As part of commemorations to mark the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, a ceremonial wreath was flown from Montrose Air Station in Angus to RAF Leuchars in Fife, the start of a journey south and over the English Channel to a war memorial in France.

A hundred years ago the Royal Flying Corps was in its infancy, with airpower soon to develop as a major element of modern warfare. Montrose was one of very few air stations in Britain, a centre for training new pilots and ground crew. The ceremonial flight recalls the journey of pilots and staff of the RFC squadron in 1914, who were among the “first in France” at the start of the war. A BBC news story “WW1 commemorative wreath flies from Montrose to Amiens” reports on the project, as does a report in local newspaper the Montrose Review.

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre is already working with local schools and volunteers to develop ideas for further commemorative activity, such as the construction of a replica war plane from the World War One era.