Runnymede Air Forces Memorial

Details

Location Coopers Hill Lane, Englefield Green, near Egham, Runnymede, Surrey, United Kingdom
Type memorial
Description

The memorial is on Coopers Hill Lane, Englefield Green, near Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom.

The Air Forces Memorial, or Runnymede Memorial, is a memorial dedicated to some 20,456 men and women from air forces of the British Empire who were lost in air and other operations during World War II.
Those recorded have no known grave anywhere in the world, and many were lost without trace.
The name of each of these airmen and airwomen is engraved into the stone walls of the memorial, according to country and squadron.

15462 Royal Air Force
3050 Royal Canadian Air Force
1397 Royal Australian Air Force
576 Royal New Zealand Air Force
17 South African Air Force
10 Women’s Auxillary Air Force
9 Ferry Command
8 Air Transport Auxillary
7 Royal Indian Air Force
7 British Overseas Airways Corporation
4 Air Training Corps

The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton, and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott.
It was the first post-World War II building to be listed for architectural merit.
The building was completed in 1953.

The roof of the memorial looks over the River Thames and Runnymede Meadow, where the Magna Carta was sealed by King John in 1215.
Most of north, west, and central London can be seen to the right from the viewpoint; such monuments as the London Eye and the arch of Wembley Stadium are visible on clear days. Windsor Castle and the surrounding area can be seen to the left.

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Built The land for this memorial was donated by Sir Eugena and Lady Effie Millington-Drake in 1949.
Opened 17 October 1953 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Inscription

THEIR NAME LIVETH
FOR EVERMORE

IN THIS CLOISTER
ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF
TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN
WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE

THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM
IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER
THE BRITISH ISLES AND
THE LANDS AND SEAS OF
NORTHERN AND WESTERN
EUROPE

Condition

Good

Names

Showing 8 people of interest from memorial

PEARCE, James Andrew

Service number 27195
Sergeant
No. 10 Squadron (RAF)
Royal Air Force
Born 29 Aug 1917

CLARKE, Arthur Henry

Service number 423651
Pilot Officer
No. 207 Squadron (RAF)
Royal Air Force
Born 3 Mar 1913

BURTON, Ronald Garnet

Service number N74399
Sergeant
No. 50 Squadron (RAF)
Royal Air Force
Born 31 Oct 1919

PETTIFORD, Frederick John

Service number N34691
Flying Officer
No. 460 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 5 Aug 1917

LYONS, Kenneth Marcus Denbigh

Service number 404752
Flight Lieutenant
Born 28 Dec 1911

PARRY, Ernest Arthur

Service number 436658
Flight Sergeant
No. 460 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 6 Jan 1925

PHILLIPS, Frank Gale

Service number 412338
Flight Sergeant
No. 460 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 26 Apr 1911

MORGAN, Lancelot Eric

Service number C10005
Flying Officer
No. 408 Squadron (RCAF)
Royal Canadian Air Force (WW2)
Born 13 Jul 1907