Battle of Britain: Capel le Ferne memorial to include names of ground crew

The names of people who served as ground crew during one of the most epic battles of World War Two can now be included in a memorial.

The names will be laid on to the Battle of Britain Memorial in Kent.

People whose contribution in military or civilian service helped the pilots will be carved onto granite stones.

The Christopher Foxley-Norris Wall, in Capel le Ferne, currently carries the names of about 3,000 airmen who flew between July and October 1940.

Many of the ground crew during the Battle of Britain were based at former RAF sites at Manston, Biggin Hill and West Malling.

Jules Gomez. site manager at the memorial, said the move to include the names of those who contributed from the bases or through the wider war effort would help recognise not only 'The Few' - the legendary pilots - but also 'The Many'.

He said: "'The Many' were the crew who kept the planes flying and got those men up in the air.

"But also, there were the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary who moved planes from airfield to factory but were not allowed to fly in combat by order of 'The Ministry'."

'The Many' previously did not qualify to have their names on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Wall.

Relatives are being invited to apply for one of the 270 tiles on each of the three Blades of Honour by the end of the year, in return for a donation supporting the memorial.

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"The Many" who served as ground crew during the summer of 1940 can now be remembered by relatives at The Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel Le Ferne