The Memorial will centre around a Spitfire propeller sculpture . It will feature the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour and will complement the National Memorial in London and memorials across the south of England. There is no Memorial in the north and our project will not only commemorate the men and women of the RAF who came from every town and village in the country but also those pilots and ground crew who throughout the war came from across the world to help. They included pilots from the United States, Europe, Poland, France, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Ireland as well as the Commonwealth, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Jamaica, Canada, Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand. The Spitfire propellor is an iconic symbol and it will focus attention on how crucial the Battle of Britain was in our history. It will inspire young and old alike to enquire and discover how a small group of people defended our islands and went on to help free the western world.

What we'll deliver:

• The Memorial will have a 1940's WW2 Spitfire propeller centrepiece
• Flanking the centrepiece will be pillars with information panels recount the story of the Battle and its participants
• Around the Memorial there will be seating areas for visitors.
• A Memorial website and booklet explaining the significance of the memorial will be produced.

Why it's a great idea:

In 2020 we celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and today the participants are very few in number. Their legacy is one of the greatest achievements in the history of not only Britain but the world. They were a group of young people who were vastly outnumbered and under resourced but their courage and tenacity has become legendary. With their iconic Spitfire and Hurricane aeroplanes their story resonates with young and old alike and it features not just the British but men and women from around the world who came to help defend our freedom. When the eye witnesses are no longer here to tell their story the Northern Battle of Britain Memorial will become a focus for remembrance, a tourist destination and a place of pilgrimage where young and old can come together to be inspired, to learn and to pay homage. This opportunity exists at two sites in the south of the country but the Battle was a national effort. The Northern Memorial will recognise this.

Steps to get it done:

• Design brief tbc 1st Nov 20021
• Funding in place 1st April 2022
• Groundwork construction 1st March 2022
• Creation of information boards Jan - March 2022
• Installation of information boards and landscaping complete by 1st July 2022
• Official launch of the Memorial 15th Sept 2022 ( Battle of Britain Day)

The Memorial will be a significant part of the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire aviation trail attracting visitors who will contribute to the local economy. There will be a need for interpretation facilities that will increase the opportunities for volunteers and potentially create jobs. The memorial will recognise the Battle of Britain as a significant part of our national heritage. It will also draw attention to the role played by men and women from our overseas allies many of which remained in this country after the war. Through focusing on this role we hope to inform and educate the wider community about the contribution made by their ancestors. We hope to promote community cohesion by recognising the multi racial nature of the participants who came together during World War Two. Although its primary role is remembrance the Memorial will be a significant visitor attraction promoting learning and activity across the generations.