Monument: Battle of Britain - London monument
Erection date: 18/9/2005
{A large plaque tells the story of the Battle - this text we have put on our page for the Battle of Britain. The plaque concludes:}
Of the 2,936 pilots and aircrew who fought in RAF Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, 544 lost their lives and a further 795 did not live to see the final victory in 1945. One in six were from countries outside the United Kingdom and on the plaques surrounding this monument their names have been grouped according to the airmen's country of origin. The plaques also feature the badges of their Squadrons.
It is in honour of the spirit and sacrifice of those immortalised as "The Few" and those supporting them that this monument has been erected.
{A small plaque below part of the list:}
The sculptor for this monument was Paul Day, working with architects Donald Insall Associates. The site was suggested by English Heritage and Westminster Council, the bronze reliefs and plaques were cast by the Morris Singer Foundry and the contractor was Stonewest.
BBM says "the names and ranks of the airmen who took part in the battle are {on plaques} mounted around the outside of the monument, the airmen's names being grouped under their respective countries." and at that website you can access the names, many of which have photos and further information.
Unveiled as part of the commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the Battle.
2010: the BBC reported on a name, Sq Ldr Charles Alexander Ogilvy, being added to this memorial.
Site: Battle of Britain - London monument (1 memorial)
SW1, Victoria Embankment
As happens occasionally (we've listed a few others here) this memorial hides a ventilation shaft. BBM has photos of it when it was a plain anonymous granite structure. To create the monument the chimney was split into two long low sections covered with the high relief sculptures and plaques.
This is a stunning memorial which we don't think is appreciated as widely as it should be. Perhaps the overall design is against it, since taking one photograph that shows the whole is just not possible. But the sculptures by Paul Day are magnificent. We cannot find a website with photos that do them justice - you'll just have to go and look for yourself.
Some of the scenes depicted are: pilots "scrambling" (our picture), the flights being plotted in an ops room (like No. 11 Fighter Group RAF Operations Room), mechanics and riggers preparing the aircraft, the Observer Corps scouring the air for incoming Luftwaffe (our other picture), the chat in the mess room after a flight, crews waiting for the signal to scramble, women factory workers building the aircraft, St Paul's surrounded by smoke, civilians sheltering and scanning the skies, anti-aircraft guns being loaded and fired, rescuers searching the ruins, etc.
