Survey reveals nearly half of all Brits don’t know what the Battle of Britain is
2,000 people around the UK were surveyed by the RAF Benevolent Fund - an organisation that supports serving RAF personnel, veterans and their families - on their knowledge of this vital WWII conflict.
Younger Britons were the most unfamiliar with the battle as only 33% of those aged 18 - 24 were able to correctly identify the battle.
Of the other 67% in that age bracket 30% had no idea what the battle was, 12% thought it was a battle for control of the Channel in WWI, 9% believed it was a civil war between England and Scotland, 6% a Viking invasion and 3% wrongly identified it as the 2019 General Election.
Of the 56% of all surveyed who knew what the Battle of Britain was, 46% were unaware it took place in 1940 and 78% didn’t know how long the battle lasted for.
Similar research took place in 2015 and comparisons with 2020 data show there may have been a decline in Battle of Britain knowledge in the 18 - 24 age bracket in that time.
In 2015 37% knew it took place in 1940 compared to 34% in 2020 and 29% knew who ‘The Few’ were compared to 25% in 2015.
48% of all respondents said they’d like to know more about historic events and so in response the fund is beginning a six-part Battle of Britain podcast.
Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot, Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “As we reach this significant 80th anniversary, it is vital the sacrifice of The Few and all who supported them is remembered and marked by all generations.
“Such important historical moments have lessons for all of us and that’s why we’re encouraging the British public to find out more. By supporting RAF veterans and their families we get to hear their incredible stories first-hand but as time passes, those opportunities are running out.”
View the full survey results through this link.
| 7 Aug 20 | John Betts The reason there is such poor knowledge on the BofB - and other English history - is that few secondary level schools teach English history. I taught technology at a high school for 10 years & the GCSE history syllabus during that time was the Wild West! | |
| 7 Aug 20 | IAN ROBINSON Practically none of them would even exist had we not won it! Did the survey tell them that? Thought not | |
| 7 Aug 20 | Bob Holden-Rushworth It`s depressing how little of our own history, we teach our children and the current trend towards "rewriting anything somebody doesn`t like" is worrying. Let`s encourage and nurture an enquiring mind....about all our history.... | |
| 7 Aug 20 | John Scott One thing is for sure, we ignore the lessons of history at our peril. It's a most important subject, whether it shows us good or bad. | |
| 7 Aug 20 | Phil Cater Unfortunately our education system is so left-wing that they've probably decided that teaching this period of UK history is anti German (and therefore anti European!) and not respectful of other nationalities. Political correctness above all else! | |
| 8 Aug 20 | Mike Fawdrey Our education system is so concerned with political correctness our children no longer or rather their teachers have any concern for the truth. Under political correctness the Test Acts are slowly being reintroduced. | |
| 9 Aug 20 | Mike R John Scott, I will second that!
This is not only very worrying, but also very sad, and a damning indictment of our educators! |
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