The Arras Flying Services Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

war memorial in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery,

Arras Arras ( , ; pcd, Aro; historical nl, Atrecht ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department, which forms part of the regions of France, region of Hauts-de-France; before the regions of France#Reform and mergers of ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The memorial commemorates nearly 1,000 airmen from forces of the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

who were killed on the Western Front during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by

Edwin Lutyens Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memori ...

, sculpted by

William Reid Dick Sir William Reid Dick, (13 January 1878 – 1 October 1961) was a Scottish sculptor known for his innovative stylisation of form in his monument sculptures and simplicity in his portraits. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1921, a ...

and unveiled by

Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, (3 February 1873 – 10 February 1956) was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Father of the ...

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Marshal of the Royal Air Force (MRAF) is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force (RAF). In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff (CAS), who were ...

on 31 July 1932.

Background

In the spring of 1916, French troops transferred the city of Arras in Pas-de-Calais, France, to the British armed forces. Construction of the British portion of Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in the western portion of Arras, near the Citadel designed by Vauban, began in March 1916, behind the existing French graveyard. After the

Armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the La ...

, the cemetery was extended with graves that were transferred from the battlefield and from two smaller graveyards in the area. The graves in the French portion of the military cemetery were moved elsewhere after the war. The vacant land was then designated for two monuments, the

Arras Memorial The Arras Memorial is a World War I memorial in France, located in the Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, in the western part of the town of Arras. The memorial commemorates 35,942 soldiers of the forces of the United Kingdom, South Africa and ...

and the Arras Flying Services Memorial. The Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery comprises 2,650 graves of the First World War, including 10 unidentified burials. In addition to 8 WWII burials from the United Kingdom and United States, there are 30 graves of other nationalities. The Arras Memorial commemorates nearly 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

who died between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918 (the eve of the Advance to Victory) in the Arras region and who have no known grave. (Missing Canadian and Australian servicemen are commemorated elsewhere.) The Arras Flying Services Memorial commemorates nearly 1,000 members of the

Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps t ...

, the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

, and the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

who were killed on the Western Front and who have no known grave.

Design

Architect

Sir Edwin Lutyens Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memoria ...

(1869–1944), of the

Imperial War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

, designed the layout of the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery. He also designed the Arras Memorial and the Arras Flying Services Memorial. The cemetery was planned and constructed before the two monuments were designed. As a result, the paths of the cemetery do not align with the Arras Memorial. The Flying Services Memorial is adjacent to the Arras Memorial. It is an

obelisk An obelisk (; from grc, ὀβελίσκος ; diminutive of ''obelos'', " spit, nail, pointed pillar") is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape or pyramidion at the top. Originally constructed by Anc ...

with a

globe A globe is a spherical model of Earth, of some other celestial body, or of the celestial sphere. Globes serve purposes similar to maps, but unlike maps, they do not distort the surface that they portray except to scale it down. A model globe ...

which forms a

finial A finial (from '' la, finis'', end) or hip-knob is an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be a decorative feature. In architecture, it is a small decorative device, employed to emphasize the Apex (geometry), apex of a d ...

on the top. The four sides of the obelisk are inscribed with the names of 990 airmen who were killed on the Western Front and have no known grave. Renowned Scottish sculptor

Sir William Reid Dick Sir William Reid Dick, (13 January 1878 – 1 October 1961) was a Scottish sculptor known for his innovative stylisation of form in his monument sculptures and simplicity in his portraits. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1921, a ...

(1879–1961) sculpted the globe with stars on top of the Arras Flying Services Memorial, as well as the badges on the monument. The globe measures four-foot six inches in diameter, weighing almost three tons. At the 1932 unveiling ceremony, it was revealed that the position of the globe on the obelisk parallels that of the Earth on the morning of the Armistice, 11 November 1918. The badges created by the Scottish sculptor are of the

, the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

, and the

, as well as the combined badges of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Unveiling ceremony

Lord Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, (3 February 1873 – 10 February 1956) was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Father of the ...

performed the unveiling of the Arras Flying Services Memorial and the Arras Memorial on 31 July 1932. The unveiling had initially been scheduled for 15 May 1932; however, due to the assassination of French President

Paul Doumer Joseph Athanase Doumer, commonly known as Paul Doumer (; 22 March 18577 May 1932), was the President of France from 13 June 1931 until his assassination on 7 May 1932. Biography Joseph Athanase Doumer was born in Aurillac, in the Cantal ''dépa ...

in early May, the ceremony had been postponed. During the first ceremony of the day, Lord Trenchard, accompanied by Lady Trenchard and their eleven-year-old son Hugh Trenchard, was received by the mayor and town council and placed a wreath on the local war memorial. The second ceremony took place in the

apse In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. In ...

of the

cloister A cloister (from Latin ''claustrum'', "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against a ...

of the Arras Memorial, close to the obelisk. Royal Air Force bands played ''

O God, Our Help in Ages Past "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past" is a hymn by Isaac Watts in 1708 that paraphrases the 90th Psalm of the Book of Psalms. It originally consisted of nine stanzas; however, in present usage the fourth, sixth, and eighth stanzas are commonly omit ...

