January 1, 1970

Extract from Saviour of the Nation: An Epic Poem of Winston Churchill’s Finest Hour written by Brian Hodgkinson.

Ch. 14 The Battle of Britain

Soon wave on wave of German bombers came –

The square-tipped Heinkels, slender Dorniers –

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To Manston, Hawkinge, Lympne, Biggin Hill,

To crater runways, blow up grounded planes,

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And damage vital centres of control;

Whilst on the industrial cities, those that made

The aircraft frames and engines, bombs now fell

To cut supplies of precious fighter planes.

It was a warm, bright Summer. People watched

In market towns and villages of Kent,

As, high above, the aircraft left their trails

Of harmless vapour, or black shrouds of smoke.

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Churchill could do little. He had warned

That this air battle would be critical.

Now he must wait, and like the crowds in Kent,

Watch helplessly below, whilst others fought…

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…He thought how few these British pilots were;

Not like the massive armies he had seen

At Omdurman, or on the western front.

‘The fewer men, the greater share of honour.

God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.’

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These words of Shakespeare echoed in his mind,

When later he addressed the Lower House.

‘The gratitude of every home’, he said,

‘In Britain, in the Empire, in the world,

Except in the abodes of guilty men,

Goes out to British airmen, those who fight

Undaunted by the odds, by mortal threats,

And, by devotion, turn the tide of war.

Never in the field of human conflict

Was so much owed by many to so few.’

Throughout the nation Churchill’s speech aroused

A deep respect for those he had so praised.

Saviour of the Nation: An Epic Poem of Winston Churchill’s Finest Hour is available now