Complaints Form

Our benefits and money advice team can help you manage your finances and also support you if you are experiencing financial problems.

If you need help to meet unexpected expenses, we may be able to help you. Each year, our Immediate Needs Grants Scheme helps thousands of people through emergencies by providing an individual crisis grants. Find out more about  Crisis Grants.

Managing your money

Managing your money - it's easier said than done - there's always something more interesting to do - but rarely anything more important.

Making some small changes now will make a big difference a few months or years down the line. Keeping a spending diary is a great way to see how you are using your money. You might be surprised to find just how much you spend on certain things. When you start to realise just how quickly your expenses add up, you are more careful about how you spend your money.

For more information and advice on how to manage your money better you can find a lot of helpful articles in our Knowledge Base or visit  Money Helper for plenty of tips and guidance.

Do you need advice about benefits?

If you are part of the Armed Forces community and think you could be entitled to benefits that you're not yet receiving, we might be able to help.

Our benefits and money advice team can give you impartial and non-judgemental advice about how to maximise your income by claiming the benefits and tax credits you're entitled to.

Our advisers know how complex life in the Armed Forces can be and how military life involves unique challenges that can lead to financial problems.

We can advise on areas including:

• War Pensions
• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Disability claims and tribunals.

To get support with benefits, call our contact centre on 0808 802 8080 to find out more.

Benefits Calculator

You could be missing out on financial help available to you through welfare benefits.

You may be entitled to certain benefits if you are:

• Unemployed and looking for work
• In work and on a low income
• Bringing up children
• Ill or have a disability
• Care for someone
• Retired

The free and easy-to-use benefits calculator can help you check what you might be entitled to.

Do you need help with money worries?

Debt can overwhelm anyone and puts untold pressure on individuals and households. If you are part of the Armed Forces community and are struggling with debts that are mounting up we can help you with advice and guidance.

Our expert advisors can offer free, impartial and confidential advice that will help you to manage and in some cases even get the debt written off. Our service is completely confidential and free of charge.

The first step in dealing with any debts you may have is getting the right advice. Whether you need help with creating a personal budget or advice on how to deal with your creditors, we have lots of useful information on our Knowledge Base, or alternatively you seek advice with Money Helper. 

Get in touch

If you require assistance with any money issues, please call us on 0808 802 8080 and we will put you in touch with your local contact.

You will be asked to give your contact details, including address and phone number if you would like us to call you back, along with details of any urgent issues for example bailiff action, impending court action or any priority debt such as mortgage, rent arrears or council tax arrears.

Useful online resources

Money Health check is the perfect way to find out how healthy your financial affairs are. You can choose from budgeting, debt, savings, planning and protection and each module will ask you a number of straightforward multiple choice questions and take between 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

We’re here to help you access the support you need – from compensation and debt advice to grants and loan applications.  

Your feedback can help us improve our services and ensure we continue to provide the best support for the Armed Forces community and their families. 

Share your feedback

You can contact us by emailing [email protected] or writing to:

• Operations Complaints, The Royal British Legion, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA

It would be helpful if you can let us know the following:

1. What you were expecting 
2. When you got in touch
3. Who you spoke to
4. How you think we could improve
5. Your full name, address and telephone number

You may also wish to use our complaints feedback form to share your thoughts, or contact your adviser if you’d prefer.

What happens next?

We welcome feedback and will always strive to improve our services where possible. If you’re unsatisfied with the support the Legion has provided, we’ll do what we can to provide additional advice and guidance. 

In some circumstances we may need more time to investigate but we will send an update within four working days. We will also let you know when we expect to be in touch with more information. We aim to send a final response within eight weeks but, on the rare occasion this is not possible, we will always write to explain why as well as let you know next steps. 

Financial Ombudsman

If it takes more than eight weeks to receive our response, or you’re unsatisfied with our response, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service at:

• Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London E14 9SR
• You can also reach them by phone on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123 or by emailing [email protected]  

Please keep in mind that you will need to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service within six months of receiving our final response.

For the first time veterans will be identified in the 2021 census and will no longer be hidden in plain sight.

