Edward Leonard Ellington
Encyclopedia
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir Edward Leonard Ellington GCB
, CMG
, CBE
(30 December 1877 – 13 June 1967) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1933 to 1937, then as Inspector General of the RAF until his retirement in 1940.
on 1 September 1897. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 September 1900 and Captain on 27 April 1904. He learned to fly in 1912 and was awarded Royal Aero Club
certificate No. 305 on 1 October 1912.
started, Ellington was under training at the Central Flying School
. A few months later, he was sent, not to a flying post but to be the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General at the headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force in France. In early 1915 he was granted a brevet
promotion to lieutenant-colonel and posted as the Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General of the 2nd Cavalry Division
.
From July 1915 onwards, Ellington served as a staff officer first with the 2nd Army, then with the Department of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and on the General Staff of the VIII Corps after that. In November 1917 he was made the Deputy Director-General of Military Aeronautics under John Salmond
at the War Office
. When Salmond's time as director came to an end, Ellington succeeded him as Director-General.
In April 1918 Ellington transferred to the Royal Air Force
on its creation, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general. However only days later he was promoted to major-general (again temporarily) and appointed Acting Controller-General of Equipment. He became substantive in the post in August 1918.
RAF Middle East from 1922 to 1923, Air Officer Commanding RAF India from 1923 to 1926 and Air Officer Commanding RAF Iraq
from 1926 to 1928. He became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Defence of Great Britain
in February 1929 and was promoted air marshal
in July that year. The Air Member for Personnel
from September 1931, he was promoted air chief marshal
on 1 January 1933.
In May 1933 Ellington was appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir John Salmond
, who was acting in the role following the sudden death of his brother Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond
, who had become CAS in April. Ellington was promoted marshal of the Royal Air Force
on 1 January 1937.
Following completion of his term as CAS in August 1937, Ellington became Inspector-General of the RAF
. It was in his capacity as Inspector-General that in 1938 Ellington visited Australia to investigate standards in the Royal Australian Air Force
. His report strongly criticized the RAAF's operational capability and safety standards. Following the publication of the report in July 1938, the Australian Government dismissed Air Vice Marshal Richard Williams from his post as RAAF Chief of the Air Staff. In July 1939 Ellington was augmented in his post as Inspector-General by Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett
, who would become the RAAF's Chief of the Air Staff in 1940.
Ellington retired shortly after the start of World War II
, on 4 April 1940, and died on 13 June 1967.
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
Sir Edward Leonard Ellington GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(30 December 1877 – 13 June 1967) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1933 to 1937, then as Inspector General of the RAF until his retirement in 1940.
Early career
After attending the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, Ellington was commissioned into the Royal Field ArtilleryRoyal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
on 1 September 1897. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 September 1900 and Captain on 27 April 1904. He learned to fly in 1912 and was awarded Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
certificate No. 305 on 1 October 1912.
World War I
When the First World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started, Ellington was under training at the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
. A few months later, he was sent, not to a flying post but to be the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General at the headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force in France. In early 1915 he was granted a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to lieutenant-colonel and posted as the Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General of the 2nd Cavalry Division
2nd Cavalry Division (United Kingdom)
The 2nd Cavalry Division was a regular British Army division that saw service in World War I. It also known as Gough's Command, after its commanding General and was part of the initial British Expeditionary Force which landed in France in September 1914....
.
From July 1915 onwards, Ellington served as a staff officer first with the 2nd Army, then with the Department of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and on the General Staff of the VIII Corps after that. In November 1917 he was made the Deputy Director-General of Military Aeronautics under John Salmond
John Salmond
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond, GCB, CMG, CVO, DSO and Bar was a British military officer who rose to high rank in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I...
at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
. When Salmond's time as director came to an end, Ellington succeeded him as Director-General.
In April 1918 Ellington transferred to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on its creation, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general. However only days later he was promoted to major-general (again temporarily) and appointed Acting Controller-General of Equipment. He became substantive in the post in August 1918.
Inter-war years
Ellington was Air Officer CommandingAir Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
RAF Middle East from 1922 to 1923, Air Officer Commanding RAF India from 1923 to 1926 and Air Officer Commanding RAF Iraq
RAF Iraq Command
Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq...
from 1926 to 1928. He became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Defence of Great Britain
Air Defence of Great Britain
The Air Defence of Great Britain was a RAF command comprising substantial Army and RAF elements responsible for the air defence of the British Isles...
in February 1929 and was promoted air marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
in July that year. The Air Member for Personnel
Air Member for Personnel
The Air Member for Personnel is the senior Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for personnel matters and is a member of the Air Force Board...
from September 1931, he was promoted air chief marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 January 1933.
In May 1933 Ellington was appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir John Salmond
John Salmond
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond, GCB, CMG, CVO, DSO and Bar was a British military officer who rose to high rank in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I...
, who was acting in the role following the sudden death of his brother Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond
Geoffrey Salmond
Air Chief Marshal Sir William Geoffrey Hanson Salmond KCB, KCMG, DSO , commonly known as Sir Geoffrey Salmond, was a senior commander in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. Remaining in the Royal Air Force after the War, he held senior appointments in the Middle East, Great Britain and India...
, who had become CAS in April. Ellington was promoted marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
on 1 January 1937.
Following completion of his term as CAS in August 1937, Ellington became Inspector-General of the RAF
Inspector-General of the RAF
The Inspector-General of the RAF was a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force, responsible for the inspection of airfields. The post existed from 1918 to 1920 and from 1935 until the late 1960s....
. It was in his capacity as Inspector-General that in 1938 Ellington visited Australia to investigate standards in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. His report strongly criticized the RAAF's operational capability and safety standards. Following the publication of the report in July 1938, the Australian Government dismissed Air Vice Marshal Richard Williams from his post as RAAF Chief of the Air Staff. In July 1939 Ellington was augmented in his post as Inspector-General by Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett
Charles Burnett (RAF officer)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Stuart Burnett KCB, CBE, DSO was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century. During the Second World War, he served as Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force.-Early life:Charles Burnett was born in Browns...
, who would become the RAAF's Chief of the Air Staff in 1940.
Ellington retired shortly after the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, on 4 April 1940, and died on 13 June 1967.
Honours and decorations
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath - 3 Jun 1935 (KCB - 5 Jun 1920, CB - 1 Jan 1919)
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George - 3 Jun 1916
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 3 Jun 1919
- Mentioned in Despatches - 19 Oct 1914, 9 Dec 1914), 1 Jan 1916, 11 Dec 1917
- Legion of Honour, Croix de Chevalier (France) - 3 Nov 1914
- Order of Saint Stanislaus (Imperial House of Romanov), 2nd Class (RussiaRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
) - 1 Jun 1917