Battle of Britain Memorial Service
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Battle of Britain Memorial Service
Just watched the highlights. Brilliant to see the veterans still able to be there and describe events of 75 years ago so clearly. However, sadly much reduced in number since I had the privilege of twice ushering at the Service in the late 80s.
We will remember them all, those who died in the Battle and those who have passed since
We will remember them all, those who died in the Battle and those who have passed since
At a time when so much of our national history and tradition is threatened with being banished to the periphery of our "national" memory, it's good to see that major events that helped shape, and save our nation are still commemorated with the dignity and respect they deserve. An apt post Wander00, totally agree with your opinion.
Smudge
Smudge
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Could not have said it better myself, Wander00 and Smudge. We must never forget that "a nation which forgets its history is condemned to repeat it".
Churchill was right: it was their "finest hour", and it is seemly that we should commemorate it with all the dignity and ceremony that the State can muster.
Danny42C.
Churchill was right: it was their "finest hour", and it is seemly that we should commemorate it with all the dignity and ceremony that the State can muster.
Danny42C.
I had the pleasure of attending this Service today, and there can be no doubt that it was one to remember for its content, the clarity of the singing of the choir, the diction from those who read and - at the end - the spontaneous and appreciative applause that accompanied the BoB veterans as they processed down the Nave.
This year, as those of you who have seen the excellent BBC recording "Battle of Britain 75: from Westminster Abbey" will have observed, the Service was followed by a Parade and then a Flypast by Spitfires and Hurricanes, all in the most benign weather that could ever have been hoped for.
A most proper way to remember those who in the summer of 1940 fought the enemy in the skies above the United Kingdom to preserve this nation's independence and freedom from invasion.
Lest we forget.
This year, as those of you who have seen the excellent BBC recording "Battle of Britain 75: from Westminster Abbey" will have observed, the Service was followed by a Parade and then a Flypast by Spitfires and Hurricanes, all in the most benign weather that could ever have been hoped for.
A most proper way to remember those who in the summer of 1940 fought the enemy in the skies above the United Kingdom to preserve this nation's independence and freedom from invasion.
Lest we forget.
Never attended the Service, and first time I've watched it on TV. Very impressed. The current RAF represented from LAC to CAS. The Central Band and QCS as always doing us all proud. The flypast was brilliant, and twice for the price of one! Above all though those very modest veterans who no doubt in their minds are still the same young men who fought those frenetic, terrifying, and often bewildering battles day after day, often twice or thrice a day. They of course were there not so much in their own right as to pay tribute to and remember those who gave their lives.
The Royal Air Force is rightly proud of those of all ranks who served in Fighter Command in 1940/41. It is of course equally proud of those in other Commands and indeed in its overseas Air Forces, or should be. However if Fighter Command had failed to deny the Luftwaffe daylight Air Superiority then, all else would be irrelevant. We would have sued for peace eventually, invasion or no invasion. That is why we give thanks. That is why we remained free.
The Royal Air Force is rightly proud of those of all ranks who served in Fighter Command in 1940/41. It is of course equally proud of those in other Commands and indeed in its overseas Air Forces, or should be. However if Fighter Command had failed to deny the Luftwaffe daylight Air Superiority then, all else would be irrelevant. We would have sued for peace eventually, invasion or no invasion. That is why we give thanks. That is why we remained free.
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Recognition
It's a shame we don't have a suitable honour to confer on the last of the few. The French awarded the last three tommies from the Great War with the Legion D'honneur. It would be a gesture of appreciation. Of course that could start another ball rolling: arctic convoys, Burma campaign, etc.
It was indeed a lovely service and the survivors should be justifiably proud of their central role in it.
Not sure I wouldn't have had a word with the Wg Cdr pilot who thought it acceptable to allow his son to stand on the seats during one of the hymns so he could look about though!
Not sure I wouldn't have had a word with the Wg Cdr pilot who thought it acceptable to allow his son to stand on the seats during one of the hymns so he could look about though!
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Wish I could have seen it but access to BBC a bit limited here in Canada. Sounds as tho' it was right in every way. There was an open-air service here in Kingston (Ontario) too. Simpler, but just as genuine, and in equally perfect weather.
I hope those that some of us call "The Few of the Few" were mentioned - the pilots from the Fleet Air Arm, the U.S.A., France, Poland and Czechoslovakia - they are so often left out.
I was born in the UK during the B of B, thanks Guys.
Mike
I hope those that some of us call "The Few of the Few" were mentioned - the pilots from the Fleet Air Arm, the U.S.A., France, Poland and Czechoslovakia - they are so often left out.
I was born in the UK during the B of B, thanks Guys.
Mike
Not sure if you can access BBC iPlayer in Canada GD. Probably not, but for those who can it is here (temporarily):-
BBC iPlayer - Battle of Britain 75: From Westminster Abbey
and highlights here:-
BBC iPlayer - Battle of Britain 75 - Highlights from Westminster Abbey
BBC iPlayer - Battle of Britain 75: From Westminster Abbey
and highlights here:-
BBC iPlayer - Battle of Britain 75 - Highlights from Westminster Abbey
Some years ago I was approached by Geoffrey Wellum*, who lives not far from me, who told me he needed his medals remounting as he was to accompany the book of remembrance at the service for the first time. This I duly arranged for him, and he suggested I apply for tickets to the service. Mrs TTN and I attended and were very impressed. I was delighted to see him on TV yesterday, and to hear his thoughts on the Battle. In particular I was impressed by his thoughts on the present generation of RAF aircrew who he has met on visits to Cranwell, and his conviction that they would acquit themselves just as well as his generation did, should the need ever arise. On a lighter note I loved his remark that he was cross with the Lutwaffe as they were interfering with the cricket!