The last census told us more about those who state their religion is ‘Jedi Knights’ or ‘Heavy Metal’ than it did about our ex-serving personnel.

It may surprise many people to learn that we don’t know exactly how many veterans there are in the UK, or where they are. We think there are currently around 2.4 million veterans living in Great Britain, but this is only an estimate, and little is known about the size of the community or what their needs might be.

Whilst the 2011 census asked two questions relating to those currently serving in the Armed Forces it did not collect any information about whether someone had previously served in the Armed Forces.

Count Them In

In 2016, together with Poppyscotland we launched a campaign calling on the Government to add a question on past service in the UK Armed Forces in the 2021 census.

For years leading up to the launch of the Count Them In campaign we had highlighted the issue of a lack of information about ex-serving personnel. The government has some information, but it’s mainly about veterans who are in receipt of a pension or compensation and isn’t representative of the whole community and isn’t comparable to the general population.

We launched the Count Them In campaign in May 2016 to coincided with the fifth anniversary of the publishing of the Armed Forces Covenant, which makes sure the Armed Forces community face no disadvantage because of their service.

To launch the campaign four veterans were painted into their surroundings to highlight how current census data leaves them invisible amongst the general population.

People across the country were asked to show their support for the campaign by contacting their local MP and posting on their social media.

Resistance

Initially the campaign faced some resistance from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the body responsible for setting the census questions for England and Wales and other statistical agencies, who argued the data could perhaps be sourced elsewhere.

Our public affairs team worked tirelessly, and the campaign won support from veterans, charities, academic organisations, councils, MPs and decision makers from across the UK.

Thanks to the team’s incredible hard work and dedication the statistics agencies finally agreed to add a question in the next census.

Success

After four years of hard-fought campaigning, legislation was finally passed in June 2020 by the UK Government and Parliament to include a veteran question in the next census in England and Wales. For the first time a question asking whether someone has served in HM Armed Forces will be included in the census.

The information gathered as a result will give us a better picture of the Armed Forces community, so we can get a clearer understanding of the size of the community, where veterans and their families are and what their needs might be.

It will help us, along with other charities, public bodies and local authorities, to make sure services and support are tailored to the community’s needs. It will allow the NHS to plan ahead and provide appropriate care for veteran specific conditions – including social care providers who will know where demand on care homes with large numbers of veterans is likely to be.

Local authorities will also be able to provide more tailored support to the Armed Forces community with housing needs, employment support, and specialist mental health services.   

It will also help us to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant promise that no one should face disadvantage because of their service, by giving us comparisons between the Armed Forces community and the general population so we can find and address any inequalities.

Similar census legislation was passed by the Scottish parliament in June last year, which will see the inclusion of an Armed Forces question in the next Scottish census which has been delayed to March 2022 due to the impact of Covid-19.

The census 2021 will take place in England and Wales on Sunday 21 March and we are encouraging ex-serving personnel to fill it out as soon as they receive their code in the post.

Campaigning for the needs and interests of the Armed Forces community has been and always will be one of our guiding principles.

We have been campaigning for the community for the past 100 years and will continue to do so long into the next century.

We are here to help members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. And we’re not going anywhere.

Our support starts after 1 day of service

Even if you have only served for one day, we can help you. Our support starts after 1 day of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

We support the whole Armed Forces community

We’re dedicated to supporting not only serving and ex-serving personnel but the whole of the Armed Forces community, including their families.

From support dealing with the loss of a loved one to help finding jobs and training, we can help in all sorts of ways.

After her husband, Ryan, took his own life, we stepped in to support Chantelle and her young family.

“I didn’t know what to deal with first or which way to turn and it seemed that all the little things to sort out were building up. As well as dealing with our grief, the paperwork and the general aftermath of what had happened were a struggle to cope with.”

After a friend suggested to Chantelle that RBL might be able to help, she contacted us and met Annette, an Advice and Information Officer.

“From the moment she arrived she simply listened to everything I had to say, my frustrations, my upset, my concern for the girls and it was just a relief to have someone turn round and say ‘yes we can help you’,” said Chantelle.

