Battle of Britain marked with parade and church service

Sunday 16 September 2018

The annual parade and church service to mark the Battle of Britain will take place today, following the Air Display a few days earlier.

The parade will muster before marching to the Town Quay, where it will be inspected by the Lieutenant Governor.

The parade will include visiting personel as well as Guernsey veterans, local cadets and the Guernsey Scout Band.

The parade will be followed by a service at the Town Church which is due to start at the earlier time than usual of 10:30. The service will be led by Reverend Tim Barker, the Dean of Guernsey with The Reverend Matthew Barrett acting as Preacher.

Anyone attending the Church service must be seated by 10:15.

Pictured: The Red Arrows over St Peter Port Harbour on Thursday 13 September

The Battle of Britain is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Air Force  during the summer and autumn of 1940 "to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF), especially Fighter Command during the Second World War."

The name derives from a speech made on 18 June 1940 in the House of Commons by Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said, "The Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin". The failure of Germany to reach its objectives - to destroy Britain's air defence or to force Britain into an armistice or surrender - is considered both its first major defeat and the crucial turning point in the war. If Germany had gained air superiority, Adolf Hitler might have launched Operation Sealion: an amphibious and airborne invasion of Britain.

The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces. It was the largest and most sustained bombing campaign up until that date.

The British date the battle from 10 July to 31 October 1940, while German historians usually place the beginning of the battle in mid-August 1940 and end it in May 1941, on the withdrawal of the bomber units in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the campaign against the Soviet Union, which began on 22 June 1941.

The Battle of Britain is commemorated annually at the beginning of September in gratitude to The Few who defended the country and therefore gave us the freedom that we have today.

The church service held in Guernsey on the Sunday following Battle of Britain Week is held as a commemoration of those who have died in the defence of Britain.