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
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]