# Battle of Britain Survivor Recalls Lost Friends and Being Shot Down

- Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2110095529082544329
- Source account: [@daveatherton](https://x.com/daveatherton)
- Source language: English
- Duration: 1:05
- Published: 2026-10-13
- Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down

## Transcript

[0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down) Well, I don't think any of us here regard ourselves as heroes.

[0:06](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=6) We are survivors.

[0:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=9) Um, in the 16 weeks of the Battle of Britain, we lost 550 chaps killed, about 650 badly wounded.

[0:25](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=25) They're the heroes. And if you're wounded, or were wounded, you carried your scars to the end of your life.

[0:36](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=36) It was, uh, quite an experience.

[0:47](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=47) And William, how was it to lose so many friends?

[0:51](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=51) Uh, it was s- something that, uh, you just had to take in your stride.

[0:55](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=55) You were shot down twice, was that right?

[0:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/7J3RH1AbU6bQ/en/battle-of-britain-survivor-recalls-lost-friends-and-being-shot-down?t=58) No, o- once was enough.