Tiree honours war heroes
Not only is this year the 100th anniversary of the RAF, but also 100 years since the state of Czechoslovakia and the Czechoslovak Air Force were founded.
Now the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Associates Ltd, an organisation dedicated to remembering the Czechoslovak men and women who served in the RAF during the Second World War, has decided to commemorate both anniversaries in its own special way, called Project CzRAF 100.
In 79 cemeteries around the UK, there are 240 graves of Czechoslovak RAF airmen and one of a Czechoslovak in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force who lost their lives in the war. A further 149 Czechoslovak airmen, who have no known grave, are commemorated at the RAF memorial at Runnymede.
Tom Dolzeal, who runs the Free Czechoslovak Air Force website, explained the project would commemorate each of the 240 graves with a red, white and blue carnation bouquet - the Czech national colours - with a traditional Czech tricolour ribbon at each headstone.
‘To achieve this level of coverage for those 240 graves - this has never been done before in the UK - meant we would have to reach out not only to Czech RAF descendants in the UK but also to organisations and local communities where those cemeteries are located.
‘One of the remotest of those cemeteries is the Soroby Burial Ground on the Isle of Tiree where Flying Officer Léonard Revilliod is buried.
‘We take this opportunity to thank the isle of Tiree community for their help with our Project CzRAF 100 and for the remembrance of Flying Officer Léonard Revilliod.’