Battle of Britain anniversary will be marked online
Ambitious plans are being drawn up to commemorate Memorial Day virtually.
The idea comes from the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, which marks the 80th anniversary of the aerial duel on July 12. But with the memorial, at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone, currently closed, organisers are hoping an online event will still allow people around the world to take part.
“Clearly the coronavirus crisis means we can’t have Memorial Day in its usual form, but we are committed to pressing ahead with a suitable commemoration of the RAF’s victory in 1940,” explained honorary secretary of the trust, Group Captain Patrick Tootal.
“The country is facing a similar challenge to the one it faced in 1940 and we are determined to show the resolve that the men of the RAF showed in the face of adversity.”
The day is always held on a Sunday close to the start of the battle, which began on July 10, 1940, and following this year’s planned virtual event, the next ‘traditional’ commemoration is planned for Sunday, July 4, 2021. Keen to ensure the 80th anniversary of the RAF’s victory is properly commemorated, the trust has already rearranged the dates for its programme of Sunday afternoon talks, with those events now happening in September and October. Captain Tootal added: “We were planning a year of special events and we are determined that they will still happen, even if we have to alter our plans significantly.
“We hope the public will continue to support us in that ambition.
“We will be releasing more details of this year’s online Memorial Day shortly.” Meanwhile, a novice pilot has been added to the list of those who helped fight the battle. Sergeant James Eric William Ballard, of No 610 (County of Chester) Squadron, has been posthumously added to the exclusive list.
The Spitfire pilot now joins the other 2,940 airmen referred to as the ‘Few’ who fought for supremacy in the air during the Second World War in 1940.
The addition of Sgt Ballard – who had only nine hours of flying time before joining his squadron – to the ranks follows the discovery of his logbook. It records an operational sortie flown on October 8, 1940, a flight that was confirmed by the signatures of his commanding officer and flight commander.
As the battle is considered to have taken place between July 10 and October 31, 1940, the Air Historical Branch of the RAF has concluded that Sgt Ballard, known as ‘Eric’ or ‘Bill’, meets the criteria to be awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp to the 1939-45 Star.
Following his mission, Sgt Ballard continued to serve with the squadron but was killed in action, aged 23, on August 27, 1941 during an operation over Europe.
His body was not found and his name appears on the Air Forces Runnymede memorial overlooking the River Thames in Surrey. After the war, Sgt Ballard’s mother was recorded as living in Tooting, South London.
Grp Capt Tootal said: “It is rare to be able to add a new name to the list of those who took part, especially a Spitfire pilot. Sergeant Ballard’s contribution to the battle was relatively small but without him and men like him the RAF could not have achieved its victory. “Such was the desperate need then for fighter pilots that Sgt Ballard had only nine hours of flying time before joining his squadron.”
While new claims continue to be heard, it is rare for an airman to be admitted to the ranks of the Few as the criteria are strict. But last year, another pilot, Sgt Donald Brown, was also added to the list after research showed he had also taken part in the battle.
The names of all the Allied aircrew known to have flown are listed on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at the Memorial, which is closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.