Centenary of the Royal Australian Airforce

HM The Queen chose Surrey – and the CWGC Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in Egham – for her first official visit of 2021. She was there on 31st March to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force and, after watching a spectacular Red Arrows flypast, there were formal presentations, a short service and wreath laying. The Queen then viewed the Australian wall of remembrance and signed a commemorative document. The Runnymede Memorial, overlooking the River Thames, commemorates by name the 20,456 men and women of the air forces from all parts of the Commonwealth, who were lost in the Second World War and have no known graves. It was on 17th October 1953 that – as our newly crowned Monarch – Her Majesty first visited Runnymede to unveil this poignant landmark.     

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