* Ex 92 Squadron, and author of First Light
* Ex 92 Squadron, and author of First Light
Their generation were past masters at the throw away line, TTN. I always liked Bob Doe's description of the only time he was authorised to fire his guns in practice before being launched into action. He was briefed to fire at the North Sea. "I managed to hit it!", he said triumphally.
"Boy's" observation that the present generation could do just as well as his is shared by our own Danny42C, who will not countenance that theirs was remarkable in any way. No doubt they are both right but that doesn't change the fact that it was theirs that was on watch when enjoined to:-
No matter that the Empire is past and the Commonwealth may not so endure, they will be remembered in a thousand years because they saved not only this country but enabled the Invasion of Europe four years later to liberate it in turn.
"Boy's" observation that the present generation could do just as well as his is shared by our own Danny42C, who will not countenance that theirs was remarkable in any way. No doubt they are both right but that doesn't change the fact that it was theirs that was on watch when enjoined to:-
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."
Splendid and fitting service, flypast and RAF band. Beautiful weather for it too. Sorry that the 'highlights' were only the BBC's slant on things, but not a day to quibble.
A magnificent 75th Battle of Britain ceremony to top off all the events this summer.
Let's hope that some of these old boys are good for a few years yet!
A magnificent 75th Battle of Britain ceremony to top off all the events this summer.
Let's hope that some of these old boys are good for a few years yet!
The staggering thing about Geoffrey Wellum is that by the tender age of 19 he had fought in the Battle of Britain and was posted to a Spitfire training unit as a rest from operations. When I look at my two lads at Uni - 18 and 21 - it really makes me think about what those "boys" did 75 years ago!
Regarding the throw away lines, Mrs O-D was a fairly senior female at B/H and she - aided by yours truly of course - was detailed to look after Wg Cdr Ivor Cosby at the BofB cocktail party, even though he was a mess member.
Some bright young thing asked if he realised he was saving civilisation or some such, when he fought the battle.
Ivor put on a look of amazement and incredulity before saying: "My dear chap we did it so that every year thereafter we would be invited to at least one decent cocktail party".
Lovely man, with an eye for the ladies to the end - he even featured in a Pilots' Pals calendar one year!
Old Duffer
Some bright young thing asked if he realised he was saving civilisation or some such, when he fought the battle.
Ivor put on a look of amazement and incredulity before saying: "My dear chap we did it so that every year thereafter we would be invited to at least one decent cocktail party".
Lovely man, with an eye for the ladies to the end - he even featured in a Pilots' Pals calendar one year!
Old Duffer
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In today's DT, the obituary of Gp Capt Allan Wright, who sadly died on 16 September:
http://http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ne...-obituary.html
Described by Geoffery Wellum in his book 'First Light' as, 'a lovely chap: kind, quiet & introverted.' (Doesn't sound like a 'typical' fighter pilot to me....!)
Gp Capt Wright was 20 during the Battle & rested after a year of combat at the same age that I was still getting p***ed up in the Student Union bar. I was inspired by his generation to join the RAF.
Duty done, Sir.
http://http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ne...-obituary.html
Described by Geoffery Wellum in his book 'First Light' as, 'a lovely chap: kind, quiet & introverted.' (Doesn't sound like a 'typical' fighter pilot to me....!)
Gp Capt Wright was 20 during the Battle & rested after a year of combat at the same age that I was still getting p***ed up in the Student Union bar. I was inspired by his generation to join the RAF.
Duty done, Sir.
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75 Years ago.
(From the "Daily Mirror" of the time)
THE FEW
"These are the men of whom we said:
They are not what their fathers were -
"They........and do not cut their hair"
They are not what their fathers were -
"They........and do not cut their hair"
"Now these like eagles live and die
And in the time....................
They shoot a pair of Heinkels down"
And in the time....................
They shoot a pair of Heinkels down"
Sadly, I cannot recall the "....s" (nor can Google bring up the quotation)
And, after the 1941 New Years Honours List was published, a back-bencher got up in the Commons and asked: "What about the knights who ride on the wings of Spitfires ?
Well said both, I thought - and resolved to volunteer for the RAF.
D.
Many years ago, my very last BoB Cocktail Party was at Bentley Priory. I was honoured to be one of the 'also rans' to host and usher many of those whose faces we see in and on the cover of history books. They were a most fascinating, intriguing and modest group of gentlemen that I'm ever likely to meet.
To cap it all, I stood with them* on the balcony just outside Dowding's office watching the BBMF display. A memory that still gives me 'goose-bumps' to this day!!
* ... and I felt very, very small.
To cap it all, I stood with them* on the balcony just outside Dowding's office watching the BBMF display. A memory that still gives me 'goose-bumps' to this day!!
* ... and I felt very, very small.