Spitfires for the RAF
         
Two Spitfires bought for the RAF by F. W. Woolworth colleagues and Directors during the Battle of Britain - in official pictures from the Ministry of Aircraft Production. This page appeared on the back of a special issue of the staff magazine. At the height of the Battle of Britain, colleagues in the stores were keen to do their bit to support the war effort.

They were already raising funds for orphanages supported by the Company, and many colleagues not in the armed services were serving in the ARP, Auxiliary Fire Service or as Auxiliary Nurses or volunteers with the Women's Voluntary Service.  But they wanted to do more.

A subscription arrangement was suggested where people gave part of their weekly salary to a fund to buy a Spitfire for the RAF.  Hearing of the proposals, the Directors of the Company offered to match colleagues pound for pound .  If the stores managed to raise the money (which would be no small achievement without fund-raising from the customers) to buy a Spitfire, the Directors would buy one too.
         
The Stores, District Offices and Executive Office gave £4,933, with the Directors contributing £5,067 - enough to pay for two Spitfires.  They sent the cheque to Lord Beaverbrook the Minister of Aircraft Production.  He replied:

 

Dear Mr Denempont

You send me on behalf of your Company and the employees in your Stores and Offices, a gift which is inspiring proof of your faith in victory and your determination to achieve it.

I am immensely grateful.  You bring me encouragement and inspiration in my task, and you pay tribute to the gallantry of our airmen.

Your "Spitfires" shall certainly bear the emblem you desire.  And in the triumphs which they will win in defence of our homes and liberties your Company and employees will have their share

Yours sincerely

BEAVERBROOK
On December 11th 1940, the Company heard from the Ministry of Air Production that the transfers

Nix               Nix
Six               Six
Primus       Secundus

Had been affixed to the planes and they would shortly be in the air, defending Britain from the Luftwaffe.

Nix over six was the name of the store sports clubs and social committees, referring to the Company's longstanding motto of "Nothing over sixpence".

"Nix over six Primus" - the name chosen by F. W. Woolworth colleagues to appear on the Spitfire they bought for the RAF during the Battle of Britain. The Directors contributed "Secundus".
"In the hour of peril" An award from the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the Directors and Staff of F. W. Woolworth & Co. Ltd. for the donation of two Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. A few weeks later the Company were surprised and proud to receive a commemorative shield from the Ministry in recognition of the contribution of our colleagues.

A special issue of "The New Bond" was published, to be distributed to serving colleagues only.  It included details of who was serving where, letters from colleagues in H. M. Forces and a small amount of news from blightey. 

It carried the official photograph of the planes (above, top) on the back cover, along with the message from Lord Beaverbrook.

Colleagues serving in the RAF were asked to keep an eye out for the planes - and take good care of them!  And everyone slept a little easier for a few nights knowing that our planes were in the sky.
 

Not surprisingly the RAF did not track the planes by name. But at the time their life expectancy would have been only a few months.  As Winston Churchill said after the Battle of Britain - "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few."  A fitting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the young airmen who defended our island against all of the odds and persuaded Hitler not to invade after all.

 A special edition of "The New Bond" carried details of the two Spitfires that Woolies bought for the RAF during the Battle of Britain. It was issued to serving colleagues only.
         

World War II Gallery Home Page

Xmas 1939: UK and USA a world apart    Fire from the sky - Blitz hits major cities  
Woolies buy two Spitfires for the RAF
Occupied by the Nazis - Jersey and Guernsey   Farewell 3d and 6d - hello rationing   "They also serve" - home front defiance
A taste of home - US forces discover FWW UK   German "V" weapons and our darkest hour   
New Cross Tribute   War dead - our colleague Roll of Honour   
Reconstruction and post-war austerity   Price quiz - dateline 1949