THE CENTENARY of women serving within the armed forces will be marked during the Women’s Services Memorial Day taking place at the Allied Air Forces Memorial and Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington this Sunday..

The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp was formed on July 7, 1917, when women joined the army for the first time.

This was followed in November 1917 by the formation of the Women’s Royal Naval Service and the birth of the Wrens.

There will be a flypast at 1.45pm of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight by the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, a parade, wreath-laying. The salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Susan Cunliffe-Lister.

The parade will be led by musicians from the Yorkshire Military Band and Corps of Drums, followed by a wreath laying ceremony in the Women’s Memorial Garden.

Gates open at 10am and normal museum admission applies

Museum director Ian Rees, said: "This annual service and wreath laying ceremony exists to pay tribute and fully recognise the role that women have played in the defence of the nation from the First World War to the present day, where they now take on frontline duties, shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts on the ground, at sea and in the air.

"In fact, it is a tribute to the diversity and inclusiveness of all forms of our service community that gender, sexual orientation and ethnic background is no barrier to serving in the defence of the nation."

Museum communications manager, Ian Richardson, said: "It is especially fitting that Susan has been able to join us for the occasion, as it will see the laying up of the branch standards of Keyingham and Stamford Bridge Royal British Legion Women’s Section, making this the last time that these standards will be presented and paraded.

"This is always a sad occasion, as these flags are symbols of service and friendship, carried and marched with pride and honour.

"Our station chaplain, the Rev Charles “Taff” Morgan MBE will accept the standards into our care for perpetuity, where they will join many others of various service organisations already at rest in our chapel.”