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Battle of Britain dead remembered at Westminster Abbey service | Battle of Britain dead remembered at Westminster Abbey service |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Prince of Wales has joined Battle of Britain pilots and air crew at Westminster Abbey in marking the 75th anniversary of the crucial aerial conflict. | The Prince of Wales has joined Battle of Britain pilots and air crew at Westminster Abbey in marking the 75th anniversary of the crucial aerial conflict. |
The prince laid a wreath in front of a full congregation of 2,200 people who gathered on Sunday for the annual service to remember the remarkable victory as well as the loss of life. | |
Seven veterans who flew Hurricane or Spitfire aircraft during the historic second world war event escorted the Battle of Britain roll of honour, containing the names of those who died during the conflict, to the altar of the abbey. | Seven veterans who flew Hurricane or Spitfire aircraft during the historic second world war event escorted the Battle of Britain roll of honour, containing the names of those who died during the conflict, to the altar of the abbey. |
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, also attended the service. | Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, also attended the service. |
The prince later met with the veterans during a reception at Church House, before watching a flypast of four Spitfires and two Hurricanes. | |
The service comes after last week’s gathering of Battle of Britain aircraft, the biggest since the second world war, attended by Prince Harry. | The service comes after last week’s gathering of Battle of Britain aircraft, the biggest since the second world war, attended by Prince Harry. |
Related: Battle of Britain commemorations – in pictures | Related: Battle of Britain commemorations – in pictures |
The 1940 Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely in the skies, and involved servicemen from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia France, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Poland, Rhodesia, South Africa and the US. | |
More than 544 RAF pilots and aircrew died in the critical battle. | |
The prince has attended the annual Battle of Britain service more than 10 times, including the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries. | |
In 2010, he commissioned 15 portraits of surviving servicemen by alumni and faculty of the Prince’s Drawing School, one of the Prince’s charities. | |
This week a service was held at St Paul’s cathedral on Battle of Britain Day, the anniversary, on 15 September 1940, of the day when the Luftwaffe launched its largest attack against London. | |
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