Runnymede Memorial, England
From Our Contribution
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| Monument Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Air Forces Memorial (Runnymede Memorial) |
| Location | near Egham, Surrey, England |
| Dedication Date | 1953 |
History
This 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.
Setting
The roof of the memorial looks over the River Thames and Runnymede Meadow, where 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.
Description
The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts.
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.
Locals named on Memorial
- † Greer Winton Ottaway No. 460 Squadron RAAF - KIA 19 Mar 1941
- † Claude Dominic Hemy No 51 Squadron RAF - KIA 3 Aug 1942
- † Leslie John (Jock) Powell DFC No. 15 Squadron RAF - KIA 16 Dec 1943
- † Vernon Harold Minchin No. 50 Squadron RAF - Kia 29 Oct 1944