641 SD2 ED14 SN9999, Andrew George Board, Artillery Barracks Pretoria.
3. "News in Brief". News in Brief. The Times. No. 49595. London. 12 July 1943. col G, p. 6.
4. "No. 30450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1918. p. 18.
5. "No. 31098". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1919. p. 92.
6. 1891 Census of Sevenoaks, RG12/674, Folio 123, Page 14, Andrew G. Board, aged 12, High Street, Westerham.
7. "Marriages". Marriages. The Times. No. 46216. London. 19 August 1932. col B, p. 13.