Runnymede Air Forces Memorial Back to Search

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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

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CLARKE, Arthur Henry

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

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DUPONT, Jacques

Service number 400114
Flying Officer
No. 461 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 15 Sep 1916

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TEMPLE, Gordon Yates

Service number 5364
Pilot Officer
No. 461 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 23 Mar 1919

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JOHNSTON, William Whitelaw

Service number 425322
Leading Aircraftman
No. 3 Wireless Air Gunnery School Maryborough
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 24 Mar 1917

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PHILLIPS, Frank Gale

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

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CANTWELL, Richard Power

Service number 424964
Warrant Officer
No. 582 Squadron (RAF)
Royal Air Force
Born 29 Apr 1924

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FORRESTER, Sidney Milton

Service number 416558
Aircraftman 2 (WW2)
Born 25 Mar 1921

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CARMICHAEL, Reginald

Service number 412391
Flight Lieutenant
Born 17 Apr 1918