THE role played by David Lloyd George in the creation of the Royal Air Force has been celebrated at his birthplace in Llanystumdwy.

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, Dafydd Elis-Thomas 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 last Friday.

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

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, Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn.

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.

He told the Commons in a debate at the time how powerful aircraft could be as weapons of war: “The heavens are their battlefield. They are the Cavalry of the Clouds. High above the squalor and the mud.”

There was clamour for action too after fighters failed to stop German aircraft bombing London and causing heavy casualties. 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.

Grandson of David Lloyd George, David Lloyd Carey-Evans said how happy he was to see that Lloyd George’s role was being marked.

He said: “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, Cllr 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 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.”