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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Collections search

Kanyu Riverside Camp:Dysentery Ward
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1943
image: The interior of a dark bamboo hut. Sleeping platforms run down either side of the hut They are packed with emaciated men sitting or standing. In the foreground one very thin prisoner is shown standing up, holding onto a bamboo pillar for support....
Tamarkan
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1943-04-05
image: A view of the bridge under construction. The vertical concrete pillars are in place and are surrounded by wooden scaffolding.
Appendectomy. Chungkai New Medical Centre
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1944
image: The interior of a bamboo hut with fabric draped across the ceiling. In the foreground is a cloth-covered table holding several pairs of scissors, some dishes and a bottle. Next to the table is the surgeon with his back to the viewer, leaning over...
O Block, Changi
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1942-08-29
image: A two-storey building with shutters on the windows and balconies on the upper floor. A large palm tree stands in front of the entrance. A figure leans over one of the balconies, chatting to three others on the ground.
Chungkai- Entertainment: Camp Theatre
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1944
image: A view down a hill from behind a large crowd of men. At the front of the crowd is a wooden stage with two figures performing in front of a band.
Chungkai Camp 1943-44: Regimental Christmas Card
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1943
image: A view of Father Christmas wearing a red loin cloth and traditional hat. He is climbing through a bamboo fence, carrying a sack on his shoulder.
Chungkai- Entertainment: Jimmy Van Lingen, Dutch Army, ex-Java
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1944
image: A full-length, sideways view of the subject wearing shorts and sandals and sitting on a stool, playing the guitar.
Preparatory Sketches
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley
whole: 2 photogrphs of the artist, 1 watercolour map of Siam and Burma, 1 reproduction of IWM ART 16871, 1 diary page, 1 musical stave, 1 cartoon drawn by the artist, with diary notes on the reverse, 6 photographs of the route of the Thai-Burma railway...
The Landing Place at Tarso
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1942-11-07
image: A view of some bamboo huts arranged around a high riverbank surrounded by trees. In the foreground the bank curves around to some rocks in the water. A wooden boat is just visible on the left edge of the image.
Chungkai: Cookhouse
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1944
image: A view outside a bamboo hut with smoking chimneys on its roof. Outside the hut there are some clay ovens, baskets and boxes. Some kerosene tins are lined up, ready to be used as cooking vessels. One man is seen sitting, holding a large jar, behind...