“Annette provided advice on how to get copies of paperwork I required from the TA and also directed me to a solicitor for help with the inquest – just that support with the little things really took a weight off my shoulders. “

Support for those currently serving

You don’t have to be a veteran to receive support from us. We have a range of advice and support services for those who are currently serving. From debt advice and help taking control of your finances to recovery centres for wounded, injured and sick Service personnel, we can support you when you need it most.

We can also help with the transition to civilian life and understand that it can be a daunting prospect.

New beginnings

After Tim Mackereth completed 22 years of service, he turned to us for assistance with starting up his own blacksmith business. Years later, his award-winning company has gone from strength to strength.

"I do count myself very lucky because I hugely enjoyed Service life and I think that the quality of attention to training was second to none. But when I got to 40 I thought it was time to do something else," Tim said.

"Most of my contemporaries were going into engineering project management in defence procurement, but my idea of hell was commuting day in, day out, wearing a suit. So I thought of other things and remembered I’d always been interested in blacksmithing."

"So I went on a weekend course and made a poker and thought, Ah, this is it.”

"At the time, in 2002, the banks were handing money out to all and sundry. But as a charity, RBL scrutinised your business plan to a very high level and as a result they had an extraordinary success rate of businesses that survived to pay back their start-up loan."

Support from RBL

"I needed some funding to buy tools and equipment, so I could start accepting projects on day one that would let me make a living straight away."

"In the cash-flow forecast it was also identified that we would have needed an overdraft in the early months. RBL were so happy with the business plan that they offered us double what we’d asked for to cover the identified overdraft."

"As it happened, we got off to a much better start than we’d anticipated and didn’t use the overdraft anyway, so we spent the money on tooling to increase capability, so that we could take on bigger jobs," Tim added.

"I think because it is a charity, people tend to think that RBL is something that you go to when you’re in need and you’re at rock bottom, rather than it being a support resource in a much more positive sense for all veterans. The truth is that you can use it in a much more forward-looking way than just getting you out of a hole."

We support Armed Forces sports teams

We know that physical exercise is important for mental and physical wellbeing and we support our currently serving by funding a range of sports across the three services.

We sponsor a range of sports including; UK Armed Forces Boxing, Royal Navy Rugby League, RAF Triathlon, RAF mountaineering, and Army football and athletics.

Alanna Nihell is the first ever female Army Boxing Team Captain. Over the last decade she has won multiple national titles, along with a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2014

“I love boxing and the fact the Armed Forces get behind me and support me in my boxing career makes it so much easier,” says Alanna.

“Sport has helped with my leadership skills within my army career it’s molded me into a confident and determined woman.”

Sam Alderson had never touched a rugby ball before she joined the Royal Navy in 2008. Ten years on she is the Navy women’s cross code rugby captain and was named Royal Navy Sportswoman of the Year in 2018.

“Sport plays a vital role in the services and from the moment you join you are encouraged to participate,” says Sam.

“I think when you play a sport especially a team sport and especially rugby it makes you more resilient.”

We have six care homes across the country for the Armed Forces community and their families.

Our homes, including five with specialist dementia care, are designed to be a home from home for our residents and visitors.

We have created warm and welcoming atmospheres, with spacious rooms, beautiful outdoor spaces and relaxing lounge areas.

As care homes designed for veterans and their families, there is also a unique camaraderie and our residents often establish strong friendships and bond over their shared experiences.

If you are interested in a place at one of our care homes, please contact your preferred care home.

Care homes key summary

There are many things to consider when deciding to move yourself, or a family member, into a care home. We've recently put together a key summary document of all our care homes to help you make the right choice.

The booklet provides useful details of the following and more: 

• Type of care
• Funding options and fees
• Admission requirements
• Trial period
• Services, including Day Care service
• Staffing

Download all the care homes key summary

Applying to our care homes

Our care homes are available for ex-service personnel and their families.  If you are unsure whether you or someone close to you is eligible, we recommend calling our helpline team 0808 802 8080 or contacting your choice of care home.

We know that care home applications can feel daunting, but our helpline team are on hand to support you every step of the way. You can make initial enquiries by telephone or email to your preferred care home.

