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The Royal Air Force Memorial is a military
Around the top of the pylon, each face bears alternately the words and , from the motto of the RAF, "''Per ardua ad astra''", this was initially the Royal Flying Corps motto when created in 1912. On the west side of the pylon facing the Embankment, the words "''Per Ardua''" are picked out in gold, and lower down there is the RAF insignia, and a dedication: , and a quotation from Exodus, chapter 19: . Further down, on the base, is another inscription . The side facing the river bears the RAF insignia again and the inscription: . Thus, the monument was not initially created purely for the RAF, but for all 'Air Services' that served during World War One.
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF)
Royal Air Force Memorial by Philip Ward-Jackson
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund *
Imperial War Museums
London Remembers
{{coord, 51, 30, 14.35, N, 0, 7, 23.25, W, type:landmark, display=title 1923 establishments in England 1923 sculptures Sculptures of birds in the United Kingdom British military memorials and cemeteries Buildings and structures completed in 1923 Grade II* listed statues in the City of Westminster Grade II* listed monuments and memorials World War II memorials in London Outdoor sculptures in London Reginald Blomfield buildings Royal Air Force memorials Stone sculptures in the United Kingdom Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster World War I memorials in London Victoria Embankment Animal sculptures in London Eagles in art
memorial
A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...
on the Victoria Embankment in central London, dedicated to the memory of the casualties of the Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
in World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
(and, by extension, all subsequent conflicts). Unveiled in 1923, it became a Grade II listed structure in 1958, and was upgraded to Grade II* in 2018. It is considered to be the official memorial of the RAF and related services.
It is sited at Whitehall Steps, near Cleopatra's Needle, between the north-bank ends of Charing Cross Bridge and Westminster Bridge, and directly to the east of the main Ministry of Defence
A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...
building on Whitehall
Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It ...
. The Fleet Air Arm Memorial and the Battle of Britain Monument are nearby.
Background
A committee to erect an RAF memorial was first established in February 1919, and relaunched in January 1920, led by Lord Hugh Cecil and Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard. Funds to erect a memorial were raised by the RAF Memorial Fund subsequently known as the RAF Benevolent Fund. The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The memorial was unveiled on 16 July 1923 by the Prince of Wales (laterEdward VIII
Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India, from 20 January ...
). The Chief of the Air Staff traditionally places a wreath at the memorial on Battle of Britain Day, 15 September, each year.
Description
The memorial comprises a tapering Portland stone pylon topped by zodiacal globe bearing a gilded eagle, taken from the RAF's badge, with raised wings, facing east towards the River Thames and nominally towards France. The eagle was sculpted by William Reid Dick and cast by the Parlanti Foundry. Blomfield used similar pylons for Torquay War Memorial and Luton War Memorial, topped by different devices. The pylon bears inscriptions on the sides facing the Embankment to the west and to the river to the east. Further inscriptions were added after the Second World War, unveiled by Trenchard on 15 September 1946.Inscriptions
Around the top of the pylon, each face bears alternately the words and , from the motto of the RAF, "''Per ardua ad astra''", this was initially the Royal Flying Corps motto when created in 1912. On the west side of the pylon facing the Embankment, the words "''Per Ardua''" are picked out in gold, and lower down there is the RAF insignia, and a dedication: , and a quotation from Exodus, chapter 19: . Further down, on the base, is another inscription . The side facing the river bears the RAF insignia again and the inscription: . Thus, the monument was not initially created purely for the RAF, but for all 'Air Services' that served during World War One.
See also
* Grade II* listed war memorials in EnglandOther Royal Air Force Memorials
* Royal Air Force Memorial,Albany, Georgia
Albany ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Located on the Flint River, it is the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, Dougherty County, and is the sole incorporated city in that county. Located in Southwest Geo ...
* South African Air Force Memorial, Swartkop, Tshwane
Other RAF memorials
* Air Forces Memorial *RAF Bomber Command Memorial
The Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial is a memorial in Green Park, London, commemorating the crews of RAF Bomber Command who embarked on missions during the World War II, Second World War. The memorial, on the south side of Piccadilly, fac ...
References
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF)
Royal Air Force Memorial by Philip Ward-Jackson
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund *
Imperial War Museums
London Remembers
{{coord, 51, 30, 14.35, N, 0, 7, 23.25, W, type:landmark, display=title 1923 establishments in England 1923 sculptures Sculptures of birds in the United Kingdom British military memorials and cemeteries Buildings and structures completed in 1923 Grade II* listed statues in the City of Westminster Grade II* listed monuments and memorials World War II memorials in London Outdoor sculptures in London Reginald Blomfield buildings Royal Air Force memorials Stone sculptures in the United Kingdom Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster World War I memorials in London Victoria Embankment Animal sculptures in London Eagles in art