Battle of Britain: The Few

The Summer and Autumn of 1940 marked the world's first aerial only battle, the 'Battle of Britain', fought by the Royal Air Force against overwhelming odds. Prime Minister Churchill's speech to the House of Commons on 20th August 1940 summed up the battle and the gratitude of a nation to the RAF pilots in their Spitfires and Hurricanes; "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few". Of course, the heroics were not confined to the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots but also included the actions of other RAF aircrew and numerous military and civilian personnel on the ground, all of whom are commemorated in Paul Day's sculptures on the Battle of Britain Monument in London.

15th September is universally regarded as the turning point in the three and a half month battle and, commemorated annually, Battle of Britain Day on 15th September officially marks the heroics and sacrifice made. In recognition of this, we are once again supporting the RAF Benevolent Fund, which helps ex-RAF personnel and their families who are in hardship, and will contribute 5% of sales from our 'Battle of Britain' pocket square on OtwayOrford.co.uk until 15th September. This high-quality men's silk pocket square uses war artist Paul Nash's famous painting of the battle and was created in collaboration with the Imperial War Museums.

If you need any further reason to purchase our 'Battle of Britain' pocket square below, it does make a dashing finishing touch for the Goodwood Revival as well as being highly appropriate given Goodwood's role as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain in the guise of RAF Westhampnett.

Pilots of 'B' Flight, No. 32 Squadron relax on the grass at Hawkinge in front of Hurricane Mk I P3522, GZ-V, 29th July 1940.