Memorial details

Memorial type
Pillar / Column
District
City Of Westminster
Town
Charing Cross
County
Greater London
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 16 July 1923
    Attended by: HRH Prince of Wales KG
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
11560

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Current location

River Wall
Victoria Embankment
Charing Cross
City Of Westminster
Greater London
SW1A 2EX
England

OS Grid Ref: TQ 30369 80012
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
A stone column surmounted by a large globe on which stands a gilt eagle facing towards the Thames, wings upstretched.
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF ALL RANKS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE, ROYAL FLYING CORPS, ROYAL AIR FORCE AND THOSE AIR FORCES FROM EVERY PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WINNING VICTORY FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY 1914-18. I BARE YOU ON EAGLES WINGS AND BROUGHT YOU UNTO MYSELF IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE/ MEN AND WOMEN/ AIR FORCES OF EVERY PART OF/ THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ 1939 - 1945
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Column
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • Figure
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Gilt
Listing information
  • The Royal Air Force Memorial, Whitehall Stairs
  • Grade II*
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
2011: refurbished 1946: WW2 inscriptions added.
Trust fund/Scholarship
Yes
Purpose: The Royal Air Force Memorial Fund was established in October 1919 to commemorate the work of the Flying Services during WW1 by creating an organization which would be of lasting benefit to personnel of the RAF, the WRAF and their dependants.
Sponsorship
Public
Reference
  • LONDON'S OPEN AIR STATUARY by GLEICHEN Page 102 Published:LONGMAN'S, GREEN & CO 1928 LONDON
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • STAND TO! pp53-56/ September 2012 Published:WESTERN FRONT ASSOCIATION 'Remembering the Great War on the Victoria Embankment, London'
  • Royal Air Force News 25 March 2011 page 7 Memorial refurbished at cost of £70,000 financed by the RAF Benevolent Fund
  • Local Publication/Booklet Programme of RAF Display, Hendon, 3 July 1926 page 49. Full page advertisement for the Royal Air Force Memorial Fund
  • LONDON STATUES: A GUIDE TO LONDONS OUTDOOR STATUES AND SCULPTURE by BYRON, A page 363 Published:CONSTABLE 1981 LONDON
  • AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN: BRITISH FIRST WORLD WAR MEMORIALS by BOORMAN, DEREK PP 36-37 Published:SESSIONS 1988 YORK

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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© WMR-11560

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