November 1, 2020

By BRIAN KRAPF

The year 2020 marks the eightieth anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which was fought from 10 July to 31 October, 1940. On 20 August, Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his famous address before the House of Commons praising and expressing gratitude to “the few.” He spoke at a critical time, since Britain was preparing for a possible German invasion, and Churchill is credited with inspiring the nation and the Commonwealth.

Shortly after Churchill delivered “The Few” address, British manufacturers of porcelain and other items began producing pieces commemorating the speech for sale at home and abroad. Taylor & Kent of Longton produced this fine porcelain mug that stands four-inches high and bears both “The Few” quote and RAF wings. The pattern also appears in the form of a small dish or bowl and is very popular among collectors. The mug seems to be the rarer of the pieces and appears on the market once or twice a year. Whether you are a collector or not, these pieces are cherished memorials of a pivotal historical era.

Brian Krapf’s book We Want Winston!—A Treasury of Churchill Memorabilia is due to be published by Pen and Sword in 2021.