As the Battle of Britain anniversary ends, we must remember the debt we owe

This Saturday marks 80 years since the official end of the Battle of Britain, when the Royal Air Force scored a decisive victory against the Luftwaffe. It is also an important time to remember the debt we owe to all those who played their part in securing that precious victory.

This was by no means the end of the war or the pain and suffering of the British people, as the Blitz followed shortly after, but it was a remarkable flicker of hope for the country. Suddenly the goal of defeating Germany and its allies seemed possible, however far away.

Eighty years later and this year’s anniversary of the famous battle has felt different for many. The coronavirus pandemic has meant much of the armed forces community and country has had to commemorate the anniversary online. This has brought its own unique challenges in making sure our serving community has been able to feel involved in the commemoration.

However, this year’s anniversary has had added poignancy because at 80 years we are reminded that there are so few left with us who remember first-hand the Battle of Britain.

Sadly, the number of RAF veterans who fought in the famous battle, and are still with us, is falling. The RAF Benevolent Fund had the privilege of speaking with John “Paddy” Hemingway for this year’s anniversary earlier this month who is the last remaining member of “The Few”.

His stories of fighting in the battle are truly extraordinary. Yet, unfortunately, his is one of the few tales able to be delivered first-hand. This is not just the case for Churchill’s famous “Few” but countless other ground staff, particularly women who tended to work in radar related roles, who played a crucial part in the victory but whose experiences are now increasingly left to be retold by younger relatives.

This means that the anniversaries of the battle will change. As we look ahead to the next few years and even the next decade, we must face the reality that those first-person stories, such an important part of our national history, will be missing.

I have been fortunate throughout my career in the RAF and with the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund to speak with many older veterans about their time serving in the Second World War. Two things have stood out to me. Firstly, each has been gifted with that humbleness about their service, typical of their generation, even when talking about unimaginable bravery in the face of danger.  Secondly, each felt a strong sense of duty that their story be shared and remembered by younger generations, so that lessons are learnt and history may not be repeated. This is the debt we all owe to those who fought in the Battle of Britain.

The Battle of Britain understandably holds a special place in our nation’s hearts. Even though many nationalities served in the battle, it’s seen as a “finest hour” in our history. What is sometimes surprising, however, is how little is known about the battle among the British public.

The sheer length of the Battle of Britain is often overlooked, lasting three and a half months, as well as the broad range of people who were involved. Whether pilots, medics, radar operators, ground crew or volunteers and pilots of other nations, it was a moment of real community and national spirit.

Another aspect of the battle not often celebrated enough is the contribution made by women. They undertook a variety of roles through organisations such as the Women’s Land Army, Women’s Voluntary Service, and the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.

These women paved the way and inspired future generations, people like me, to enter into the service and we should remember that when we reflect on the Battle, like so many others, it was not just the domain of fighting men.

All of these stories hold important lessons for us. The Fund works to keep the stories of these veterans alive, through podcasts, campaigns, and video footage, but we face a mounting challenge. With the Battle and others like it slipping away from living memory, we as a country need to encourage people to engage with and educate themselves about these key historical moments.

It’s a big challenge. Our recent research showed that 44 per cent of the UK public don’t know what the Battle of Britain was, and that proportion was higher among younger people.

One way to raise awareness is by encouraging young people to speak with relatives and older people in their communities about their memories of war, or of the stories they heard growing up.

There is also a great responsibility on charities like the RAF Benevolent Fund, not just to support veterans with welfare needs but also to celebrate their sacrifice and to make historical anniversaries like the Battle of Britain relevant for the people of today’s society, so they can keep the stories, and lessons, alive for future generations.

Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot is controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund