I FELT AS IF I WERE WALKING WITH DESTINY, AND THAT ALL MY PAST LIFE HAD BEEN BUT A PREPARATION FOR THIS HOUR AND FOR THIS TRIAL WINSTON CHURCHILL One man is synonymous with 1940 - Winston Churchill, who became Prime Minister in May. Neville Chamberlain had been in power since 1937. He had hoped to avoid conflict with Nazi Germany, until it became clear that Hitler could not be stopped by negotiation. By 1940, many were questioning his handling of the war, leading to calls for his resignation. Two clear candidates emerged to step into the breach: Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary, was Chamberlain’s first choice, but he gave way in favour of Churchill. On Friday 10 May 1940, the people of Britain awoke to the news that Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France had been invaded by Hitler’s forces. Churchill was summoned to Buckingham Palace and asked by King George VI to form a government. Churchill set about rallying the country for the greatest test in its history. LET US THEREFORE BRACE OURSELVES TO OUR DUTY AND SO BEAR OURSELVES THAT IF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE LASTS FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, MEN WILL STILL SAY “THIS WAS THEIR FINEST HOUR” WINSTON CHURCHILL 1940 was Britain’s first full year of war. It was not only the year that the country’s very existence was threatened, it was also - as Churchill said - its ‘finest hour’. Defeat and occupation by Nazi Germany were very real possibilities, but it was the momentous events of this year that helped to shape the course, and eventual outcome, of the Second World War. In 1940, Britain needed leadership, determination, courage, effort, sacrifice - and luck - to survive. Explore these pages and discover how the Museum’s unique collections tell the story of 1940 and find out how each of the Museum’s branches is marking the pivotal events of this remarkable year. Click for more details 11:00am Saturday 10th July 2010 THE distinctive throaty roar of a Second World War Spitfire heralded the start of a weekend of commemorative events to mark the centenary of Bournemouth’s first major air show. The sight and sound of the plane drew crowds to vantage points between Hengistbury Head andSouthbourne, where all eyes – and countless camera lenses – turning skyward. The Spitfire, piloted by former Winton Boys’ School pupil Phill O’Dell, may have looked tiny and frail against the vast sky, but proved it still had the speed and manoeuvrability that made it such an iconic warplane. As sunbeams filtered through the grey clouds, it climbed, swooped, dived and looped the loop, at one point thrilling spectators by coming in fast and low towards the cliffs before banking. Among the onlookers were David and Pauline Allen, who had made a special trip from their home in Burton to see the display. “It’s a wonderful sight, very evocative. The Merlin engine is very famous and all enthusiasts recognise that noise,” said Mr Allen. “I was born in 1941 so I’m too young to remember the Spitfire, but there are people here who certainly do. Everyone associates that plane with us winning the war.” The 10-day International Aviation Meeting took place in an area between Belle Vue Road in Southbourne and Double Dykes from July 11 to 16, 1910, when flying was till in its infancy. Nineteen pilots competed for £30,000 of prizes, testing their aircraft and skills to the limit. On the second day, 32-year-old motoring and aviation pioneer Charles Rolls became the first British person to die in a plane crash on home soil when the tail of his Wright Flyer broke in mid-air. Mr O’Dell, chief test pilot for Rolls-Royce, helped unveil the rededicated memorial in a corner of St Peter’s School playing field, near the spot where Rolls plunged to earth. The memorial has been refurbished by his company. He said learning about Rolls at school was one of the inspirations for learning to fly in 1980. “It’s quite something to come back on a perfect day to a perfect place in a perfect aeroplane,” he said. “I realise how privileged I am to fly an aeroplane like that, and how much we owe to this man.” Event organiser Tony Harrington said the long-term aim was to raise enough money to put up a bronze statue of Charles Rolls in The Broadway.
Spitfire flypast marks weekend of commemoration
Friday, 20 August 2010
Posts
