Branch history

The British Legion Women’s Section was formed in 1921 to safeguard the interests of widows and families of ex-Servicemen and provide a way for women to be a part of the British Legion who were not permitted as regular members at that time. “You will not make a great organisation of this unless you bring your women in” said Earl Haig in 1923, realising their importance in the organisation.

Branches soon sprung up all over the UK and quickly became the driving force behind the Poppy Appeal whilst also raising impressive amounts of funds for their own benevolent work. Looking out in particular for the welfare of widowed women and children, the Women’s Section began programmes of pensions, clothing, rest homes and holidays to improve the wellbeing of those who had been affected by husbands and fathers serving in wars.

Today, members continue the traditions and work begun by their predecessors 100 years ago. Many members have had the honour of parading standards at the Festival of Remembrance or attending garden palaces in the company of Her Majesty the Queen and they continue to enjoy royal support with HRH Princess Anne as their President. The Women’s Section continues to raise vital funds for benevolent work within the Armed Forces community and provide a space for women to come together in support of the RBL. 

*Images: Earl Haig meeting the Women's Section at the 1923 British Legion Whitsun Parade | Jennie Bailey with fellow Standard Bearers | Cowden Women's Section

In 2015, Neil Davidson was elected as Chairman to the Clipstone  and  Forest Town branch. During the Remembrance Service at St Albans Church the following year he noticed several letters were missing from the inscription and names on the war memorial in the church grounds. Neil immediately resolved to refurbish the memorial as a priority.

The community were supportive of the appeal and funds were raised quickly. The branch members pulled together to clean the Memorial before the Stonemason could replace the missing letters and repair it. The local college also made metal railings to go around it to stop the wreaths from blowing away.

A rededication service was held in 2017, which involved the local community and several family members of those named on the memorial. After a short service in St Albans church a wooden Remembrance cross was laid on the memorial for each of the fallen. The branch and local community came together to ensure that we continue to honour those who died.

Standard Bearer Eric Johnson was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 1990 Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his services to British interests in Belgium.

He was presented with the medal on 9 March during a special ceremony in Brussels. Eric ‘retired’ as a Standard Bearer in March 2001, but was back on duty at the Evere Commemoration at Brussels Cemetery on 30th June that year, after his would-be successor was unfortunately hospitalised.

He continued in the role, receiving a veteran’s badge in commemorations on 8 May 2005 and the Voluntary Service Medal in November 2008 in recognition of more than 50 years of service to the Brussels Branch. The citation read: “Eric sets an example to us all with his enthusiasm, immaculate turn-out, and charming spirit. He always makes time to chat to everyone. In fact, he makes it his job to get to know them, whether a new member, an old member, or even children who turn up to events from time to time. A better representative we couldn’t, and indeed do not, have.”

After 56 years of making the job his own, Eric Johnson made what would be his final appearance as Standard Bearer during the annual commemoration at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Evere, Brussels on 23 June 2012.

*Images: Eric Johnson with Harold Moffat in Liberty Square, Brussels in 1979 | Carrying the standard at the GP90 event in Ypres

In 1944, a group of musicians sat in the bar of the British Legion Club in Epsom. They had all been members of the 56th (Surrey) Battalion, Home Guard which had recently been stood down, bringing four years of comradeship to an end. They resolved to form a new band under the British Legion and were immediately offered the use of an upstairs room at the club for weekly rehearsals. Starting with nothing, it took them 10 years to raise the funds for their uniforms. A second-hand music library was acquired together with some old and battered music stands, and they recruited some demobbed musicians. By 1948 they’d transferred to another Legion branch in Epsom which offered a hall. The Home Secretary, Right Honourable J Chuter Ede, became the band's first President.

In 1949, the band won first prize at the Berkshire and Neighbouring Counties Band Festival at Reading – the first of many grand performances that led to the band’s glittering reputation known by so many today. 1965 saw the beginnings of a 13 year association with West Ham United Football Club where the band provided music for all home matches. One memorable day, as the musicians marched off the field after half time, a disgruntled supporter yelled ”You best stay on mates, you can't do worse than our lot”.

