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Warning
VERY likely to include history, but we are a Museum so
WarningVERY likely to include history, but we are a Museum so
This is the @CWGC Air Forces Memorial on top of Cooperâs Hill. It overlooks Runnymede (you know, where King John was forced to seal Magna Carta)
It was designed by the Commisisonâs Architect, Sir Edward Maufe, and unveiled by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953
It was designed by the Commisisonâs Architect, Sir Edward Maufe, and unveiled by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953
The memorial commemorates over 20,000 servicemen and women connected to the Air Force who lost their lives during the Second World War
The men and women who are remembered here have no known grave.
This is a memorial to them and the sacrifices they made during the conflict
This is a memorial to them and the sacrifices they made during the conflict
As Maufe wrote:
âIt is very fitting that those who rest in nameless graves should be remembered in this placeâ
âIt is very fitting that those who rest in nameless graves should be remembered in this placeâ
He continued:
âFor it was in these fields seven centuries ago that our forefathers first planted a seed of liberty which helped to spread across the earth the conviction that man should be free and not enslavedâ
âFor it was in these fields seven centuries ago that our forefathers first planted a seed of liberty which helped to spread across the earth the conviction that man should be free and not enslavedâ
The design of the memorial consists of a central shrine surrounded by a cloister.
The memorial is made of Portland Stone and covered by roofs of Westmorland green slate.
The memorial is made of Portland Stone and covered by roofs of Westmorland green slate.
The central tower was designed to be reminiscent of the control towers that air crew wouldâve been greeted by as they returned to base
The three stone figures above the recessed entrance represent Justice, Victory, and Courage
A stone of remembrance lies at centre of the quad
The three stone figures above the recessed entrance represent Justice, Victory, and Courage
A stone of remembrance lies at centre of the quad
The cloisters record the names of the fallen, grouped first by years and then by Air Forces, before adopting an alphabetical system
The appropriate arms of the Commonwealth conuntries are painted on the ceiling, reflecting the country to which the servicemen belonged
The appropriate arms of the Commonwealth conuntries are painted on the ceiling, reflecting the country to which the servicemen belonged
The names of the fallen are carved into stone âbooksâ.
Each surface representative of an open-page in a book and separated by slit windows, offering views of the surrounding vistas and space for contemplation and reflection.
Each surface representative of an open-page in a book and separated by slit windows, offering views of the surrounding vistas and space for contemplation and reflection.
There are 14 women commemorated on the memorial.
1 of these 14 is Firsr Officer Amy Johnston, famed in the 1930s for setting many flying records.
During the war, she served with the Air Transport Auxillary and died in 1941 when her plane crashed into the Thames Estuary
1 of these 14 is Firsr Officer Amy Johnston, famed in the 1930s for setting many flying records.
During the war, she served with the Air Transport Auxillary and died in 1941 when her plane crashed into the Thames Estuary
The shrine or memorial chapel sits within the central tower and is dominated by the Great North Window.
The window offers the perfect space for rest and contemplation, overlooking Runnymede below.
Engraved in the glass of the window is 139th Psalm
The window offers the perfect space for rest and contemplation, overlooking Runnymede below.
Engraved in the glass of the window is 139th Psalm
The Psalm reads:
The tower can be climbed via two circular stone stairs.
From the top stunning views of seven counties can be accessed from this vantage point.
From the top stunning views of seven counties can be accessed from this vantage point.
On the central window, overlooking the River, a poem by Paul H Scott is engraved.
It includes the following lines:
Here now they stand, contrasted and alike,
The field of freedomâs birth, and the memorial
To freedomâs winning.
It includes the following lines:
Here now they stand, contrasted and alike,
The field of freedomâs birth, and the memorial
To freedomâs winning.
We know that a âTwitter Tourâ canât do this memorial justice, and theres no replacemt for experiencing it first hand.
If youâre ever in the area or passing through we recommend popping by and having a look for yourself
If youâre ever in the area or passing through we recommend popping by and having a look for yourself
