The Royal British Legion.

• The British Legion was formed on May 15th 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-Servicemen which had established themselves after the First World War.
• The Legion was granted ‘Royal’ status in 1971.
• The Royal British Legion is the nation’s biggest Armed Forces charity providing lifelong help and support to serving and ex Service personnel and their families.
• The RBL is the champion of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces.
• There are approximately 2,500 Royal British Legion branches across the UK and overseas providing comradeship and supporting the RBL as a charity.
• Anyone can become a member of The Royal British Legion. There are currently approximately 220,000 members. The RBL welcomes men and women of all ages, whether they have served in the Armed Forces or not, to continue the work that was begun 100 years ago.

The Royal Poppy Appeal.

• The first Poppy Appeal was held in 1921. Red silk poppies, inspired by the famous First World War poem In Flanders Fields, sold out instantly and raised more than £106,000. The funds helped WW1 veterans find employment and housing after the war.
• The following year, the Poppy Factory was set up, employing disabled ex-Servicemen to create the poppies to sell during the appeal. Today, the factory still produces millions of poppies each year.
• The Poppy Appeal is the Legion’s biggest fundraising campaign held every year in October and November, in the run up to the Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
• There are approximately 40,000 volunteers who collect for the Poppy Appeal (36,000 volunteers led by 3,385 Poppy Appeal Organisers).
• The red poppy is a universal symbol of Remembrance and hope – hope for our beneficiaries to overcome their difficulties with our help, and hope for a peaceful world.
• There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy – we only ask you to wear it with pride.