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Registered Charity United Kingdom No 226682 Spain No G54288329
20 September 2010
Senior Royal figures, Politicians and Civic Dignitaries joined Battle of Britain Veterans and 100s of Worshipers at Westminster Abbey today the 19th September to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Following the service a parade of over 300 serving RAF personnel and a flypast by a Spitfire, Hurricane and 4 Tornado jets brought the event to a close.
Members of the Royal Air Force Queen’s Colour Squadron formed the Lining Party as newly qualified RAF Search and Rescue pilot Prince William joined his father and the Duchess of Cornwall for the service of thanksgiving and rededication along with Prime Minister David Cameron, Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox and Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton.
In a moving and poignant ceremony the Fighter Command silk Ensign was paraded for the last time before being laid up in the Royal Air Force Memorial Chapel.
Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton said, “‘The Battle of Britain continues to inspire the Royal Air Force - not least those who are deployed on operations today in Afghanistan and the South Atlantic. Whilst the current threats Britain faces are very different, the air power that the Royal Air Force delivers today continues to provide the security of our skies and the critical and precise support of our soldiers and marines on the ground. Just as in 1940, the spirit, courage and determination of our airmen and women sustains our success on operations’.”
The service led by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey included an Act of Remembrance during
Senior Royal figures, Politicians and Civic Dignitaries joined Battle of Britain Veterans and 100s of Worshipers at Westminster Abbey today the 19th September to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Following the service a parade of over 300 serving RAF personnel and a flypast by a Spitfire, Hurricane and 4 Tornado jets brought the event to a close.
Members of the Royal Air Force Queen’s Colour Squadron formed the Lining Party as newly qualified RAF Search and Rescue pilot Prince William joined his father and the Duchess of Cornwall for the service of thanksgiving and rededication along with Prime Minister David Cameron, Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox and Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton.
In a moving and poignant ceremony the Fighter Command silk Ensign was paraded for the last time before being laid up in the Royal Air Force Memorial Chapel.
Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton said, “‘The Battle of Britain continues to inspire the Royal Air Force - not least those who are deployed on operations today in Afghanistan and the South Atlantic. Whilst the current threats Britain faces are very different, the air power that the Royal Air Force delivers today continues to provide the security of our skies and the critical and precise support of our soldiers and marines on the ground. Just as in 1940, the spirit, courage and determination of our airmen and women sustains our success on operations’.”
The service led by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey included an Act of Remembrance during
Westminster Abbey Service, Parade and Flypast marks the
70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
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 Ray Pentland. (450 x 600).jpg "Chaplain in Chief, The Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) Ray Pentland. (450 x 600)")
.jpg "Laying up of the Fighter Command ensign (556 x 375)")
.jpg "The Royal party leaves Westminster Abbey (451 x 600)")
.jpg "Guests watching the flypast (556 x 301)")
.jpg "Spitfire and Hurricane flypast (556 x 363)")
.jpg "The Hawker Hurricane flying over the Abbey and the Standard of the Royal Air Force. (352 x 600)")
.jpg "Spitfire and Hurricane flypast from above (501 x 600)")
.jpg "March past of Squadron Colours12 (556 x 338)")
.jpg "westminMarch past of Squadron Colours14 (401 x 600)")
.jpg "HRH The Prince of Wales takes the salute. (556 x 367)")
which the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was borne from the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in the Chapel of St George and escorted to the Sacrarium. The Chaplain in Chief of the Royal Air Force The Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) Ray Pentland delivered the sermon;
“70 years ago our nation stood on the brink of invasion. Churchill declared ‘I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation.’
“This turning point in our nation’s history is the story of victory and of salvation. It is the story of Cam’s Hurricane, Mitchell’s spitfire, Dowding’s preparation, Park’s strategy and Churchill’s leadership. It is the story of the thousands who plotted and planned; who engineered and served; who loved and lost; who fought and won. It is the story of victory against all odds. It is the story of the few and the debt we owe. Could they have dreamt that it would really become our finest hour? Could they have imagined that the work of their hands would become the salvation of our nation?”
“Through their Bravery our Freedom was won.”
Wing Commander Bob Foster (Retired), Chairman, Battle of Britain Fighter Association, and former Hurricane pilot during the Battle of Britain read the first prayer:
“Let us thank God for the freedoms we enjoy, recalling with gratitude the courage of those who during the Battle of Britain served the cause of liberty in the Royal Air Force, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and especially those who gave their lives so that we might live to the full.”
Following the service 300 personnel marched through the streets of London as His Royal Highness Prince Charles took the salute and a Spitfire, Hurricane and 4 Tornado GR4 from 31 Squadron, RAF Marham in Norfolk flew over head.
Hazel Gregory, aged 89, a War Room Plotter in the Uxbridge Operations room during the Battle of Britain said her most memorable experience during her time in service was September the 15th when the battle was at its height and was the main turning point during the war. She said, “We came on duty and it was fairly quiet but the plotters covering France, Belgium and Holland were seeing big numbers formating up and they started coming over. Then it went completely mad for a couple of hours. Towards lunchtime, they were either all home or shot down and then there was a second raid in the afternoon.”
“70 years ago our nation stood on the brink of invasion. Churchill declared ‘I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation.’
“This turning point in our nation’s history is the story of victory and of salvation. It is the story of Cam’s Hurricane, Mitchell’s spitfire, Dowding’s preparation, Park’s strategy and Churchill’s leadership. It is the story of the thousands who plotted and planned; who engineered and served; who loved and lost; who fought and won. It is the story of victory against all odds. It is the story of the few and the debt we owe. Could they have dreamt that it would really become our finest hour? Could they have imagined that the work of their hands would become the salvation of our nation?”
“Through their Bravery our Freedom was won.”
Wing Commander Bob Foster (Retired), Chairman, Battle of Britain Fighter Association, and former Hurricane pilot during the Battle of Britain read the first prayer:
“Let us thank God for the freedoms we enjoy, recalling with gratitude the courage of those who during the Battle of Britain served the cause of liberty in the Royal Air Force, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and especially those who gave their lives so that we might live to the full.”
Following the service 300 personnel marched through the streets of London as His Royal Highness Prince Charles took the salute and a Spitfire, Hurricane and 4 Tornado GR4 from 31 Squadron, RAF Marham in Norfolk flew over head.
Hazel Gregory, aged 89, a War Room Plotter in the Uxbridge Operations room during the Battle of Britain said her most memorable experience during her time in service was September the 15th when the battle was at its height and was the main turning point during the war. She said, “We came on duty and it was fairly quiet but the plotters covering France, Belgium and Holland were seeing big numbers formating up and they started coming over. Then it went completely mad for a couple of hours. Towards lunchtime, they were either all home or shot down and then there was a second raid in the afternoon.”