THE DACRE SWORD AND BROOCH
In 1979, Mrs Elizabeth Dacre MBE TD JP presented to the Air Training Corps the dress sword of her late husband, Air Commodore G B Dacre CBE DSO DL RAF. Between 1979 and 1982 the sword was awarded annually to the "ATC Cadet of the Year". With the advent of girls in 1982, Mrs Dacre presented the Corps with a diamond brooch mounted on a sash, for presentation to the best girl cadet.
Since 1983, the Dacre Sword and the Dacre Brooch have been awarded annually, selection being based on the all-round performance of the cadets nominated by the Regional Commandants. (based upon Wing nominations to Regional HQs)
The name of Dacre is well known in Buckinghamshire. Air Commodore Dacre was
during the 1930s, station commander at RAF Halton. (Many of you will have
travelled along Dacre Road on the main camp at Halton). In 1938 Mrs Dacre was
appointed Senior Commandant (the ATS equivalent of Major). Her appointment was
to the Buckinghamshire Territorial Association and her instructions were to
raise five companies of women. For her work in this area, she was awarded the
Territorial Decoration, an award rarely given to women at that time. In
September 1939 she transferred to the WAAF as a Squadron Officer. She achieved
the WAAF equivalent of Group Captain before leaving the service in 1948.
Mrs Dacre's son Flt Lt Kenneth Fraser-Dacre was killed in 1943. In his memory,
Elizabeth Dacre presented the RAF with the bronze Dacre Trophy, which is awarded
annually to the most proficient fighter squadron. Mrs Dacre died aged 93, in
February 1995.