If you plan to move into one of our care homes immediately or within the next 3 months, you will then be asked to complete our application form for you to return to your preferred care home.  We can also provide help to complete the form – simply call 0808 802 8080 or email [email protected] for more details.

Once your application has been received, a needs assessment will take place to help us assess your care needs. This may take place at home or we can also visit you in hospital; providing an opportunity for you to ask any further questions. Your application is dependent upon confirmation of eligibility and the outcome of your care needs assessment. If successful, we will confirm in writing and arrange the next steps, including your arrival date with you.

In some circumstances, we are also able to provide support for those under the age of 65 years seeking care or rehabilitation support. However, we recommend contacting your chosen care home for further information.

• Download our application form

Paying for care

There are many things to consider when deciding to move yourself, or a family member, into a care home. How to pay for the care is one of the biggest considerations. We have produced a guide to help you understand the costs involved when moving into a care home, your options for how to pay, and what you need to consider more generally.

The RBL charges a weekly fee that covers all your care home needs. These will be explained upon your initial enquiry, including more information about how fee levels can vary depending on the category and level of care.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support towards the cost of your nursing or personal care. You can find independent information and advice about paying for your care from the Elderly Accommodation Council.

• Download our guide to care home fees and care homes key summary to find more about the fees and funding options.

Care homes agreement

Statement of purpose

Have a membership query that you're not sure you have found the answer to? Here are some of our frequently asked questions.

You can also see our membership terms and conditions for further information about our membership offer and services.

Becoming a Member

What are the benefits of becoming a member of the Royal British Legion?

The Royal British Legion (RBL) is the UK's leading Armed Forces charity with approximately 180,000 members. The benefits of being a member include:

• Copies of the Royal British Legion magazine which keeps you up to date with news about our work around the UK and abroad.
• Membership e-newsletters to find out the latest updates from the RBL.
• Exclusive membership discount code for the Poppy Shop.
• Priority access to tickets for the Festival of Remembrance.
• Participation in ceremonial events, e.g. by becoming a Standard Bearer.
• The opportunity to get actively involved in the local community by organising events or joining the Branch Community Support Scheme, which directly looks after the needs of our beneficiaries.
• The opportunity to build your skills and CV by taking up one of the committee roles at branch, county, or national level.
• The ability to vote on the way the Legion evolves and continues to support the Armed Forces community.
• Getting involved in one of the Legion's music bands.
• The knowledge that through your membership you are helping others in need.

• An annual membership card.

  Read more about the history of the Royal British Legion here.

 

I have never served in the Armed Forces; can I still be a member?

Yes. Membership is open to everyone; you don't have to be a serving or ex-Service person. If you have an interest in the work of the Legion and want to help and support those who have served and their dependants, come and join us. We welcome people of all ages, whether they have served in the Armed Forces or not.

 

How do I become a member?

There are three main ways to become a Member of the Royal British Legion. Please note that every member must be affiliated to a Local or National branch.

Online

You can sign up to become a member by applying online via the Membership Self-Service Portal.:  

 

Telephone:

If you wish to become a member and would like to sign up over the phone, call the Membership Team on:

Telephone UK (free): 0800 307 7773

Overseas (full rates apply): +44 (0)207 191 1091

Monday to Sunday 8am - 8pm, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

 

Paper application:

If you would like to become a member of the Royal British Legion using a paper application, you can contact or your local branch to request one. You will then need to complete the form and post it to:

The Royal British Legion

RBL Membership Applications and Payments

TRBL PO Box 1710

NORTHAMPTON

NN2 1LP

Please note that to join we require your unique email address and date of birth.

If you require assistance signing up, you can access support by contacting our Membership Team (please see below for contact details).

You can also ask your branch for assistance with processing your payment.

 

Do I need to join a RBL Branch to be a member?

Yes, you will need to be affiliated with a branch when you join.

There are approximately 2,500 Royal British Legion branches across the UK and overseas. They are focal points for social activity, Remembrance and support the Armed Forces community in all kinds of ways. In local communities they play a vital role in helping hard-to-reach individuals and tackling problems like loneliness and isolation. Every member must be affiliated to a Local or National branch. You can find your branch contact details here:

Find your local RBL branch.

Find your local overseas RBL branch.

