Battle of Britain Day

[Owen]

September 15th is now celebrated each year in Britain and the commonwealth countries as Battle of Britain Day.

From BOBHSOC/The Battle of Britain

Was it?
Do we?
I didn't even think of it until reading about Raymond Baxter. Sorry Chaps.
Today for me was about first use of Tanks.

Now the 60th Anniveraries are all memories are we forgetting WW2?

Will interest increase again in 2009?

[Gnomey]

It is today and no we don't seem to do much about it (we should do more).

I would say unfortunately lots of people are forgetting about it, however as for 2009, I suspect it will come around and people will go "What was that". There will still be people who have a continued interest in it (it is why we are all here after all).

And finally as you couldn't spell Britain (typo I know) I fixed it for you - and you need to change your avatar back

[adrian roberts]

I did remember what day it was today, about half-way through.

I once wrote to my MP suggesting that BofB day should be a public holiday.

He wrote back saying this might upset the Germans

[morse1001]

We as a nation are losing sight of the things which are important to us and which help make up the society in which we live.

WW2 is fast becoming a small sideline in the nations memory, just some blurred images contained in some black and white film watched late at night after the kids have gone to bed.

The veterens are dying and those that are left are more concerned with the mundane day to day existance to keep alive the memory - present company excepted.

[lancesergeant]

Sorry to mention it gents, but it is not politically correct in this day and age to relate back to the war. Modern powers that be seem to doom it to the annals of the past. When we have a mock battle at Portsmouth with red and blue armies so we don't upset the invited French. Why were they invited any way? Any logical explanation, anyone else would look at it as the host nation rubbing their noses in it. Good excuse to waste taxpayers money on.

According to some social observers, modern schoolchildren know squat about this country's history it being treated as some sort of embarassment or our colonial past and empire and all that. Mahross is a teacher is he not, he might be able to shed more light on it. The political correct luvvies are giving history their slant and give the idea our history is something we should keep quiet about.

[Owen]

Back in 2005 my daughter's school had many events related to WW2.
Lots of children dressed as evacuees.
Some of the female teachers looked damned good too!
There was a good emphasis on the War but it was the 60th anniversary of the end.
That's why I think it'll die down until 2009.

[Gage]

I remembered. And I do every year. I lot of people don't know or couldn't give a toss. My respect and thoughts were with those involved from both sides.

[Gerry Chester]

Awareness of the events that tore the world apart, approaching a century ago, did not escape the folks of Bali - schools had studies of WW II on last year's curriculum. At one school I was invited to speak to 10/11 year olds. At question time, lots of kids asked did I know his/her grandfather, et cetera. One question, which I cannot recall, caused me to ask a counter one: " Why did someone who served in the North Irish Horse crew a tank?" One bright youngster replied: "Because tanks have engines and engines need horse-power."

What makes this so interesting is that Bali's exposure to the war was only the Japanese using Denpasar Airport (then little more than air-strip) which they took over after the Battle of Badoeng Strait.

[CROONAERT]

Originally Posted by Gnomey

It is today and no we don't seem to do much about it (we should do more).

What about the annual "Wings" appeal?

June 6th, amongst other dates seems to come and go relatively unnoticed unless it's an "anniversary year" - at least "Wings" is an annual event.

Dave

[adrian roberts]

Originally Posted by Owen D

Back in 2005 my daughter's school had many events related to WW2.
Lots of children dressed as evacuees.
Some of the female teachers looked damned good too!
There was a good emphasis on the War but it was the 60th anniversary of the end.
That's why I think it'll die down until 2009.

My eldest daughter who is in year 6 (what we used to call top juniors) is at the moment learning about ww2 - but, again it is about the evacuation, the air raids etc. Better than nothing I suppose, but as usual it seems to be social history, very little about dates and causes, and nothing about the actual fighting, the Battle of Britain pilots etc - far too elitist I suspect.

adrian