As the Battle of Britain anniversary ends, we must remember the debt we owe

We have a responsibility to celebrate the sacrifices our nation’s veterans made, and learn the important lessons from their stories, writes Chris Elliot

Saturday 31 October 2020 12:18 GMT
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A flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain flies over Westminster Abbey, London
A flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain flies over Westminster Abbey, London

This Saturday marks 80 years since the official end of the Battle of Britain, when the Royal Air Force scored a decisive victory against the Luftwaffe. It is also an important time to remember the debt we owe to all those who played their part in securing that precious victory.

This was by no means the end of the war or the pain and suffering of the British people, as the Blitz followed shortly after, but it was a remarkable flicker of hope for the country. Suddenly the goal of defeating Germany and its allies seemed possible, however far away.

Eighty years later and this year’s anniversary of the famous battle has felt different for many. The coronavirus pandemic has meant much of the armed forces community and country has had to commemorate the anniversary online. This has brought its own unique challenges in making sure our serving community has been able to feel involved in the commemoration.

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