For anyone who is unfamiliar with the important significance of the ceremony which takes place at the Cenotaph. in London and around War Memorials across the country, here is some information we should all know.
You will alreadyhave seen collecting boxes for `Poppy Day` around the villages, in Ruyton you will find one at The Talbot and the Post Office. If you are very lucky, some good soul will be knocking on your door with their box of poppies looking for a donation - It has been very difficult to find collectors in Ruyton, I hope other villagers have been more successful.
The Royal British Legion was founded in 1921 as a voice for the ex-Service community as a merger of four organisations: the Comrades of the Great War, the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers and the Officers' Association.
Earl Haig, commander of the Battle of the Somme and Passchendaele was one of the founders of the Legion, and was President until his death.
The Royal British Legion (RBL), sometimes referred to as simply The Legion, is the United Kingdom's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependants.Today we know much about what the men suffered in the trenches of the Somme and Passchendaele but can you imagine coming home to a village like ours where life had perhaps not changed that much between 1914 and 1919 and trying to describe the horrors of World War I? Not surprising then that for the men who had been there, the only people they could talk to about their experiences were other servicemen - no counceling for Traumatic Stress Syndrome for them.
Again, in the Second World War, could anyone in our small villages understand The Western Desert, The War of the Atlantic, Prisoner of War camps? The men and women who were there NEEDED their fellow service men and women to support them.
When we first came to Ruyton I could not understand our silent postman who never wanted to pass the time of day - until I discovered he had been in Japanese Prisoner of War Camp - try explaining that to your family and friends!
So here we are in 2013, with the anniversary of the beginning of World War I just around the corner and we have veterans from the Korean War, the War in the Balkans, Iraq and Afganistan, many young men who would in the past have died in agony in the field now returning with horrific injuries and missing limbs who have to find a new life in `civvy street`.
THE WORK OF THE BRITISH LEGION IN 2013 - PLEASE READ THIS
From Colleen Hughes retired co-ordinatinator of West Felton British Legion
See the Battle Back Centre http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help/military-recovery/battle-back-centre-lilleshall -£27 million of Poppy money went into that.
The Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London is the first collaboration of its kind in the UK, where civilian engineers and scientists will work alongside military doctors, supported by charitable funding, (Poppy money) to reduce the effects of roadside bombs or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) - the leading cause of death and injury for Service personnel on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Have a look at the Legion web site. You will be amazed when you see where the Poppy money goes. TRBL has four Break Centres located in prime locations around the country, and for family breaks, they have close ties with Parkdean and Haven Holiday Parks. The Legion also provides Adventure Breaks, where young people of Service families can have a fun and activity-packed week.
The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading Service charity providing care and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families. They help wounded, injured and sick serving and ex-Service personnel in numerous ways. Help with claiming benefits, Help around the house with repairs and adaptations, grants and mobility aids, representation at appeal tribunals. Help with Compensation claims and all kinds of legal advice are provided, as is help for service members and their families to adjust back to civilian life, training and support get back to work, help and grants to set up in business, support for bereaved families – the legion spends £1.6m per week on these things, as well as campaigning for better treatment from Govt and the in the NHS, making sure
Remembrance is recognised every year and occasionally providing companionship for service people. Unfortunately most of the clubs are now defunct, or being managed as commercial entities by others. The old guys in the navy blazers are also more or less all dead, and much the work of the Legion is being done by innocent bystanders such as we two Irish Catholics who when children were led to believe that the wearing of poppies was a Protestant ritual and as such FORBIDDEN! Even the Irish in Ireland now realise the error of their ways and are recognising the thousands of Irishmen who fought and died for the peace in this part of the world.
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DON`T LET ANYONE TELL YOU POPPY DAY `GLORIFIES WAR`!
-- Yoland Brown Brownhill House B&B, Ruyton XI Towns, nr. Shrewsbury SY4 1LR ShACC - Shropshire Alternative Car Club www.eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.com www.ShACC-uk.org Tel: 01939 261 121 Fax: 01939 260626
