Remembering the Battle of Britain ................ part 2 the Spitfire Fund

Book cover

I grew up with the Spitfire Fund although to be strictly accurate by the time I was born the war had been over for four years.

But stories of the Battle of Britain, the “Few” and the Hurricane and Spitfire were still very much part of my childhood.

That said until recently I had never come across the hard evidence for the Fund.

I can remember talking to Frank Cropper who collected for the Fund in Ashton-Under-Lyne and had seen the odd photograph but that was pretty much it.

But today I am looking at a book of 24 Spitfire Stamps which sold for one shilling with half of the proceeds going to  the Fund.

Lapel badge

Now as way of raising money for the war effort it was a clever idea.

It was established in the spring of 1940 and encouraged towns, and businesses along with individuals to donate money to the cost of making a Spitfire.

Now the cost of making one of these fighters was about £8000 – £12,000 but the target set for donations was £5000 which would pay for the airframe, and once that sum had been achieved the donor could have their name or a caption written in letters four inches high in yellow paint on the fuselage.

It was of course a brilliant piece of propaganda allowing individuals and groups to be part of the war effort and particularly to identify with the pilots fighting in the Battle of Britain.

Objects

So each of the stamps carried the message THE BRITISH EMPIRE STANDS FOR WORLD PEACE AND SECURITY DEFEND IT, and on the inside page of the book of stamps under Objects was the message, “The public are invited and urged to co-operating broadcasting that for which the British Empire stands by affixing to the back of all correspondence one of the EMPIRE STAMPS.  

Every letter passing through the post should carry this message.

Fifty per cent of the selling price is to be allocated to the Spitfire of Fighting Plane Funds. It is essential that Britain should dominate the air to avoid world disaster.  

We have the splendid men, but they must have the best aircraft and plenty of them.  Please help these two vital objects.”

Stamps

The book and the tiny lapel badge may seem small stuff when compared to the official documents, the memoirs of the great and good but they are an important piece of the war’s history.

Now I know if I go looking I will find more on the Fund its organisers and the daily grind of walking the streets collecting the money however small but for now that is it.

Although I rather think I might go up and visit the Lancashire County Archives where they have some promising material on the Spitfire Fund including a fascinating photograph of a group photograph of the presentation of £5,000 cheque to the Red Rose Spitfire Fund from the Lancashire Constabulary and Wardens Service, taken at Northwood, Old Trafford, on June 17 1943.**

But that is for another time.

Pictures; Spitfire Stamp Book and lapel badge, 1940 from the collection of David Harrop

*Brian Jackson, Lancashire County Archivist, reproduced from Fylde Spitfire Memorial Fund, https://fyldebbmfund.wordpress.com/view-fylde-district-spitfire-memorial-fund-documents/lytham-st-annes-its-mark-vb-spitfire-w3644/

** Spitfire Fund M29/01/14] COVERING THE PERIOD 1940-43 reference number MBLS/7/11 & PLA LC31/103-05 & 22, Lancashire County Records, http://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/calmview/Overview.aspx