Learn more about National RBL branches.

 

Why does my branch not appear on the RBL website?

To have your branch listed on the RBL website, you need to establish a branch webpage. Each branch is required to appoint a webmaster who will be responsible for managing this webpage. To set up your branch webpage, please forward the details of your appointed webmaster to your MEO.  We will then grant them access to our web systems and provide guidance on how to create and manage the page.

 

How much does membership cost?

 

Currently, the annual fee is £20 (plus the branch joining/admin fee, if applicable). Please see our FAQs on our membership fee.

 

Please note: our payment processing provider is Charles Novacroft and this may appear on your statement.

 

Are all Branch fees the same?

No. As branches are based in different locations, conduct different activities and differ in size, branches set their own Branch fees depending on their needs. Branch fees range from £0-30 but are on average no more than £5.

 

Can I join more than one branch?

Yes, an RBL member can join and belong to, up to four branches at once. You will need to pay admin fees for each branch you join, but you will only pay one membership fee.

 

What are the categories of branch membership?

There are four categories of branch membership as governed by The Royal Charter. They are as follows:

Full Member: Full membership is available for anyone who has paid to join; there is no distinction between service, ex-Service, or non-service.

Youth Member: Youth membership is free for anyone aged 12-18 years old. To join a completed paper application is required with consent from a parent or guardian.

The benefits of becoming a youth member include:

• showing your support for the Armed Forces community
• taking part in youth parades
• training to be a Youth Standard Bearer and taking part in the National Youth Standard Bearer competition
• the chance to hold the position of National Youth Standard Bearer (if you win the competition) and attend events such as the Festival of Remembrance, and
• the chance to join a Legion band or become a majorette.

Life Member: Life Members are those whose services to the Legion, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, merit this honour and are awarded it. They will have given at least 10 years of meritorious and conspicuous service to the objective of the Legion, as defined by the Royal Charter. A member who is awarded the National Life Membership remains a member of the Royal British Legion without having to pay a membership fee for the rest of their life. Please contact your local branch to find out more.

Recipients will receive:

• a certificate
• a Life Membership card
• a Badge

Centenarian Member: Centenarian membership is free for anyone existing member over 100 years of age.

If you're a serving member of the UK Armed Forces, regular or reserve, you can register to our Military Membership mailing list for free.

As a Military member you'll receive regular emails with great news stories, offers and information. Please be aware that this is a digital membership and does not have the benefits of a Branch Membership, so you will not be able to book tickets for the Festival of Remembrance in the exclusive member sale. To be able to buy tickets in the exclusive member sale, please join our Branch Membership.

 

How do I Gift Aid my membership?

Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows you to increase the value of your donation by 25p on every pound you give at no extra cost to you. Members are encouraged to Gift Aid their membership fee when they join.

You can add or remove a Gift Aid declaration at any time via the Membership Self-Service Portal.

Alternately, you can email Membership Services: [email protected].

 

When will I receive my Membership card?

Once we receive your payment and it has cleared, we'll post your membership card (and welcome pack for new members) to your address. Your card will be valid for a full year from the date of joining. It should arrive within ten working days from the moment the payment is cleared. If you have not received your membership card as expected, please check you bank details to ensure payment was taken. 

Membership Experience

How do I update or amend my personal details?

You can utilise the Membership Self-Service Portal to manage your membership. The Portal is available 24/7 and can be used to:

• Update your postal address, email address or phone number.
• Amend your contact preferences.
• Transfer to another Branch.

Members can join up to four branches. If you would like to join more than one branch, email [email protected] or call the Membership Helpline:

Telephone UK (free): 0800 307 7773

Telephone overseas (full rates apply): +44 207 191 1091

Telephone Republic of Ireland (free): 1800 911 936

Monday to Sunday 8am - 8pm, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

You can register your Self-Service Portal web account here.

 

Why can I not access the Membership Self-Service Portal?

Lapsed members cannot access the Self-Service Portal. Please check your membership card to ensure your membership is in date.

Members are not automatically assigned a Self-Service Portal account; to check whether you have set up your account, please enter your email address into this link and press ‘Submit’.

