The ranks of Churchill’s ‘Few’, the heroes of the Royal Air Force who saved this country from a Nazi invasion in 1940, have increased following the decision to add a new name to the roll of honour.

Eighty-four years on from the start of the last month of the historic battle, which began on 10 July and ended on 31 October, Ronald Thomson, a sergeant pilot with No 616 Squadron during the Battle, has been named as one of that number. 

His name will be added to the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone in Kent, where the names of those known to have qualified for the Battle of Britain Clasp are carved in black granite.

Just under 3,000 men are named on the wall, with the true number unlikely ever to be known, given the difficulties of keeping accurate squadron records while tackling the superior numbers of the Luftwaffe.

Sergeant – later Flight Lieutenant – Thomson’s eligibility for the clasp came to light after author Mark Hillier obtained his logbook and discovered that he had taken part in searching for an unidentified enemy aircraft (known as an ‘X’ Raid) between 10 July and 31 October.

The evidence was put forward to the RAF’s Air Historical Branch, the only body with the authority to add new names to the ranks of ‘the Few’, and has been accepted. This rare addition to the list of Clasp holders will be marked in due course at the Battle of Britain Memorial, which is home to the National Memorial to the Few and to a modern visitor centre, The Wing.

www.battleofbritainmemorial.org

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