Battle of Britain Commemoration 2024: History of Australia’s battle retold

RAAF Tasmania president Jenny Robertson hopes commemorative services for the Battle of Britain continue the retelling of stories of those who fought. See footage of the flyover.

It is part of Wing Commander Jenny Robertson’s job to continue recounting the history of Air Force history, including for the 84th commemoration of the Battle of Britain.

Ms Robertson, the president of the Royal Australian Air Force Association Tasmanian branch, said the retelling of this history, including through events like the commemorative service at the Hobart Cenotaph on Sunday, is important as time goes by.

“In a few years time, there won’t be any people left who were actually there that can talk about it and bear witness to what happened,” she said.

84th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Hobart Cenotaph – Jenny Robertson President of the RAAF Association Tasmania. Picture: Caroline Tan

“It’ll all be hearsay and people’s stories, which is what I do as the Air Force’s oral historian for Tassie, I go out and find some of these veteran stories of interest that we record and are archived for future use, but also for future generations.”

Commander Robertson joined hundreds of other Tasmanians at Sunday’s service, including representatives from other countries such as the Netherlands, France and New Zealand as well as Chief of Air Force, Stephen Chappell.

Air Marshall Stephen Chappell shared the history of the Battle of Britain on the day.

“84 years ago, the Battle of Britain took place over the skies of the British Isles and most particularly in South East England,” he said.

“Today, we pay homage to our aviators who flew combat operations side-by-side with their British and allied colleagues.

“Some made the ultimate sacrifice, some continued through life bearing the scars of their experience.

84th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Hobart Cenotaph Air Force Roulettes fly past. Picture: Caroline Tan

“35 Australians flew during the Battle of Britain.

“Of the 537, Royal Air Force fighter command pilots who were lost during the battle, at least 10 were Australian.”

Of these 10 Australians, two Tasmanians also perished – Flight Lieutenant Stuart Crosby Walch of Hobart and Flight Lieutenant Robert James Cosgrove also of Hobart and son of former Tasmanian premier Robert Cosgrove.

Hobart Wing Commander Nicholas Fairweather said the local Hobart unit was proud to continue to support commemorative services.

“You would have seen the maritime patrol aircraft in the flyover that came all the way from RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia,” he said.

“We had the Roulette aerobatic display team that came out of east Sale in Victoria, and the Hawks were quite a treat, they came from RAAF base Pierce in Western Australia.

“We’ve also had the Air Force band here, so quite a strong demonstration by Air Force about how important this collaboration is to us as aviators.”

The flyover brought in many avid spectators for the display of air skills, as well as helping to drive home the history of the air battle that waged in the skies over the British Isles 84 years ago.