A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event . Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as homes or other sites, or works of art such as sculptures , statues , fountains or parks . Larger memorials may be known as monuments .
12-664: The Royal Air Force Memorial is a military memorial on the Victoria Embankment in central London, dedicated to the memory of the casualties of the Royal Air Force in World War I (and, by extension, all subsequent conflicts). Unveiled in 1923, it became a Grade II listed structure in 1958, and was upgraded to Grade II* in 2018. It is considered to be the official memorial of the RAF and related services. It
24-627: A fatal accident. These roadside memorial crosses should not be confused with wayside crosses , which are erected in the Bavarian region on the edge of paths and tracks, and are there simply to give walkers the opportunity to say a short prayer . In the US, makeshift crosses are often placed at the scenes of car accidents where someone died, or at the scene of a death due to violence. White crosses are frequently seen along interstate highways and other roads. Friends, family, or other visitors may decorate
36-595: A gilded eagle, taken from the RAF's badge, with raised wings, facing east towards the River Thames and nominally towards France. The eagle was sculpted by William Reid Dick and cast by the Parlanti Foundry . Blomfield used similar pylons for Torquay War Memorial and Luton War Memorial , topped by different devices. The pylon bears inscriptions on the sides facing the Embankment to the west and to
48-530: A memorial gift (usually money) be given to a designated charity, or that a tree be planted in memory of the person. Those temporary or makeshift memorials are also called grassroots memorials. Sometimes, when a student has died, the memorials are placed in the form of a scholarship, to be awarded to high-achieving students in future years. Memorials to persons or events of major significance may be designated as national memorials . Intending cross A memorial cross (sometimes called an intending cross )
60-762: A memorial were raised by the RAF Memorial Fund subsequently known as the RAF Benevolent Fund . The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield . The memorial was unveiled on 16 July 1923 by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII ). The Chief of the Air Staff traditionally places a wreath at the memorial on Battle of Britain Day , 15 September, each year. The memorial comprises a tapering Portland stone pylon topped by zodiacal globe bearing
72-483: Is a cross -shaped memorial to commemorate a special event or an incident, typically where one or more people died. It may also be a simple form of headstone to commemorate the dead. In England , King Edward I had memorial crosses, the so-called Eleanor Crosses , erected in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile who died in November 1290. Three of the original twelve crosses have survived. In Germany today,
84-769: Is sited at Whitehall Steps, near Cleopatra's Needle , between the north-bank ends of Charing Cross Bridge and Westminster Bridge , and directly to the east of the main Ministry of Defence building on Whitehall . The Fleet Air Arm Memorial and the Battle of Britain Monument are nearby. A committee to erect an RAF memorial was first established in February 1919, and relaunched in January 1920, led by Lord Hugh Cecil and Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard . Funds to erect
96-419: Is the gravestone or the memorial plaque . Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars. Memorials in the form of a cross are called intending crosses . Online memorials are often created on websites and social media to allow digital access as an alternative to physical memorials which may not be feasible or easily accessible. When somebody has died, the family may request that
108-636: The base, is another inscription THIS INSCRIPTION IS ADDED/ IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE/ MEN AND WOMEN OF THE/ AIR FORCES OF EVERY PART OF/ THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ 1939–1945 . The side facing the river bears the RAF insignia again and the inscription: 1914/ 1918/ IN/ PERPETUAL/ MEMORY/ 1939–1945 . Thus, the monument was not initially created purely for the RAF, but for all 'Air Services' that served during World War One. 51°30′14.35″N 0°7′23.25″W / 51.5039861°N 0.1231250°W / 51.5039861; -0.1231250 Memorial The most common type of memorial
120-497: The custom has arisen of erecting crosses ( Unfallkreuze or "accident crosses") as roadside memorials at the spot where someone has been killed. These are maintained for shorter or longer periods of time and decorated e.g. with flowers or candles. In South Germany , especially in Bavaria , memorial crosses exist for those who died several generations ago. Some of these crosses are at very remote places. These, too, usually commemorate
132-535: The river to the east. Further inscriptions were added after the Second World War, unveiled by Trenchard on 15 September 1946. Around the top of the pylon, each face bears alternately the words PER ARDUA and AD ASTRA , from the motto of the RAF, " Per ardua ad astra ", this was initially the Royal Flying Corps motto when created in 1912. On the west side of the pylon facing the Embankment,
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#1732773257135144-473: The words " Per Ardua " are picked out in gold, and lower down there is the RAF insignia, and a dedication: 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/ 1914–1918" , and a quotation from Exodus, chapter 19 : I BARE YOU ON EAGLES/ WINGS AND BROUGHT/ YOU UNTO/ MYSELF . Further down, on
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