The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A group of young boys, originally from Rosendaal, pose for the camera upon arrival at their rest centre in Tilbury. Two children have drums and one boy has a tambourine. The children are standing in front of a blackboard, upon which a notice has been...
DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A small Dutch boy smiles for the camera upon arrival at Tilbury in Essex. He is carrying a small paper parcel under his arm, which contains all his luggage. He, and the other children, (some of whom can be seen behind him) all have labels pinned to...
DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
At a rest centre in Tilbury, a newly-arrived Dutch refugee has her knee dressed by her teacher. According to the original caption, she bruised her knee whilst on board the ship.
DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
At a rest centre in Tilbury, a group of Dutch refugee children enjoy a second breakfast. Two boys are holding up a large flag which has the name of their village on it: Breda.
DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Dutch refugee children crowd to look over the side of the ship as it berths, upon arrival in Britain, at Tilbury docks.
DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A Dutch school teacher leads a group of refugee children away from the ship upon which they have just arrived. They have berthed at Tilbury Docks in Essex, and will be taken to a rest centre, before onward transport to a hostel.
DUTCH CHILD REFUGEES: ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN AT TILBURY, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Upon arrival at Tilbury docks, a group of young Dutch refugee children wait on the quayside to be taken on to a rest centre before transport on to a hostel.
Private Papers of Mrs A W Winter
(private papers) Made by: Winter, A W
Photocopy of ts account (128pp, written 1988 - 1991), vividly describing her experiences as a teenager, 1938 - 1945, including: her evacuation from the family home in Bromley, Kent to Bath (1938), Woking, Surrey (September 1939) and, with her mother and...
IODE cloth bag
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Sent by the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (from Canada) with toiletries as little luxury offered to beleaguered citizens of London affected by rationing and aerial bombardment.
Private Papers of Miss B Myatt
(private papers) Made by: Myatt, Beryl
A heart-rending collection of birthday cards, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, postcards and documents relating to Beryl's loss at sea (17 September 1940) when the SS CITY OF BENARES, carrying evacuee children to Canada, was torpedoed by a U-boat in...