Images of the Unveiling of the London Battle of Britain Monument

This is the latest selection of images that were taken by the official photographer at the unveiling of the London Battle of Britain Monument on September 18, 2005. Click on any image to access a larger screen image then use your browsers back button to return to this page.
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The arrival of HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arriving at Westminster Abbey through the RAF Guard of Honour outside the West End entrance
A lady who said "We'll Meet Again" has kept her promise. Dame Vera Lynn DBE LLB never misses important events such as this one
A RAF guard of honour stands at one corner of the London Monument where a carefully chosen angle allows us to see the crest of RAF Fighter Command and a section of the many names of those aircrew that served in that summer of 1940
Chairman of the Monument Committee the Rt Hon Lord Tebbitt CH is seen here with HRH Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall walking from the Victoria Embankment walking towards the Battle of Britain Monument site where the unveiling ceremony will take place
Rt Hon Lord Tebbitt CH makes his address with the royal party and RAF officials standing on the left of the picture and Bill Bond and Paul Day standing on the right with members of the monument committee
HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pose in front of the London Monument
HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall gives his speech that informed everybody the importance of this monument.
On the right are: Bill Bond, Maurice Djanogly, Paul Day & Tony Dyson.
HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall pull the cords that show the airmen scrambling for their aircraft and in doing so declare that the London Battle of Britain Monument has been officially dedicated and is now open
Another image of HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall pulling the cords that show the airmen scrambling for their aircraft and in doing so declaring that the London Battle of Britain Monument has been officially dedicated and open
At the appropriate moment, the sound of two Rolls Royce Merlin engines powering a Hurricane and a Spitfire flying above the River Thames just as the London Monument was unveiled
Now with the covers removed, HRH Prince Charles takes an interest in the delicate carvings of the sculpture. This panel showing the work of the plotters around the huge map table
HRH Prince Charles is joined by the Chairman of the Monument Committee the Rt Hon Lord Tebbitt CH and further discussions about the monument take place
After the service HRH Prince Charles takes time out from official duties and joins many of the Battle of Britain veterans for some friendly chat
With the figure of an airman ready for battle and looking over the shoulders of the Prince and Duchess, this photograph has already found its way to the pages of the print media
A photograph that many will want to have in their collection. HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in a group photograph with a number of Battle of Britain veterans set against the backdrop of the London Battle of Britain Monument
(See main photo for names)
Son, do you know you remind me of...well me, just how I looked and I would be doing just what you are doing. We were a free spirit weren't we. We faced death during the day and drank and sang after sundown, so son, I'll have a drink for you this evening

 

 Albert Gregory [219 Sqn].

Yeah...they were not bad days really, and if you haven't heard....we won and that's why me, and all my friends who are like you are here today. You are here because in sixty-five years time, they may have forgotten about me, but you my son; will be my shadow and they will remember.

 Albert Gregory [219 Sqn].

Throughout the afternoon many, like this Battle of Britain veteran here walked around the monument and admired the lifelike sculptures on the friezes.

 

 Jack Toombs [236 Sqn].

At the end of the day it was just awesome, a day no one here will ever forget. And with a smile like that, he is just one very happy fella!!

 

 

 Leopold Heimes [235 Sqn].

An official of the Australian Army and attached to the Australian Consulate with Mark Andrews wife Roma. The names of those Australian airmen who served in the Battle of Britain are inscribed on the monument behind them.
Image submitted by: Mark Andrew (Plaques Representative)