''. After prayers led by the chaplain, Major General Sir

Fabian Ware Major-General Sir Fabian Arthur Goulstone Ware (17 June 186928 April 1949) was a British educator, journalist, and the founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC), now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). He also served as D ...

, founder of the

, addressed Lord Trenchard and invited him to unveil the memorial. Trenchard gave a speech, and then proceeded with the unveiling. The chaplain dedicated the memorials and a hymn was sung. Five aeroplanes flew in a wide arc around the cemetery, and then in V formation shot over the monuments. After the benediction and prayers by Monseigneur Henri-Édouard Dutoit, Bishop of Arras, buglers of the 1st Battalion of the

Durham Light Infantry The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...

sounded ''

Last Post The "Last Post" is either an A or a B♭ bugle call, primarily within British infantry and Australian infantry regiments, or a D or an E♭ cavalry trumpet call in British cavalry and Royal Regiment of Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and R ...

''. Subsequently, pipers of the 1st Battalion of the

Seaforth Highlanders The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, mainly associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The regiment existed from 1881 to 1961, and saw servic ...

played '' The Flowers of the Forest'', followed by the buglers again with ''

Reveille "Reveille" ( , ), called in French "Le Réveil" is a bugle call, trumpet call, drum, fife-and-drum or pipes call most often associated with the military; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise. The name comes from (or ), th ...

''. After the national anthems of France and Britain, there was a procession of those bearing floral tributes, and the ceremony concluded.

Notable airmen commemorated on the memorial

Pilots represented on the Flying Services Memorial include: * Douglas John Bell – No. 3rd Squadron RAF, died on 27 May 1918. He was awarded the

Military Cross and Bar The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC ...

. * Francis Cubbon – No.20 Squadron RFC, died on 9 June 1917. He was credited with 21 aerial victories, and was awarded the

. *

Louis Fleeming Jenkin Captain Louis Fleeming Jenkin, Military Cross & Bar, (22 August 1895 – 11 September 1917) was a First World War flying ace credited with 22 victories. Early life and service Jenkin was born in London, England, on 22 August 1895 to Austin Fleem ...

– No, 1 Squadron RFC, died on 11 September 1917. He was credited with 22 aerial victories, and was awarded the

. * Harry George Ernest Luchford – No. 20 Squadron RFC died on 2 December 1917. He was credited with 24 aerial victories, and was awarded the

. *

Mick Mannock Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock (24 May 1887 – 26 July 1918) was a British flying ace in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Mannock was a pioneer of fighter aircraft tactics in aerial warfare. At the time ...

– , No.85 Squadron RAF, died on 26 July 1918. He was awarded the

, the Distinguished Service Order and Two Bars, and the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

. *

Arthur Rhys-Davids Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids, (26 September 1897 – 27 October 1917) was a British flying ace of the First World War. Rhys-Davids was born in 1897 to a distinguished family. His father was a professional academic and his mother a prolifi ...

– 56 Squadron RFC, died on 27 October 1917.

and the

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...

. * Frederick Thayre – 20 Squadron RFC, died on 9 June 1917.

. *

Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson Captain Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson (30 August 1890 – 27 September 1918) was a British World War I two-seater fighter ace who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with thirty aerial victories (18 destroyed, 1 ...

–

No. 22 Squadron RAF Number 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is an operational testing and evaluation squadron for all the Joint Helicopter Command helicopter types including Chinook, Puma HC2, Merlin HC4, Apache and Wildcat AH1. Formerly the Rotary Wing Op ...

, died 27 September 1918. Awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

and the Distinguished Flying Cross. * Frederick Carr Armstrong * Carleton Main Clement *

Valentine Collins Lieutenant Valentine St. Barbe Collins (2 January 1894 – 2 September 1918) was a World War I British flying ace credited with ten aerial victories who served with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force. Background Valentine St. Barb ...

* Pruett Dennett * Gordon Budd Irving * Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne * John Joseph Malone * Alfred Edwin McKay * Maurice Mealing *

Guy Borthwick Moore Captain Guy Borthwick Moore (1895-1918) was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. Biography Moore lived in Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia from 1913 to 1916, gaining a BA. He was an oarsm ...

Guy William Price Flight Commander Guy William Price (6 July 1895 – 18 February 1918) was an Irish Royal Naval Air Service flying ace during World War I, having 12 confirmed aerial victories. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice within a 22-day ...

* Ellis Vair Reid * Alfred Shepherd * Noel Webb * John George Will - Scotland

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

international.

References

External links

* {{World War I War Memorials in France Cenotaphs Works of Edwin Lutyens in France War memorials by Edwin Lutyens British military memorials and cemeteries Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorials World War I memorials in France Monuments and memorials in the Pas-de-Calais Buildings and structures completed in 1932