A novice pilot has been added to the list of Churchill’s famous ‘Few’, who helped fight during the Battle of Britain.

Sergeant James Eric William Ballard, of No 610 (County of Chester) Squadron, has been posthumously added to the exclusive list - 80 years after the aerial fighting that lifted the threat of a German invasion.

The Spitfire pilot now joins the other 2,940 airmen referred to as the 'Few' who fought for supremacy in the air during the Second World War in 1940.

The news has been revealed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, which runs the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone.

The addition of Sgt Ballard - who had only nine hours of flying time before joining his squadron - to the ranks follows the discovery of his logbook.

It records an operational sortie flown on October 8, 1940, a flight that was confirmed by the signatures of his commanding officer and flight commander.

As the Battle of Britain is considered to have taken place between July 10 and October 31, 1940, the Air Historical Branch of the RAF has concluded that Sgt Ballard, known as 'Eric' or 'Bill', meets the criteria to be awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp to the 1939-45 Star.

Following his mission during the Battle of Britain, Sgt Ballard continued to serve with the squadron but was killed in action, aged 23, on August 27, 1941 during an operation over Europe.

His body was not found and his name appears on the Air Forces Runnymede memorial overlooking the River Thames in Surrey.

After the war ended, Sgt Ballard's mother was recorded as living in Tooting, South London.

Group Captain Patrick Tootal, OBE, secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, said: "The research goes on and even 80 years later we learn new things about the Battle of Britain.

“It is rare to be able to add a new name to the list of those who took part, especially a Spitfire pilot.

"Sergeant Ballard's contribution to the battle was relatively small but without him and men like him the RAF could not have achieved its victory.

“Such was the desperate need then for fighter pilots that Sgt Ballard had only nine hours of flying time before joining his squadron."

To qualify for the Clasp, airmen had to fly at least one sortie with one of 71 squadrons and other recognised units during the Battle of Britain.

The term the 'Few' comes from Winston Churchill's phrase "Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few."

While new claims continue to be heard, it is rare for an airman to be admitted to the ranks of the Few as the criteria are strict.

But last year, another pilot, Sgt Donald Brown, was also added to the list after research showed he had also taken part in the battle.

The names of all the Allied aircrew known to have flown are listed on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at the Memorial, which is currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

To read about the Armed Forces and how they have served Kent and beyond, click here