Dedication
"In memory of those members of the British Air Services and air forces from every part of the British Empire who served on the Western Front during the First World War 1914-1918"
History Panel
"The first Royal Flying Corps aircraft and personnel arrived at St Omer in October 1914. For the remainder of the war, the site was a major airfield and repair depot as well as the location for several important headquarters, including Headquarters Royal Flying Corps under the command of Major-General Hugh Trenchard. Several flying squadrons were first formed here, including Nos 9 and 16 Squadrons, while more than 50 other squadrons operated from the airfield at one time or another. At the formation of the Royal Air Force, on 1 April 1918, over 4,000 personnel were based at St Omer out of nearly 50,000 officers and airmen serving in France and Belgium. More than 8,000 casualties were suffered on the Western Front by the Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force and air forces from the British Empire, including Major Mick Mannock VC, who was shot down on 26 July 1918 while on offensive patrol from this airfield. He has no known grave and is commemorated together with more than 1,000 missing airmen on the memorial at Arras."
Questions relating to the appeal can be emailed to Air Commodore
Peter Dye:
dye@5llantwit.freeserve.co.uk
We are currently aiming to raise some 30,000GBP to cover design and construction, as well as long term maintenance, and
have already received a generous donation of 1,000GBP from the RAF Historical Society to start the appeal.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the construction and long term maintenance of the memorial is kindly asked to forward donations to:
Gordon Atkin
'St Omer Appeal'
12 Springwater Avenue
Ramsbottom
Bury
BLO 9RH
Tel: 01204 883442
Email: treasurer@crossandcockade.com
Cheques and postal orders and should be made payable to 'Cross & Cockade St Omer Appeal
Fund'.
Please contact Gordon to arrange payments by credit card.