In 1970 the band won a gold medal in the prestigious World Music Contest in Holland, earning them the status of 'Metropolitan Area Band', which was a recognition by the RBL of the important role bands play in publicising the charity’s work. The band visited the famous Abbey Road Studios in 1973 to make its first recording; a compilation of marches, hymns and incidental music designed for use by RBL branches unable to afford a band for formal or ceremonial occasions. A second record was made in 1981 and the band has been a regular visitor to the recording studios ever since.

In 1983, the RBL band was granted the title of the ‘National Band’ which was changed three years later to the Central Band of the Royal British Legion.

Since then, the Central Band of the Royal British Legion has gone from strength to strength and 2021 sees it enter its 77th year of music making at the highest level in support of the Royal British Legion. The Band has entertained D-Day veterans on the Boudicca, performed at Bayeux with Rod Stewart and at the Festival of Remembrance, worked with Alfie Boe, Laura Wright, the Bach Choir, Max Bygraves, Liberace and Harry Secombe. All the members of The Central Band are volunteers who readily give their time to support the Royal British Legion. Many past and present players have served in the Armed Forces and are led by RBL’s renowned Director of Music, David Cole.

*Images: Band rehearsing at the St Danstan's College | Central Band | Bandstand at Eastbourne.

In Penryn, Cornwall, the ex-Service community formed one of the first branches of the Comrades of the Great War under the command of Captain Noel Blamey and began helping military families. On 23 August 1921 a meeting was held to change the organisation into a branch of the British Legion.

In 1922 the branch were very active in the community. They erected a war memorial, established a playing field for local children and set up a Distress Committee for ex-servicemen. In November 1922 the branch raised £34.13 (almost £2000 today) at the first Poppy Appeal. By 1925, there was also a Women’s Section.

Throughout the 1920s and 30s the branch headquarters were in the Church Institute at Quay Hill. During this period, the branch - and in particular the Women’s Section - held fundraising events including the Old Age Pensioners Annual Tea & Concert; the Hospital Linen Fund; the Ambulance Fund; the Royal Cornwall Girls Home Fund; and Maternity Bags full of donations to help new parents in the area.

In 1941, the Church Institute was destroyed in an air raid along with all the branch’s records. Eighteen people were killed including the Hon. Secretary. That year the branch raised £108 4s 8d (over £5,000 today) for the Poppy Appeal.

Following the end of the Second World War the branch carried on its community work throughout the 1950s to the present day. Since the loss of the Legion Room at Quay Hill, the branch has had no fixed abode and has met significant challenges over the years. Despite these drawbacks, in 2010 the Penryn branch raised almost £20,000 for the Poppy Appeal - one of the largest amounts in Cornwall.

In the coming year we hope that the branch will be able to build up its membership so that they can carry on the work of its incredible predecessors, and honour those who served and died so what we may live.

*Images: Portrait image of Captain Noel Blamey | Newspaper invite of first Penryn meeting | The Church Institute- now the site of the Memorial Gardens, Penryn | Newspaper article about Penryn celebrating VE and VJ Day in 1945 | The visit of HRH Princess Anne - Penryn's 750th Anniversary of the granting of the Charter Legion branch forms guard of honour the Memorial Gardens on 20 May 1986.

In 1919, following the end of the First World War, Captain George Graham chaired a meeting of 70 veterans to establish the Association of Comrades. They would raise welfare funds to care for the village’s ex-servicemen, widows and their dependants. The meeting concluded with the veterans marching through the village.

In 1920, donations from residents and the Peace Celebrations Committee allowed the Association to purchase ground on which they built a hut, serving as the Association of Comrades’ headquarters. Following an Armistice Day opening with a guard of honour and church parade, the club flourished due to its prolific fundraising events and its role in awarding benefits to the local Armed Forces community. In 1921 it became a prevalent branch of the Royal British Legion, growing from 70 founding members to 401 following the Second World War. The HQ still stands today.

*Image of an annual Remembrance parade.