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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BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Two captions QVR (Queen Victoria Rifles - 7th and 8th King's Royal Rifle Corps KRRC) and a name (?) Yanina Stanski (?). Personal inscription made by Driver Stewart Brown of 525 Ammunition Company, RASC, 51st Division. It could refer to Driver S. Brown...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to the bottom. Inscription reading: '...Edward...' Second personal inscription made by Rifleman L. J. Sutch of the Queen Victoria Rifles (QVC) - 7th Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC), Army service number 6897454, POW number 20778...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to the bottom. Personal inscription made probably by Corporal J. M. Dick of the 1st Battalion Black Watch (Tyneside Scottish), Army service number 2754282, POW number 16019. Caption reads: 'Cpl ... Dick; 1st Black Watch; ... September...'...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Personal inscription written by a serviceman named Marsh of, probably, the Royal Army Service Corps. There are 8 servicemen named Marsh in the 'Prisoners of War: British Army 1939-1945' publication, none of them listed as a POW in...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Inscription written by a serviceman named 'Smither' or 'Smelter', unreadable. Two phrases of a popular love poem 'Roses are red': 'Roses are red, violets are blue'. Another two personal inscriptions written by Rifleman J. Chambers...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Third personal inscription by R. Lewis of the Gloucestershire Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Caption reads: 'R. Lewis; 5 days for slarven (?) + ...; Your comrades have me away + lofty'. R. Lewis is not listed in the 'Prisoners of War:...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Fifth personal inscription made by Private Bernard Smith of the 4th Battalion, the Seaforth Highlanders, Army service number 2821554, POW number 20886. Caption reads: 'Hitting a German; Bernard Smith; 15 years'. Another two personal...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Personal inscription made by Rifleman L. J. Sutch of the Queen Victoria Rifles (QVC)- 7th Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC), Army service number 6897454, POW number 20778, captured in Calaise on 26 May 1940. Captions reads: 'Calais 1940;...