ton ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Lyon , ▁France ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁October ▁ 1 8 9 3 . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁military ▁service ▁ ▁W adding ton ▁joined ▁the ▁ 1 4 1 e ▁Regiment ▁d ' In fan ter ie ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁December ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁as ▁a ▁Sold at ▁de ▁ 2 e ▁classe . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Corpor al ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 5 ; ▁exactly ▁a ▁month ▁later , ▁he ▁was ▁forward ed ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 e ▁Gr oupe ▁d ' A viation . ▁On ▁ 2 7 ▁September , ▁he ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁Esc adr ille ▁ 6 7 . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Serge ant ▁while ▁with ▁this ▁unit , ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 1 6 . ▁ ▁W adding ton ▁reported ▁for ▁pilot ' s ▁training ▁at ▁Buc ▁on ▁ 3 ▁September ▁ 1 9 1 6 . ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁Military ▁Pil ot ' s ▁Bre vet ▁No . ▁ 5 2 5 4 ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁January ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁and ▁forward ed ▁for ▁advanced ▁training ▁at ▁Av ord , ▁and ▁then ▁P au . ▁He ▁was ▁then ▁posted ▁as ▁a ▁pilot ▁with ▁Esc adr ille ▁N 1 2 ▁( the ▁" N " ▁den oting ▁the ▁unit ' s ▁use ▁of ▁N ieu ports ) ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁March ▁ 1 9 1 7 . ▁He ▁te amed ▁with ▁Alfred ▁Aug er