Remembering the Battle of Britain in Southern Cemetery

Now for many today the Battle of Britain is a piece of history, but for those of us who grew up in the 1940s and 50s it was an ever present event celebrated in countless films and still vivid in many people’s memories.

More so for those of us born in southern England who had ready access to the RAF aerodromes, and could pull on the stories of friends and family who saw the vapour trails over the Kent countryside.

But 75 years on and here in the North that all seems a little more remote so I welcome the exhibition of Battle of Britain memorabilia in the Remembrance Lodge at Southern Cemetery.

The exhibits are part of the much bigger collection belonging to David Harrop who has had a presence in the Lodge for years displaying material from both world wars.

The exhibition is unique for not only is it the only such collection on show in a cemetery but many of the items relate to men from the two world wars who rest in Southern.

The current display will last until the much bigger exhibition which is planned to commemorate the Manchester Blitz of December 1940.

Picture; items from the Battle of Britain courtesy of David Harrop