Royal Air Force March Past

<h2 id="canadian-version">Canadian version</h2>
<p>Authority was granted in February 1943 by <a href="/facts/Office_of_Public_Sector_Information/Embm7Q3b">His Majesty's Stationery Office</a> to publish the "RAF March Past" piece in Canada under the title "RCAF March Past". It was the official march of the <a href="/facts/History_of_the_Royal_Canadian_Air_Force/8PHnEEes">Royal Canadian Air Force</a> until the <a href="/facts/Unification_of_the_Canadian_Armed_Forces/Aj2CyvAX">unification of the Canadian Armed Forces</a> in 1968. Following unification, the march was authorized for use in the <a href="/facts/Air_Operations_Branch/lGg0UHBB">Air Operations Branch</a>, and further authorized as the command march of <a href="/facts/Outline_of_the_Canadian_Armed_Forces_at_the_end_of_the_Cold_War/yVKdhlc9">Air Command</a> in 1975, later renamed back to its historic name as  the <a href="/facts/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force/RcKdhuC3">Royal Canadian Air Force</a> in 2011. The RCAF March Past continues as the official march of the RCAF. It is also the official march of the <a href="/facts/Royal_Canadian_Air_Cadets/UNcCUoBV">Royal Canadian Air Cadets</a> and the <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Association_of_Canada/VvcExomq">Air Force Association of Canada</a>.
</p><p>A pipe band arrangement was composed in the 1950s by <a href="/facts/Pipe_Major/8fFH92YL">Pipe Major</a> Alex Howie of the <a href="/facts/CFB_Trenton/gw7KyhKd">CFB Trenton</a> <a href="/facts/Pipe_Band/l0Tqvyd2">Pipe Band</a>, and a trio for pipes was composed in 1970 by Pipe Major Archie Cairns.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="lyrics">Lyrics</h2>
<p>The following are the lyrics to be sung to the Trio section of the march (composed by George Dyson). It references the <a href="/facts/Motto/zPMmWKAW">motto</a> of the RAF, <i>"<a href="/facts/Per_Ardua_Ad_Astra/QMLyVUKL">Per Ardua Ad Astra</a>"</i> (<a href="/facts/Latin_language/pM3Kge85">Latin</a>, "Through adversity to the stars").
</p>
RAF March Past
Through adversities we'll conquer.
Blaze into the stars,
A trail of glory
We'll live on land and sea
'Til victory is won.
Men in blue the skies are winging
In each heart one thought is ringing.
Fight for the right,
God is our might,
We shall be free.
<h2 id="audio-samples">Audio samples</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3hscgyuAs">Audio of the RAF March Past</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJbmOF3WxZw">RCAF March Past on YouTube</a></li></ul>

<ul><li>Tracy, Robert. "Our Symbols - A Historical Link With Our Air Force Roots". <i>Air Force Magazine</i>. Vol. 22, No. 3. 1998. ISSN 0704-6804. pp. 94–96.</li>
<li>Air Force Association of Canada. <i>Air Force on the March!</i> CD liner notes.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Spicer, Paul (21 May 2019). Sir George Dyson: His Life and Music. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. ISBN 9781843839033. Retrieved 21 May 2019 – via Google Books. <a href="9781843839033" target="_blank">9781843839033</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Pipe Major Alex Howie". <a href="https://militarymusic.com/blogs/military-music/13516293-pipe-major-alex-howie" target="_blank">https://militarymusic.com/blogs/military-music/13516293-pipe-major-alex-howie</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Royal Air Force March Past open-in-new

Royal Air Force March Past