SINCE
its inception in 1921 the Air Force’s motto of “Per
Ardua ad Astra” has remained unchanged, although there has
been a recent minor shift in the interpretation of the words.
CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston has endorsed the new definition,
which replaces the RAAF’s previously accepted translation
of “Through Adversity to the Stars” with “Through
Struggle to the Stars”.
The change has been a talking point, particularly among experienced
Air Force personnel, at base visits by teams promoting the Air
Force Vision issued earlier this year.
The revised understanding of the motto stemmed from the redevelopment
of the Air Force Memorial in Canberra, dedicated last November.
The then plaques on the site stated the motto meant “Through
Adversity to the Stars” – a translation whose authority
is unknown –, but the redevelopment committee’s research
revealed other interpretations. These included “Through Hardship
to the Stars”, “Through Labour to the Stars” and
“Through Toil to the Stars”.
The committee noted that the Royal Canadian Air Force accepts
the meaning as “Through Adversity to the Stars” but,
according to the Royal Air Force, “since there can be a number
of different meanings to ‘Ardua’ and ‘Astra’,
scholars have declared [the motto] untranslatable. To the RAF
and Commonwealth Air Forces though it will remain ‘Through
Struggles to the Stars’.”
The committee opted for the singular “struggle” rather
than the plural “struggles”. It stated that: “We
have also considered the current dictionary meanings of the various
interpretations of the key word and concluded that ‘struggle’
is the most appropriate, particularly in view of the RAAF’s
early history.”
The motto “Per Ardua ad Astra” was first proposed by
subaltern J. S. Yule for the Royal Flying Corps in 1912, received
approval from King George V in 1913 and was adopted by the RAF
in 1918 and by the RAAF three years later.
