Detailed biographical sketches of a number of men killed or missing
from a variety of squadrons and units. Each chapter in this book
concerns an individual which can be read as a stand-alone account or as
part of the whole.
The summer of 1940 remains a pivotal moment in modern British history -
still inspiring immense national pride and a global fascination.
The Fall of France was catastrophic. Britain stood alone and within
range of German air attack. America, with its vast resources was
neutral, Hitler's forces unbeaten, the outlook for Britain bleak. As
Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill, rightly predicted, 'the
Battle of Britain is about to begin'.
Famously, Churchill mobilized the English language, emboldening the
nation with rousing rhetoric. In this darkest of hours, Churchill told
the people that this was, in fact, their 'Finest Hour', a time of
unprecedented courage and defiance which defined the British people.
Connecting the crucial battle with Shakespeare's heroic Henry V and
Agincourt, Churchill also immortalized Fighter Command's young aircrew
as the 'Few' - to whom so many owed everything.
The Few comprised nearly 3,000 aircrew, 544 of which gave their lives
during the Battle of Britain's sixteen weeks of high drama. Arguably,
however, the official dates of 10 July - 31 October 1940 are arbitrary,
the fighting actually ongoing before and afterwards. Many gave their
lives whose names are not included among the Few, as of course did
civilians, seamen, and ground staff - which is not overlooked in this
groundbreaking book.
In this unique study, veteran historian and author Dilip Sarkar explores
the individual stories of a wide selection of those who lost their lives
during the 'Finest Hour', examining their all-too brief lives and
sharing these tragic stories - told here, in full, for the first time.
Also included is the story of a German fighter pilot, indicating the
breadth of investigation involved.
Researched with the full cooperation of the families concerned, this
work is a crucial contribution to the Battle of Britain's bibliography.
