A 'POIGNANT' ceremony will remember the 17 airmen who lost their lives at Port Meadow aerodrome as a memorial campaign finally comes to fruition.

A stone memorial to those who lost their lives while stationed at or flying through the airfield during the First World War will be unveiled on Wednesday.

It comes after the community raised more than £11,000 and volunteers worked tirelessly for many years to make it happen.

Representatives from the RAF, including a Wing Commander, will be present at the ceremony along with stand bearers from the Royal British Legion and Lord Lieutenant cadets.

Chairman of the project's committee, Peter Smith, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the project has come to fruition - four years ago we weren't sure if we would raise the funds or get all the planning consents, so it's great news that it will finally be unveiled.

"I feel we have raised awareness for a little-known piece of local history and it's very poignant to be able to remember these airmen during the centenary of the First World War.

"I'm also pleased to have representatives from the RAF there - in its own centenary year."

The historian, who lives in Osney, thanked everyone in the community who helped raise more than £11,000 and also Oxford City Council for its support throughout the process.

Port Meadow served as a flying training aerodrome from mid 1916 to late 1919.

The 17 men, aged between 19 and 29, died between March 1917 and November 1918 in 12 crashes, as a result of pilot error or mechanical faults.

The ceremony will take place on the anniversary of the death of Captain George Thomson - who died 100 years ago on Wednesday when his aircraft burst into flames shortly after take-off from Port Meadow.

Capt Thomson had been given the Military Cross for shooting down 21 enemy aircraft during the war before his death aged just 20.

The nephew of another of the fallen airmen - Second Lieutenant Alex Anstey, who was 19 when he died - will give a reading.

Shaun Clay, from Sussex, will travel to Oxford to commemorate his uncle, whose bi-plane crashed at the meadow on February 22, 1918.

The Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson, will unveil the memorial and The Last Post will be played.

Parking is restricted and spectators have been urged to consider using the number 6 bus to Wolvercote or getting to the meadow on foot or by bike.

The event will take place in the former bathing area on Port Meadow, next to Godstow Road, at 2pm.

See today's Memory Lane for more on the history of the airfield and the airmen.