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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Eurograph War Map ('Terms of Surrender') jigsaw
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: B I D Co, London, Leeds & Dublin
British jigsaw map of Europe, showing the belligerents at the outbreak of war in August 1914. The puzzle consists of about 105 pieces, some of which are shaped to represent objects, e.g. revolver, rifle, key, battle-axe. The solution was formerly sealed...
Princess Mary's Gift Fund pipe
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Tobacco pipe associated with (but separated from) a Princess Mary's Gift Fund (1914) Box. The Gift Fund was inaugurated by Princess Mary in October 1914 to provide a gift for every serviceman at the front or at sea ('Class A') for the first Christmas of...
silk souvenir
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tillotson and Son, Ltd. 1915
First World War British home front patriotic charity concert silk souvenir, in support of a 1915 Red Cross fund-raising event featuring Clara Butt-Rumford. The contralto singer Dame Clara Butt (1872-1936) worked incessantly throughout the First World War...
Moy & Bastie 35mm cine camera
(equipment) Made by: Ernest F Moy Ltd, London 1909
Moy & Bastie cine camera of the type used by British Official cinematographers working with HM's armed forces during the First World War. Lieutenant Geoffrey Malins (one of the most famous film cameramen of the period) used a Moy & Bastie to...
figure, Winston Churchill
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Winston Churchill, portrayed here as 'Britannia', was an outstanding member of Asquith's Cabinet. During his term of office as First Lord of the Admiralty from 1911, a Naval War Staff was established and the new Queen Elizabeth class battleships, armed...
Shell 4in
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Hadfields Ltd (Sheffield) 1915
First World War period British 4in shell, which was ceremonially 'fired' at a Sheffield munitions factory test range by King George V on 29 September 1915. The expended round has been converted into a commemorative object, mounted on a plinth and...
figure, David Lloyd George
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
David Lloyd George, Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922, is seen here carrying the pole of 'patriotism' while balancing on the political tightrope. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and...
dummy rifle, British
(weapons and ammunition)
This dummy rifle saw service as a training-aid during both World Wars. In configuration it resembles a pre-First World War Mark 1 or Mark 2 Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle and bears the mark of a unit of the Volunteer Training Corps - the First World...
one of nine skittles portraying enemy leaders

Set of nine skittles portraying enemy leaders of World War One