Battle of Britain match holder

[skinsfan]

Hello,I have had this for some time...been packing up to move and had forgotten about it...I assume it was made during or directly after the war but there is no date,juat a 'Made In Britain " on it....i thought it was pretty unique item commemorating a sometimes forgotten battle of such importance....anyone else have any info on these???...Thanks,Scott

[Castle_Keep]

The item in your photos is a vintage matchbox cover (or slip/sleeve for a standard matchbox), not a cigarette case or tin. It features the famous quote from Winston Churchill's speech to the House of Commons on August 20, 1940, during the Battle of Britain: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." The full text on it matches the introductory gratitude to the British airmen (RAF pilots and crews) who were defending against the Luftwaffe.

This patriotic item was produced in Britain around 1940 or shortly after, as a morale-boosting piece tied directly to the speech and the ongoing air war. The quote became iconic immediately, and such commemorative items (including matchbox covers, posters, and similar ephemera) were made during WWII to honor "The Few" (RAF fighter pilots). Examples of these RAF matchbox covers with the exact quote are documented in militaria sales and collections, often described as circa 1940 British-made.

Age: It's approximately 85 years old (from 1940–mid-1940s wartime production).

[skinsfan]

thanks for the info...Scott

[Castle_Keep]

26 minutes ago, skinsfan said:

thanks for the info...Scott

26 minutes ago, skinsfan said:

thanks for the info...Scott

 

It’s a fabulous keepsake👍🇬🇧

[lmrobil]

There were quite a few varieties from both WW1 and WW2, more than I'm showing here.  The opposite side has a different picture on each.  A couple of these are royal commemoratives and not military related.  A couple are actually Australian.  I don't what other ones actually exist, yet!

 

Lance

 

 

 

[skinsfan]

very nice collection sir