On 30 September 2025 the RAF Armourers Memorial was dedicated at the the National Memorial Arboretum in memory of everyone in the Royal Air Force Armourers community.
The memorial project was led by Sqn Ldr Retd Mick Haygarth. Over an 18-month period he canvassed the Armament community to test the appetite for raising money for an Armourers Memorial and due to an overwhelmingly positive response he set up a JustGiving page in August 2024. The Armament community were generous and dug deep raising £29,000 in 9 months. Once the funding total was heading in the right direction he designed the memorial, submitted the application and managed the project through to its completion.
The dedication ceremony was attended by around 250 veterans, serving personnel and their friends and family. The RAF Association Armourers Branch 1366 Standard was paraded at the event by Mr Chris Middleton. Wreathes were laid on behalf of Armourers past, present and future as well as a wreath from the RAF Association Armourers Branch 1366 which was laid by the Branch Chairman, Mr Martin Turner. A tribute to “The RAF Armourer” was delivered by the guest of honour, Air Cdre Jamie Thompson CBE MDS RAF.
The striking orange and black glass panel of the memorial mirrors the internationally recognised symbol for explosives and the detail on the memorial depicts the key elements of a Royal Air Force Armourer’s career.
It is common folklore and understanding in the Royal Air Force Armament community that the founder of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Lord Trenchard, held the weapons trade in high regard. Although his exact words cannot be traced, he is famously quoted as having said “Without Armament, there is no need for an Air Force”.
The erection of a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum ensures that the great work and selfless dedication of the Royal Air Force Armourers will forever be remembered by generations to come. It provides a centrally located focal point for serving and retired armourers, their family and friends to come and remember and reflect.
The Royal Air Force Armourers has been around since the founding of the Royal Air Force in 1918.
Armourers are responsible for the storage, maintenance, preparation and loading of bombs, missiles and aircraft guns, the removal, maintenance and fitting of aircraft ejection seats and the storage and maintenance of small arms weapons.
More specialised tasks include the storage, maintenance and loading of nuclear weapons and bomb disposal duties.
RAF armourers have taken part in all conflicts, wars and campaigns to date, and are always some of the first troops into operational theatre to create a weapon storage and preparation area so that aircraft can commence bombing or no-fly zone policing missions immediately.
