Geoff Simpson

Well, that was quick! Following a meeting with the commissioning editor today, I am pleased to say that the first pages are finally being consigned to design. It’s been a long haul for Vol 1, and we are still not entirely there with some of the content, sourcing some images etc. But, at last, it feels like real progress and I think all (or most) pages for Vol 1 will have been designed/laid out this side of Christmas. Apart from the monumental task, I’m conscious that it is imperative to maintain the impeccable standards set by Winston Ramsey in the 1980 edition. Nothing less will do, and his are big (impossible!!) shoes to fill. I thus proceed with some considerable trepidation. I admit that a big dollop of imposter syndrome permanently sits on my shoulder as I work on the project. Watch this space…

As it is 15 September, probably as good a time as any to update on progress - admittedly glacially slow - with the 'Battle of Britain Then and Now' update(s) published by Pen & Sword. Volume 1 is just about ready to deliver and an all day meeting with the commissioning editor this week should push things on a bit. Vol 1 sweeps up all of the 'personnel' related subjects in one volume and Rob Pritchard has done a great of work adding in detailed lists of all RAF ground casualties. Vol 2 will cover RAF aircraft losses, and Mark Kirby has added considerably to our sum of knowledge in respect of recovered artefacts. Also, Mark has worked hard in respect of re-assessing previous understanding of aircraft losses, locations etc. Vol 3 will cover Luftwaffe aircraft losses, and I will begin properly working on that with Mark Kirby - probably from next spring. Vol 4 will cover airfields, whilst Vol 5 will be commemorative issues, museums, preserved/surviving aircraft etc. etc. (No schedule for 4 and 5 exists, but I'd guess mid to end of 2028.) We are also pleased that Lord Ashcroft has written a foreword to the series. We are often asked: why is it taking so long? That is not an unreasonable question! However, this is very much a labour of love by those involved and we all have busy lives doing other 'stuff'. As editor, I don't have the luxury of being able to commit 24/7 to the project and need to earn a living doing other stuff for most of the time. So, please be patient! Of course, in 1979/80 a large team (I think around 12 people full time) put the original together - and we don't have that luxury. Additionally, we have been hamstrung (to an extent) gathering some of the original source material in respect of images. Remember: 1980 was long before the digital age and copies were not kept of many of the photos. Also, most of the contributors are no longer with us and this presented another problem. So, getting all of that together has taken time, although we have all the images sorted for Vol 1, at least. However, NOTHING from the original volume was retained electronically, text or imagery, and reproducing (scanning) images from the original doesn't produce very satisfactory results. But...we are getting there!

Highlighting the story of ‘Rusty’ Rushmer is entirely laudable, and thank you for doing so. However, with all due respect to the lady, Jean Liddicoat did not play any part in getting his grave named. Although the important thing is that he was given back his name, others did all the heavy lifting, legwork, research, and letter writing to achieve the end result. The full story can be found here, by the way, in a book still available from @grub_street

Please retweet for this good cause - albeit that the back story is a terribly sad one. In the view of many, a wholly misguided move by @I_W_M

Ahead of family commemoration tomorrow, this year involving RAF Northolt, the grave of Fg Off Basil Fisher, 111 Squadron, killed in action 15 Aug 1940, is tidied, dressed, and ready.

The long grind to complete work on Vol 1 of the revised ‘Battle of Britain Then & Now’ nears an end. Finally! (The running order has changed, with what WAS Vol 1 now being Vol 4!) No publication date yet but @penswordbooks will doubtless put out a date when known. Per Ardua etc!

Finally, I am not a lone voice in the wilderness calling out this utter nonsense. Cringeworthy that this is evidently going up in Buckingham Palace Road:

Three of the graves here in Eton which I help to look after ⁦@CWGC⁩ #wargravesweek

With all due respect to 'Arty' Holmes, who I knew well, the story about saving Buckingham Palace from being bombed (the usual embellishment to this story) and a 'deliberate head-on attack and ramming' are risible nonsense. Much has been 'embroidered' and added to this tale.

On this day in 1940, Hurricane pilot Basil Fisher (L) of 111 Sqn was shot down over Selsey. His brother (R) Antony watched as his sibling fell to his death beneath a burning parachute. Today I will be at his grave with family members at the time of his death. (Colour by RJM)