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02-AUG-2009

White Hart Brasted.The favoured watering hole of Battle Of Britain pilots at Biggin Hill.jpg


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Teresa McShane (nee Bartley) 10-Oct-2014 15:58
My dad was one of The Few (Tony Bartley)and I remember visiting Th White Harte several times as a child. It was an incredibly important bolt hole for the pilots who faced death on a regular basis. It enabled them to climb into their planes day after day. I will always remember the Blackout Board.
Stanley Braisted 01-Oct-2014 01:11
Went to pay my respects in 2013, as a half-Englishman, namesaked nephew of an R.A.F. pilot who died in Germany in his antiquated Hampden a week before Churchill's "Never in the history of human conflict have so many..." speech, and childhood reader of "Biggles" books. The pub's refit has totally removed any character whatsoever, and Biggin Hill is now a civil business airfield, but I was able to hoist a pint to the signatures in the photo of the blackout board they keep at the Hart, and did so. They are not forgotten.
barry 14-Apr-2012 17:57
Visited the White Hart many years ago to see the facsimile of the famous blackboard & the pub had such an atmosphere and sense of history. I am disgusted to hear of the refit and if that's progress they can keep it.

Can we no longer value our history in this country. Planned visit now definitely off.
Simon Shackleford 08-Apr-2011 08:43
The White Hart is mentioned in many books, some still in print, as the watering hole for a whole wealth of Battle of Britain pilots from Biggin Hill.
Names such as "Sailor" Malan, Brian Kingcome, Alan Deere, etc. Names that have gone down in history as "The Few" who saved this Island during the Battle of Britain in 1940, as they fought in Hurricane and Spitfire fighters against numerically superior Luftwaffe forces. In doing so, they prevented a land invasion and occupation from Hitler.
We shall never forget them. Many died in the cause of freedom.
These men signed a blackout board at the White Hart, which today stands in a museum and is viewed by historians, enthusiasts and many from overseas come here to see this piece of history.
Why, oh why was the original authentic character of this pub ruined with a refit last year, taking away, once again, another part of our rich history.
There are now fewer than 70 of "The Few" still alive today.
We should honour these men, all around the age of 90, by preserving what we can of their history.
" Never in the field of Human conflict was so much owed to so Few, by so many"
Winston Churchill 1940, in his tribute speech regarding the RAF during The Battle of Britain.
In fact, had the Battle of Britain not been won, with the subsequent occupation by Germany, the whole of Europe would not have been freed from Nazi tyranny in 1944-45, as there would not have been a land base in Europe from which alied forces could take the fight back to Germany.
This is what we owe to these 2900 odd men who fought the Battle, and the WAAFS, the groundcrews, radar plotters etc. We owe our freedom and democracy to them.
Simon S 07-Apr-2011 18:04
I hear from many sources that it has lost all of it's charm due to a modern refit.
One person that I know, will not visit anymore, due to becoming upset that a little piece of history has been ruined in such a way.
Such a shame. Still, that's progress.
Patrick Pyke 28-Jan-2011 00:22
Would love to see picture of the blackboard containing the signatures of Battle of Britain pilots. Saw the original in 1968 just before emigrating to Australia.
Long Bach Nguyen03-Aug-2009 12:43
It's so cool to see and love to sit in there to hear all the stories from long ago.
marie03-Aug-2009 10:24
wow

: )

very nice to see
seems to have kept its old world charm of the day
must be a place of reverence for many old timers
also for 'those who respect' the life and actions of the very special pilots of the time
Marcia Rules02-Aug-2009 15:01
looks like a great place to throw 'em down! V
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