Arras Flying Services Memorial, Arras
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The Arras Flying Services Memorial commemorates 990 British casualties who died on active service on the Western Front in France and in Belgium and who have no known grave. This memorial commemorates those who served with the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force.
The air services for the British military were originally founded using tethered balloons for observation of the enemy positions. In 1911 the Royal Engineers established an Air Battalion using the new flying machines with engines. The Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C.) was soon formed in 1912 with an army branch and a naval branch. One month before the outbreak of the First World War the Royal Naval Air Service (R.N.A.S.) was formed as the official arm of air power for the Royal Navy. On 1st April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were combined into the newly formed Royal Air Force (R.A.F.).
Design of the Air Services Memorial at the Arras Memorial
Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the Arras Memorial to the Missing. Sculpture was by Sir William Reid Dick. The Flying Services Memorial (designated “Air Services Memorial” on the plan) is situated just inside the entrance.
Unveiling Ceremony
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On 31st July, 1932, Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force unveiled the Arras Memorial and the Flying Services Memorial. The date for its unveiling had been scheduled for a date in mid May 1932. Unfortunately, the French President J A Paul Doumer was shot by an assassin in Paris on 6th May and he died the following day. As a mark of respect the ceremony was postponed for two months.
Search for Names on the Arras Flying Services Memorial
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Search the “Debt of Honour” Register held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for names inscribed on the Arras Memorial. Go to this link and look in the Cemetery Records button at:
CWGC Cemetery Record Search: Arras Flying Services Memorial
Arras Memorial Location
The memorial is located in the Faubourg d'Amiens British military cemetery. It is in the west side of the city on the western stretch of the inner ring road Boulevard du General de Gaulle. It is also located close to the Citadel fort which is a military barracks.
Access
The memorial is accessible to the public daily and is open at all hours.
Related Topics
French Flanders and Artois Battlefields of WW1, France
Memorials in French Flanders and Artois
Cemeteries in French Flanders and Artois
Battles of the Western Front 1914-1918
Further Reading
Battleground Europe: Airfields & Airmen, Arras
For more about this book in the Battleground Europe guidebook series see Naval & Military Press at:
Battleground Europe: Airfields & Airmen, Arras by Mike O'Connor
Acknowledgements
(CWGC) Diagram of the Arras Flying Services Memorial courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.