Major, Cyprian Edward BORTON
Aged 38
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Cyprian Edward Borton was born on 15th August 1879 in Barkly, Griqualand West,(Cape Colony) South Africa (C 79842 145/1), son of Rev. Neville Arthur Blackley
and Annie Louisa BORTON (née HEALE). His father was one of four priests taken to the diamond fields of Bloemfontein and in 1882 was made a Canon of
Bloemfontein Cathedral. He was in charge of St. Cyprian's, Kimberley, which would explain Cyprian's Christian name.
1881 census...Not found in this census, presumably still in South Africa. 1891 census... Aged 11, has was at The Vicarage, High Town, Burwell with his father, Neville BORTON [43] vicar of Burwell, born Wickhambrook; his mother Annie L. [34] born St, Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands; brother William N {8] born Orange Free State, South Africa. 1901 census...He was in South Africa. His parents were still at the Vicarage, Burwell. 1911 census...Not found in this census, he was very likely in India. His parents were still at the Vicarage, Burwell. Two of their four children had died |
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De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour" Vol.2 has:
"BORTON, CYPRIAN EDWARD, Major, Malay States Guides, elder s. of the Rev. Neville Borton, Vicar of Burwell, co. Cambridge, by his wife Annie Louisa, dau. of
the late Rev. Edward Heale, Incumbent of All Saint',Jersey; b. Barkly, Griqualand West, South Africa, 15th August 1879; educ. Felsted School, and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he was an undergraduate when the South African War broke out, and he obtained a University commission, being gazetted 2nd Liuet. Worcester Regt. 23 May 1900: promoted Lieut. 3 Aug.1901; transferred to the Indian Army 15 May,1903; promoted Capt. 23 May, 1909; Served in the South African War 1900-1 (Queen's medal with three clasps); proceeded to India inMarch 1902, when for a time he was attached to the Suffolk Regt., being subsequently appointed to the 129th D.C.O. Baluchis, with which regiment he served at Karachi, Hong Kong and Ferozepore; was then appointed for three years to the Malay States Guides, with the local rank of Major; was in command at Penang when the Emden visited that place in October 1914; went to Aden early in 1915, and was killed in action at Imad, near there, 2 Aug.1917. Buried at Sheikh Othman. While at Cambridge he was an ardent oarsman and a keen sportsman in India and South China, sending home many heads and skins from both places. Lieut-Col. C.W.B. Lees wrote: "He was one of the finest soldiers that I have ever met, with a fund of energy that I never got to the end of, and he was just my right hand as regards this regiment; to me he is irreplaceable". unm. He sailed from Liverpool to Karachi on 24th December 1912 as an Army officer on the SS "City of Birmingham", which could have been returning from home leave. The Allies launched an attack on 28 July 1917 to seize the town of Elvaht, which is 10 km north of Seyh Osman. Seyh Osman covers the approach to the neck of land that connects Aden to the mainland. The fighting lasted through 29 July. Imad is about seven km NE of Seyh Osman and protects Seyh Osman from that direction. it is unclear who had control of Imad during this time period. By 7 August it was probably controlled by the Allies, as they launched an attack on Elmechale on that date. Elmehale is a few kms north of Imad. No action is described in the records found around Imad during this period. Nor do the records found give any details on the Allied forces in the area. It is likely Major Borton was killed during a small skirmish during a patrol or raid.   the family monument in Burwell Churchyard photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission originally in grave A:17 Sheikh Othman Cemetery. also commemorated on the Ipoh War Memorial, Malaysia and his family monument in St Mary's Churchyard, Burwell click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
