He served with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War before transferring to the newly formed Royal Air Force in 1918, with which he served during the interwar period and into the Second World War.

Born in Marylebone,[1] Boyd was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

[3] Boyd was promoted temporary Captain, Indian Army, to date from the 1 September 1915 in the London Gazette of 28 July 1916.

[2] In 1938, as an air vice marshal, Boyd became commander-in-chief RAF Balloon Command.

On 1 December 1940, he was replaced by Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage at RAF Balloon Command.

There was some concern over his capture as Boyd had had access to "Ultra" intelligence and was aware of the advantage being gained from the breaking of some German codes.

[4] One history book refers to "the reported circumstance is a navigation error and consequent fuel shortage" in the flight that led to Boyd's capture.

[5] After destroying his confidential papers by setting his own aircraft on fire, Boyd became a prisoner of war (POW).

[6] When Italy capitulated in September 1943, Boyd and two British Army generals (Philip Neame and Richard O'Connor, both captured in North Africa in 1941), escaped with help from the Italian resistance movement while being transferred from Vincigliata.

After spending time in the Italian countryside and a failed rendezvous with a submarine, they arrived by boat at Termoli, then went on to Bari where they were welcomed as guests by General Sir Harold Alexander, commanding the Allied Armies fighting on the Italian Front, on 21 December 1943.