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

boots, pair of (with clip-on skates)
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Herbert Kay (Koniec) brought these boots and clip-on ice skates with him when he was evacuated from Czechoslovakia on one of the Kindertransports in June 1939. He is the brother of Dorothea Douglas who was also a Kinder. Herbert recalls: 'I left...
scarf, Jacqmar, 'Into Battle
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Jacqmar
Second World War period Jacqmar scarf; British 'home front' associations.
sugar, caster, packet of, British
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tate and Lyle Ltd
Second World War period pack of Tate and Lyle caster sugar. British Home Front associations.
cigarette lighter
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This cigarette lighter was made during the Second World War by Mr Frank Wild from an off-cut from a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine cylinder block. Frank Wild was an Inspector at the Rolls-Royce plant at Crewe during the Second World War. Rolls-Royce made the...
'V for Victory' stickers
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War period British Home Front 'V' for Victory campaign stickers. The responsibility and origins of the campaign lay with the BBC who in July 1941, in the wake of the desperate Russian defensive operations following the German invasion,...
scarf, Jacqmar, 'Salvage Your Rubber
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Jacqmar
Second World War period British propaganda scarf by Jacqmar of London and worn on the 'Home Front' by S Knapman. Jacqmar of London made propaganda scarves from 1940-1945. They were based in Mayfair (16 Grosvenor Street) and many were produced for the...
harness
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Harness associated with 'Rex', a British Second World War Home Front 'rescue dog'. 'Rex' was awarded the Dickin medal on 25 April 1945 for outstanding bravery in finding bomb victims, trapped under fallen debris. (The Dickin Medal award was instituted by...
metal polish, British
(souvenirs and ephemera)
A tin of 'Bluebell' brand metal polish made in Britain during the Second World War period. 'Bluebell' metal cleaning products were a household name in the 1930s and even merited a specific and relevant contextual reference in Patrick Hamilton's 1935...
scarf, Jacqmar, 'LES LAURIERS DE LA VICTOIRE
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Jacqmar 1945
Second World War period Jacqmar scarf. British, 'home front', 1945, associations
badge, 'V for Victory', British
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War period 'V' for Victory patriotic propaganda badge, British Home Front associations.