PAST EVENTS

Memorial Day 2010 -
the 70th anniversary

 

The Patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, was guest of honour at the annual tribute to the airmen of the Battle of Britain at Capel-le-Ferne, on Sunday, 11 July.

This special commemoration, which marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain on 10 July 1940, featured flypasts by a Lancaster and Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

HRH Prince Michael was joined by surviving veterans of the fighting and by the most senior figure in the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Air Staff, as well as by thousands of spectators keen to show their respects during this special year.

The open air service and parade at the National Memorial on the cliff top between Folkestone and Dover was, as always, free to attend, and the crowds this year enjoyed a warm and sunny summer1s day.

The day included a display by the Kent Wing Air Training Corps and the parade, supported by music and hymns played by the RAF Central band, featured a 'general salute' for HRH Prince Michael of Kent and a spectacular fly-past by the BBMF Lancaster and the Spitfire, which returned later in the day for a solo display.

The commemorative service, conducted by Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF the Venerable Ray Pentland, included the Act of Remembrance and wreath laying, and was followed later in the day, for the first time Capel-le-Ferne, by the Sunset ceremony.

Following the service, Flight Lieutenant William Walker AE, one of the veterans, unveiled and read an engraved copy of his poem "Our Wall" on a special plinth built alongside the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall.

As well as HRH Prince Michael of Kent, the 'guests of honour' included 19 of Churchill's "Few", members of the fewer-than 3,000 aircrew who flew during the Battle of Britain 70 years ago. They stood proudly to attention while being inspected and enjoyed lunch and tea as guests of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

Memorial Day 2009 - The Few come to Capel-Le-Ferne

Daybreak on Sunday July 12 saw Capel-le-Ferne at its worst with wind, rain and low cloud swirling around the Memorial. By 10 am the rain had stopped, the cloud had broken and the sun shone through.

The guest of honour was Air Chief Marshal Sir Chris Moran, Commander-in-Chief Air Command. Precisely at 1330 Squadron Leader Al Pinner, Officer Commanding the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, flew past in salute in Spitfire PM631 (Mk XIX), as the parade commander Flight Lieutenant Duncan Martin-Smith RAF from RAF Marham’s 3 Force Protection Wing HQ brought the parade of the RAF Silk Ensign, 17 members of The Few, 60 ex-Service standards, the ATC squadron banners, two flights of ATC cadets from Kent Wing and the Central Band of the RAF to the General Salute. Sir Chris Moran then inspected all those on parade.

After a speech of welcome by the Trust’s President, ACM Sir Michael Graydon, Sir Chris Moran praised the courage and dedication of The Few 69 years ago and commented that the men and women of today’s RAF were showing the same courage and dedication in combat operations overseas.

There followed a short Service of commemoration conducted by the Air Deacon of the Royal Air Force, the Rev (Gp Capt) Ray Pentland. During the service wreaths were laid in tribute to The Few.

Flight Lieutenant William Walker recited his poem “Our Wall” at the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall and members of The Few and 71 widows and other relatives of The Few then laid posies.

Memorial Day closed with a brilliant flying display by Squadron Leader Al Pinner in the same Spitfire, PM631.

Photographs by Barry Duffield.

 

Royal Gala & Memorial Day 2008

Many showbusiness stars turned out for the Memorial Trust's Royal Gala at the London Palladium on September 7, attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Fly with the Stars was a nostalgic return to the hits of the 1940s, with 12 of "The Few" present. Here, everyone is on stage for the finale.

	Many showbusiness stars turned out for the Memorial Trust's Royal Gala at the London Palladium on September 7, attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Fly with the Stars was a nostalgic return to the hits of the 1940s, with 12 of "The Few" present. Here, everyone is on stage for the finale.
	RAF Second World War re-enactors on parade at Memorial Day at the National Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne.
	Joe Crawshaw (right), who served as groundcrew with 222, a Spitfire squadron, during the Battle of Britain, presents the remaining funds of the 222 (Natal) Squadron Association to Richard Hunting, Chairman of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. The money will go towards the maintenance of the National Memorial.

Visit of the National Service (Royal Air Force) Association to the Battle of Britain National Memorial 2007

 

On Sunday October 28, a party of almost 150 former Royal Air Force National Servicemen and their families from all over the UK visited the Battle of Britain National Memorial. This took place during the annual reunion and AGM of the National Service (RAF) Association, which was held in Eastbourne. The party was welcomed by Group Captain Patrick Tootal OBE DL, Secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

Despite some rain, two flights of veterans were formed up, under the command of a former RAF drill instructor and, led by standard bearers of the Royal Air Forces Association and Royal British Legion, marched smartly out to the Memorial, where a short service, conducted by the Association Padre, Rev Dr Clifford G Taylor CJ, was held. During the service, a trumpeter sounded the Last Post and Reveille, and standards were dipped. Wreaths were then laid on behalf of the Association by John Magee and Brian Wellstead, and by Group Captain Tootal on behalf of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

Visit of the National Service (Royal Air Force) Association to the Battle of Britain National Memorial

 

Memorial Day 2007

There were 18 aircrew veterans of the Battle of Britain at Memorial Day 2007, held on Sunday July 8.

