CBOC History
HISTORY
The LEGION was created in 1921 to
safeguard the welfare, interests and memory of those who were
serving or had served in the Armed Forces at that time. After the
First World War, during which over 880,000 British servicemen died
and over twice that number were injured, almost every family had a
member who needed support. To provide that support the 'Comrades of
the Great War' Association was set up in 1917 with branches in
nearly every city, town and village. On 15 May 1921 'Comrades of
the Great War' amalgamated with the 3 other main ex servicemen
associations to become the Royal British Legion.
In the local area the Royal British
Legion Branches in Cotgrave and Colston Bassett were amongst the
first to form in 1921. Cropwell Bishop Branch formed in 1922 and
Cropwell Butler and Tythby Branch formed in 1933. While we know
little about the Cotgrave, Cropwell Bishop and Cropwell Butler and
Tythby Branches we have all the minutes and accounts of the Colston
Bassett Branch and know much more of its history. This is
fortuitous as it is the only local branch to have survived until
today, having been joined by Owthorpe in 1934 and Cotgrave in 1996
to become the 'Colston Bassett, Owthorpe and Cotgrave Branch'.
The Colston Bassett Branch first met
on 12 September 1921 when we believe that Sir Edward LeMarchant KCB
CBE was the President. 46 members contributed 1/-
as a joining fee, 2/6 for their annual subscription and 3d for
Christmas cards. Overall each individual paid 3/9, about 19p in
today's money. Over the years numbers remained fairly constant and
in 1934 when Owthorpe joined the Branch there were 44 members. At
that time the annual subscription was still 2/6 and this continued
until 1952 when it rose to 3/6.
21 years after the end of the 'War to
End All Wars' the Second Word War begun. Over 380,000 British
servicemen were killed and almost 600,000 were injured during that
war and many additional demands were on the Legion.
Since the end of the Second World War
the number of servicemen has reduced significantly as has the
number of casualties, but it is a fact that the only year since
then in which British servicemen have not been killed in action was
1968. Over 3,400 servicemen have been killed and many more injured
in operations in Palestine, Malaya, Korea, Suez, Aden, Borneo,
Brunei, Northern Ireland, the Falklands and Iraq. And we are all
only too well aware of the sacrifices being made by those serving
in Afghanistan today.
There have been many changes in the
local Legion Branches. In 1933 the Cropwell Butler and Tythby
Branch closed as did the Cropwell Bishop Branch in 1941. Cotgrave
Branch survived longer but eventually closed in 1962 thus leaving
only the Colston Bassett and Owthorpe Branch which continued to
thrive with Sir Denis LeMarchant as President. The annual
subscription at that time had risen to 5/-, double
what was paid in 1921. Cotgrave Branch reopened in 1969, probably
as a result of the increased population of the workforce of the
mine, but it closed again in 1980. In 1989 it was 'incorporated'
into the Colston Bassett and Owthorpe Branch which in 1996 changed
its name to that which we know today:
The Colston Bassett, Owthorpe and
Cotgrave Branch
