GIRVAN South Parish Church will host one of three remembrance services across the UK to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the RAF on Easter Sunday.

On Sunday, April 1 services will take place at Parliament Square, London, 80 the Strand, London and The Doon Cemetery, Girvan at the graveside of Lieutenant General Sir David Henderson who was one of the founders of the RAF.

Sir David Henderson was Head of the Royal Flying Corp before the RAF began in 1918. Records show that a group of men got together and decided to form the RAF in 1918.

At this time the Royal Flying Corp in Turnberry which used to have a runway was already in existence. In 1918 his son was killed in a plane accident at Turnberry and was buried in Girvan. He was only 21-years-old. 

In 1921 Sir David Henderson died in Geneva. He was flown back to Girvan where his ashes were scattered at his son’s grave. He was given a Commonwealth War graves headstone being deemed as to have died due to the effects of the war. Some describe him as the Forgotten Father of the Royal Airforce. 

According to George Mason, a volunteer at the RAF museum: “There will ever remain as a memorial to Sir David Henderson the fact that it was he who among general officers realised the vital importance of military aviation, and took steps to set up a separate corps to develop the new arm. 

“Whether as a third service or as branches of the senior service, British power will always owe its first debt of gratitude to him. 

“As an adversary he was to be respected and feared, as a man he was to be respected and admired.

“Henderson’s early years did not suggest the course he would eventually take: he was born into a fairly affluent family where his father was a joint owner of a Clydeside ship building business, David and William Henderson & Company. 

“The younger David entered Glasgow University at the age of fifteen, to read engineering – presumably in preparation for a role in the family business. 

“In his fourth year he was reading civil engineering, mechanics, office and field work, but left university without graduating.

“Almost directly, Henderson entered the Royal Military College from where he was commissioned into the British Army in August 1882, joining the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders the following year. 

“In 1914, in addition to his role as Director of Military Aeronautics, Henderson took command of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in France.

“Although he made frequent journeys between France and England it was not possible to carry out both jobs effectively, and his absences in France allowed some parties to undermine his directorial authority in England. 

“In August 1915 Henderson handed command of the RFC in the field to Brigadier-General Hugh Trenchard. This allowed Henderson to resume his fight for the RFC’s autonomy, and limit the damage caused by rival demands for resources from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

“The Air Ministry and Air Council came into being in January 1918, the RAF being established in April 1918 with the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS.”

Some 100 year later the RAF are supported by BAE Systems, Heritage Lottery Fund, Ministry of Defence and World Fuel Services.

The service at the Doon Cemetery will take place at 9.50am on Easter Sunday. The Rev Ian McLauchlan will prepare a short service about the RAF, Sir David Henderson and say a prayer. All are welcome.