The Guest of Honour was Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC, Chief of the Air Staff.

A day of tribute and ceremony included a flypast and display by a Hurricane and Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007, as well as the traditional Act of commemoration and laying of wreaths.

A veteran of the Battle attending the event for the first time was Flight Lieutenant Gerald Carthew, who flew Hurricanes with 253, 85 and 145 Squadrons in 1940. Flight Lieutenant Carthew, who was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, daughter and son in law, has only just joined the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, of which only holders of the 1939-45 Star, with Battle of Britain clasp may be full members.

In his foreword to the Memorial Day programme, Sir Glenn Torpy spoke for many when he wrote, "The Battle of Britain was a significant moment in British history, when the RAF was at the forefront of the Nation's struggle to remain free. This annual Ceremony at Capel le Ferne is a poignant opportunity to remember the sacrifice made by 'The Few', more than 500 of whom lost their lives in the Battle. But it is also a time to remember the other men and women from all nations who played a vital role in supporting the effort in the air."

 

	Memorial Day 2007
	Memorial Day 2007
	Memorial Day 2007
	Memorial Day 2007
	Memorial Day 2007

Memorial Day 2006

Somerset farmer, Anthony Case, finds on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall the name of his uncle, Pilot Officer Herbert Case, whose 72 Squadron Spitfire crashed near the Memorial site, after combat with enemy fighters on October 12 1940.

Memorial Day 2005

HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, was Guest of Honour at the 2005 Memorial Day, held on 3 July 2005. The event is not always blessed with good weather, but it certainly was on this occasion as several thousand people marked the 65th anniversary of the battle of Britain. Trustees of the Memorial Trust acted as hosts on the day, led by the President, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon and the Chairman, Richard Hunting. Key guests, including the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Alan Willett and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup were present as His Royal Higness unveiled the centre stone of the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall, a major addition to the National Memorial site, which features the names of the almost 3000 aircrew of RAF Fighter Command who took part in the Battle and earned the 1939-45 Star with Battle of Britain clasp. Over 30 vetrans of the Battle also witnessed the event. After lunch and before the commemorative service and wreath laying began, there was a flypast by a Hurricane and Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the aircraft returning later in the afternoon to give a display.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, unveiled the centre stone of the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall, a major addition to the National Memorial site

 

Spitfire Replica Unveiling - 16 September 2004

HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, the Trust's patron, graciously unveiled the Spitfire replica at a short ceremony at the Memorial on 16 September 2004 in ideal weather. The replica is painted in the markings of the Spitfire Jeffery Quill flew most during his detachment to 65 Squadron in the August of 1940. Jeffery's great friend and test pilot colleague Alex Henshaw MBE attended with two of Jeffery's daughters. Air Cdre Peter Brothers, a Life Vice President of the Trust and a small number of Battle veterans also attended.

HRH is introduced to Jeffery Quill's daughters, Alex Henshaw MBE is in the background

 

Memorial Day 2004

On Sunday 4 July 2004 a Parade and Service in the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup KCB AFC ADC FRAeS FCMI RAF was held. No 32 Squadron's standard was paraded and this was the first time a Battle of Britain badged squadron's standard was paraded at a Memorial Day. A Spitfire from the battle of Britain Memorial Flight flew past in salute. At the end of the afternoon our guests and the public were treated to an incredible display in far from ideal weather by Charlie Brown in the Historic Aircraft Collection's Hurricane HA-C serial Z5140, civil registration: G-HURI. The day ended with beating retreat played by the Royal Air Force Central Band. Alas after the tropical weather for Memorial Day 2003 Capel le Ferne produced a more usual mix of low cloud, rain and a chilly wind.

 

Memorial Day 2003 - The 10th Anniversary

On 13 July 2003, 10th Anniversary year of the unveiling of the Memorial by the late HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the guest of honour was HRH Prince Michael of Kent, KCVO, the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Benson. A Parade and Service in the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire GCB DFC AFC ADC RAF, was held. The Commemorative Service started with a fly-past in salute by a Hurricane and Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. HRH the graciously unveiled the replica Hurricane dedicated to the memory of Wg Cdr Geoffrey Page. This was followed a fly-past by 56 Squadron Tornado F3s of the Royal Air Force. The day closed with the Sunset Ceremony and afternoon tea.

The replica Hurricane is dedicated to the memory of Wg Cdr Geoffrey Page

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