Northumbrian Gunner: London - Royal Air Force Memorials

Tuesday, 18 February 2020

London - Royal Air Force Memorials

The Royal Airforce Memorial is located on the Victoria Embankment over looking the Thames.

Royal Air Force Memorial

Victoria Embankment

It was unveiled on 16th July 1923 to commemorate those who lost their lives whilst serving with the Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps, and the new force that amalgamated them together in April 1918, the Royal Air Force.

The memorial bears the Royal Air Force motto 'PER ARDUA AD ASTRA' 'Through Endeavour to the Stars'

An inscription reads;

IN MEMORY OF ALL RANKS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE ROYAL FLYING CORPS ROYAL AIR FORCE AND THOSE AIR FORCES FROM EVERY PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WINNING VICTORY FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY 1914–1918",

and includes a quotation from the Bible (Exodus 19)

I BARE YOU ON EAGLES WINGS AND BROUGHT YOU UNTO MYSELF

Royal Air Force Memorial

Victoria Embankment

The memorial subsequently remembered those lost during the Second World War.

THIS INSCRIPTION IS ADDED IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AIR FORCES OF EVERY PART OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES 1939–1945.

________________________________________

Near by the RAF Memorial is the Battle of Britain Memorial which commemorates and lists the 2,936 pilots from the allied air forces that flew during the Battle of Britain in 1940.