Remembering the Battle of Britain: Trafford's tribute

Trafford Council is hosting the event alongside RAF Cadets from across Greater Manchester to mark the anniversary of the battle, which proved a turning point in World War II.

The Battle of Britain Service will begin at 10.30am outside Sale Town Hall, School Road, Sale. Cadets will build a Drumhead Altar at the start of the service — an improvised altar made from upturned drums, which traditionally creates a focal point for remembrance on the battlefield.

Invited guests and dignitaries include the Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Jane Brophy, and the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Judith Lloyd, along with community representatives from across the borough.

Trafford Council is proud to support the veteran and Armed Forces community through its Armed Forces Covenant, reflecting its EPIC values by recognising service, promoting inclusion, and honouring those who have served.

Cllr Judith Lloyd said:

“Each year we come together to honour the courage of those who fought in the Battle of Britain. The contribution of those brave men and women can never be underestimated. Without the RAF holding off the advance of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s planned invasion of the UK would have gone ahead.

We will remember the pilots who took to the sky with no thought of their own safety, as well as the many servicemen and women who supported them. Their courage and sacrifice protected the freedoms we enjoy today — and we will never forget them.”

The Battle of Britain took place in the summer and autumn of 1940, and was the first major campaign fought entirely in the air. On 15 September 1940, the Luftwaffe launched a massive assault in the skies over Britain, only to be decisively defeated by the RAF with the support of allies from across the world. The victory has since been marked as Battle of Britain Day.

Residents are invited to attend the service and pay their respects to those who changed the course of the war.