NEWS

David Lloyd George
© IWM (Q 70208)

The role played by David Lloyd George in the creation of the Royal Air Force was celebrated at his birthplace in North Wales on 12 January.

The commemoration was held to mark the then Prime Minister’s decision to create the world’s first independent Air Force in 1918.

The Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier and other distinguished guests were among those at the event, held at the Lloyd George Museum in Llanystumdwy in Gwynedd.

The tribute came as part of the centenary celebrations of the RAF and to highlight the Welshman’s impact on world military history.

Mr Edmund Seymour Bailey, Lord-Lieutenant for Gwynedd and Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier salute during the flypast
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

The day included a flypast of RAF aircraft, exhibitions and displays, the unveiling of a model of a First World War aircraft and the presentation of a memorial book to explain David Lloyd George’s role in the creation of the RAF. The RAF Centenary Memorial Garden in the grounds of the museum was also opened.

Around 80 people attended, including Air Cadets from Number 1378 Mold Squadron, RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Service, the Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd, members of the Lloyd George family and the leader of Gwynedd County Council.

Lloyd George had been one of the first British politicians to take air power seriously. As early as 1909, he warned that Britain was in danger of being left behind by this new technology.

By 1917, he saw that air power could be a way to break the bloody stalemate on the Western Front and end the slaughter in the trenches.

When the First World War broke out, air power was in its infancy. The first powered flight in an aircraft had only taken place 11 years previously in 1903. But as the war continued into its third year, it became clear that the potential for this new power was not being used effectively.

By 1917, aircraft had grown from the flimsy, underpowered and lightly armed craft of 1914 to heavy bombers capable of carrying bomb loads of up to 1,000kg.

Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier and Mr Edmund Seymour Bailey, Lord-Lieutenant for Gwynedd open the RAF Centenary Memorial Garden at the Lloyd George Museum
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

There was clamour for action too after fighters failed to stop German aircraft bombing London and causing heavy casualties. These raids brought the terror of war to people at home, far away from the Western Front.

Although Zeppelin airships had carried out raids on Britain earlier on the war, they were small beer compared to the attacks by the Gotha bombers.

Through the summer of 1917, the German planes launched further raids on London killing hundreds. There was dismay at how the air defences and fighters of the RFC and RNAS seemed unable to stop the attacks.

Around 1,000 British civilians died as a result of air raids in the First World War and they had a great psychological effect too.

Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, and Mr Edmund Seymour Bailey, Lord-Lieutenant for Gwynedd at the RAF Centenary Memorial Garden, Lloyd George Museum
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

During one attack 100,000 rushed to take shelter in the London underground, and on following nights, hundreds of thousands more did the same whether or not there was a raid.

And so the clamour for action grew. As Lloyd George later recalled in his war memoirs, he recognised that call:

“At the slightest rumour of approaching aeroplanes, tubes and tunnels were packed with panic-stricken men, women and children. Every clear night the commons around London were black with refugees from the threatened metropolis.”

That summer, as the raids continued and defences again failed to stop them, Lloyd George saw that existing air power should be bolstered.

To this end he tasked General Jan Smuts to investigate and report on the state of Britain’s air power. When he recommended that an independent Air Force and Ministry be created, Lloyd George gave him his full support.

The impetus to form the independent air force came also as Lloyd George searched for another way to take the fight to Germany away from the stalemate of the Western Front.  While civilians in their hundreds were being killed as German bombs rained down on London, so hundreds of thousands of British soldiers were killed as the Passchendaele offensive ground to a halt in the mud of Flanders.

So the idea that there might be a new way of achieving victory and by-passing the trenches appealed greatly to the Welshman.

Lloyd George could not have failed to be impressed by Smuts when he said: ‘while our Western Front may still be moving forward at a snail’s pace in Belgium and France, the air battle will be far behind on the Rhine, and … may form an important factor in bringing about peace’.

Once the decision was taken to create a separate air arm and an Air Ministry, the Bill was debated in Parliament. Lloyd George told the House how this power could transform the war: “The heavens are their battlefield. They are the Cavalry of the Clouds. High above the squalor and the mud”.

The bill to establish an Air Ministry was given the royal assent on November 29. The work then began to create the world’s first independent air force in April 1918.

Air Commodore Adrian Williams, Mr Edmund Seymour Bailey, Lord-Lieutenant for Gwynedd and Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier at the Lloyd George Museum
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

Grandson of David Lloyd George, David Lloyd Carey-Evans said how happy he was to see that Lloyd George’s role was being marked. “It is very pleasing that my grandfather’s involvement in forming the world’s first independent Air Force is being commemorated.  The Army had been insistent that the new air corps be under its command but my grandfather felt very strongly that this was not the way forward for such a dynamic new strike force and was determined that it should be independent and be allowed to develop itself rather than be directed by the army.”

The Chair of Gwynedd Council, Councillor Annwen Daniels, said: “Gwynedd Council is proud to be part of this important event for Gwynedd and the whole of north Wales.  It is very appropriate that we marked one of David Lloyd George’s great achievements as Prime Minister here in Llanystumdwy, where he spent his formative years and particularly at the Museum which provides a significant and worthy commemoration to his life and work.”

Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier meets Air Cadets at the Lloyd George Museum
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier said: “As the RAF celebrates its centenary in 2018, it was a great privilege for us to be here at the David Lloyd George Museum to both commemorate and celebrate his important role in our creation one hundred years ago. Prime Minister Lloyd George was a great wartime leader and achieved many things in his political career. His role in the creation of the RAF, which is the world’s first independent Air Force, is a further important achievement that deserves to be recognised.”

Museums Coordinator Megan Cynan Corcoran said “Since being purposely built in the 1960s the Lloyd George Museum has been promoting the life, history and achievements of one of the UK’s pre-eminent Prime Ministers. From humble beginnings, attending the village school in Llanystumdwy, learning about and discussing politics by his uncle’s side at his shoemaker’s workshop, he developed into the great statesman that laid down the foundations of the welfare state and leading the country out of the First World War. Today we are commemorating another of his innovative political decisions, one that’s been something of a hidden history until today.”

Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams said: “The RAF have enjoyed being here in Llanystumdwy, in the place and community where David Lloyd George grew up, to recognise his role in creating the RAF one hundred years ago. We hope that the opening of the RAF Centenary Memorial Garden, and our donation of historical records relating to Lloyd George’s role in creating the RAF, will be a great legacy for the Museum and ensure that people in the years ahead know this important story.”

Air Commodore Williams added: “As part of the RAF100 celebrations, our RAF National Tour will be calling at Cardiff in mid-May where members of the public will be able to see RAF aircraft from the past and present on display outside the City Hall. There will also be other events across Wales and there will of course also be the UK Armed Forces Day in Llandudno this June, so the RAF will certainly be busy in Wales this year. As we look to commemorate our past, celebrate our achievements and inspire future generations, we’d love people to come and meet the people who make-up today’s RAF and learn more about us.”

UK Government Minister Stuart Andrew MP said: “From its origins as the first entirely separate and independent national air force, to the cutting-edge fighter, strike and transport aircraft of today, the RAF is rightly recognised as one of the greatest military forces in the world.

“This special year ahead will allow us to celebrate the many strong links between the RAF and Wales. This memorial unveiled today is a fitting way to mark the pivotal role a great Welshman had in the creation of the RAF and the extraordinary contribution the service has made – and continues to make – in service to our country.”