Arthur Borton
He led a daring raid across the Mesopotamian desert to capture a key Turkish stronghold, an act of extraordinary bravery that earned him Britain's highest military honor.
1883–1933 (age 50)·Recipient of the Victoria Cross·Birthday: July 1·The Lost Generation
Biography
Arthur Drummond Borton was a soldier of formidable courage and leadership. Born into a military family in 1883, he served with the British Army's Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. His moment of defining valor came in the harsh theater of World War I's Middle Eastern campaign. In November 1917, during the Third Battle of Gaza, then-Captain Borton was tasked with a near-suicidal mission. He commanded a force that executed a punishing 30-mile night march through the desert to surprise the Ottoman garrison at El Mughar. With relentless determination, he led the frontal assault on the village, personally overcoming enemy defenders and inspiring his men to secure a crucial victory. For his conspicuous leadership and gallantry, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He continued to serve after the war, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel before his death in 1933.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Arthur was born in 1883, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1883
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1883Born
President: Chester A. Arthur
1888Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1896Became a teenager
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1899Could drive
President: William McKinley
1901Could vote
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1904Turned 21
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Turned 30
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Turned 40
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1933Turned 50
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
Key Achievements
- Awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the capture of El Mughar in Palestine in 1917.
- Commanded a successful deep-penetration raid against a fortified Turkish position.
- Rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel following his distinguished service in World War I.
Did You Know?
His father, Colonel Charles Borton, had also served in the British Army.
Borton's Victoria Cross is publicly displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum in Kent, England.
He was mentioned in dispatches four times for his service during the war.
“Fix bayonets and follow me over that dune.”
