250,000 free commemorative medals available to the public to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain

London 1st September

The Royal Air Forces Association, the charity that supports the RAF family, is releasing the first ever Commemorative Medal to pay tribute not only to the airmen, but also the men and women from ground crew, operational support, logistics, communications, engineering and medical crews from the 16 countries represented amongst the ranks of the RAF air and ground crews who participated in the Battle - without whom victory may never have been possible.

The medals, designed and funded by The London Mint Office and manufactured by Worcestershire Medal Service,are part of the Official Commemorative Programme launched by the Association to mark the 75^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The commemorative programme has been developed and created with the help and support of Terry Jervis, of Jervis Entertainment Media. The free medals are limited to one per household and are available from the 8^th of September 2015. Those wishing to pre-register can do so here.

In July 1940 the Battle of Britain commenced and was one of the most crucial stages of the Second World War. As the German air force, the Luftwaffe, attempted to gain the upper hand over the RAF, 15 additional countries began supporting the RAF’s air operations by contributing aircrew and ground crew to the Battle, which ultimately led to the victory. Pilots and aircrew from Great Britain, the Commonwealth and from occupied nations such as Poland and Czechoslovakia fought heroically from July to October 1940 for control of the skies over Great Britain. The resulting victory by the RAF enabled the Western Allies to later launch the liberation of Western Europe from the UK and compel the Germans to fight on two fronts, which lead to their ultimate defeat.

The Commemorative Medal pays tribute to the personnel from all of the countries that played a decisive part in the battle. It credits the courage and sacrifice of the ‘unsung’ heroes who worked tirelessly on the ground or behind the scenes to help successfully defend the nation. The obverse features an eagle superimposed on a circlet surmounted by a crown – the Official Crest of the RAF – with a ‘75’ frosted in the background. Around the crest is the inscription ‘Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary 1940 - 2015’. In the centre of the reverse is the legendary RAF roundel encircled by a depiction to commemorate all the nations and arms represented in the RAF during the battle. The reverse also incorporates a representation of a flight of iconic Spitfire and Hurricane fighters flying in formation across the medal.

The equivalent roles and functions within the modern RAF represented include:

●Aircrew

●Air Operations Support

●Communications and Intelligence

●Force protection

●Logistics

●Medical and medical support

●Technical and Engineering

The participating countries represented are:

“What makes this anniversary so poignant is that it is likely to be the last opportunity for the remaining veterans to commemorate alongside us. It is right that we pay tribute to not only the countries that participated but also all the airmen, airwomen and supporting trades that played a vital role in this epic battle. The commemorative medal is a fitting tribute to all those past and present and provides an opportunity to honour these remarkable individuals. We are pleased to be able to share this medal and everything it represents with the public,” comments Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller, President of the Royal Air Forces Association.

In addition to the free Commemorative Medal, the Association is releasing five limited edition medals (only 9,999 available), struck in solid bronze and layered in pure silver featuring Sir Winston Churchill (Wartime Prime Minister), Sir Douglas Bader (Fighter Ace), Sir Hugh Dowding (RAF Air Chief Marshal), Robert Watson Watt (Pioneer, “The Father” of Radar) and Lord Beaverbrook (Minister for Aircraft Production, and responsible for the “Saucepans for Spitfires” campaign). A percentage of the revenue from all medal sales from this programme will be donated to the Association. 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The London Mint Office is part of the Samlerhuset Group, one of Europe’s largest coin and medal companies, founded in 1994 and operating in 14 European countries. The London Mint Office’s passion for history and its ability to create stunning commemorative medals, as evidenced by the recent Waterloo Medal, which The London Mint Office produced and funded on behalf of Waterloo 200, is one of the main reasons why the Royal Air Forces Association chose The London Mint Office as their official partner for distributing the 75^th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Commemorative Medals Programme.

Media contact:

Susan Perolls at Loudmouth PR, T 020 7981 9858, E susanp@loudmouthpr.co.uk

Journalists: For more information and access to visuals please visit: http://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/london-mint-office

About the Royal Air Forces Association:Royal Air Forces Association is the charity that supports the RAF family. Whether it’s an injured airman fighting to get back on his feet, a young child missing their parent away from home due to work, or a WWII veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, the Association is here to help all generations of RAF Service personnel and their families.

It offers welfare and family support, much needed short breaks, pension and compensation guidance as well as individual support to help injured personnel realise their potential.

The Association receives no government funding and depends entirely on the generosity of the general public.

About The London Mint Office: The London Mint Office is a trusted and respected partner for a large number of British coin collectors. Gold, silver and other precious metals have fascinated mankind for many centuries, making coin collecting a popular hobby the world over. The London Mint Office is at the centre of British numismatics, bringing the fascinating world of coin collecting to both existing and new collectors. Together with its sister organisations across Europe and China, The London Mint Office provides a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world. Visit www.londonmintoffice.org for more information.

About Worcestershire Medal Service: Worcestershire Medal Service is one of the largest suppliers of State Honours in the UK. Granted a Royal Warrant as Medallists to Her Majesty The Queen in 2008, they are best known for the Diamond Jubilee Medal issued in 2012 and its sister organisation Gladman & Norman who designed and produce the Elizabeth Cross. They currently supply UK insignia ranging from the GCB to the BEM as well as awards to countries in Asia, Middle East and the Caribbean. It is this production heritage that lead Waterloo 200 to choose Worcestershire Medal Service as their production partner. Visit www.worcmedals.com for more information.

About Jervis Entertainment Media: Jervis Media Entertainment (“JEM”) has worked with the Royal Air Force since 2000 helping to develop its merchandising, communications and licensing programme. Since the first official licensing programme in 2004 JEM has brought together a number of strategic partners to create a unique range of merchandising and communications activities on behalf of the RAF and its affiliate organisations including the Royal Air Forces Association and The RAF Museum. The purpose of these initiatives is to help protect the RAF brand, support the RAF family, and raise awareness across the wider public about the role and heritage of the RAF. Visit www.jervismedia.com for more information.