 

If you have already registered, you will receive the message below:

If you have not yet registered, you will receive the message below:

 

You can register for a Self-Service account here.

 

 Why am I not receiving my Legion magazine?

Please check your mailing preferences via the Self-Service portal as a first step, to ensure you have unticked the two boxes below:   

 

Why am I not receiving my monthly Legion e-Newsletter?

Please check your mailing preferences via the Self-Service portal as a first step, to ensure you have ticked the box below:  

How do I request a replacement member membership card?

To request a replacement membership card, email [email protected] or call the Membership Helpline:

Telephone UK (free): 0800 307 7773

Telephone overseas (full rates apply): +44 207 191 1091

Telephone Republic of Ireland (free): 1800 911 936

Monday to Sunday 8am - 8pm, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

To request a replacement membership card, you must provide your full name, and a membership number or postcode.

 

How do I get tickets for the Festival of Remembrance?

The RBL Festival of Remembrance 2024 will be held in the Royal Albert Hall, London on Saturday 9th November 2024 with performances at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets will go on sale to RBL members via See Tickets on 23rd July and 30th July for the evening and afternoon performances, respectively. The times tickets will be go on sale will be shared on the Festival of Remembrance webpage.

Tickets for this year’s Festival of Remembrance will once again only be available to purchase online through our ticket provider See Tickets. Please be aware that tickets will not be available to purchase over the phone. We communicate the ticketing date prior to sale to ensure anyone who does not have access to the internet can get in touch with a friend, family member or neighbour to assist when they go on sale.

 

Can I get tickets for the Festival of Remembrance without being a member?

Tickets are only available to RBL members in the first instance, only go ing on sale to the general public if they do not sell out. Please be advised, general public tickets have not been available for the last two years due to high demand from the RBL member community. For the best possible chance of securing tickets, we suggest becoming a member.

 

What is the difference between a Legion Branch and a Legion Club? 

RBL Branches are groups of members, whilst RBL Clubs are social clubs with a physical site where they run their business. Branches are an integral part of the RBL charity, but RBL Clubs are independently run businesses that need to apply to the RBL for a licence to use our name and logo. For any Club queries, please contact your local club and they will be able to assist.  If you do not have their contact details, please email [email protected].

 

How do I join a Legion Club?

Please note that Club membership is not included in your RBL membership.

If you would like to join a RBL Club, you must first become a RBL member and join a Legion branch (this is the condition of the club licence). Once you have received your membership card, contact the RBL Club(s) you wish to join. Club membership fees must be paid directly to the RBL Club, who will then provide you with a sticker for your membership card. If you have any queries or would like to find out more information about joining a Club, please email [email protected].

 

Why has my local Club closed? 

Clubs are independent businesses separate to the charity that use the Legion’s name under license, and therefore not managed by the Royal British Legion. While we recommend getting in touch with the local Club about any Club-related issues, if your local club is permanently closed, you can email our team on [email protected] who will do their best to assist.

Although the club may have closed, this does not affect the branch, so if you would like more details about the work of the Legion in your area, please contact your local branch.

 

Where can I purchase RBL membership items from?

The Poppy Shop is the Royal British Legion’s official online charity gift store. Through the Poppy shop, we sell our own branded merchandise and products from independent suppliers, donating all profits back to our charity.

Funds raised by our online Poppy Shop enable us to do our vital work supporting people in the Armed Forces community. By treating yourself or a loved one to one of our poppy-themed gifts or accessories, you're helping us to provide vital services and support, from expert guidance and advice, to recovery and rehabilitation.

You can shop for a variety of products including home and gifts, jewellery, clothing, membership items and more. All merchandise is available for purchase through the online Poppy Shop store.

In the lead-up to the Poppy Appeal, the Poppy Shop website experiences increased traffic due to strong demand for products. It’s always advisable to place your order well in advance of the Poppy Appeal to avoid disappointment.

The most convenient way to place an order is through the Poppy Shop website.

If you would like further information about RBL products or help with an order, get in touch by:

Telephone: 0300 123 9110 - Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm (excluding bank holidays)

Email: [email protected] for order enquiries

Email: [email protected] for general enquiries

 

How do I renew my membership?

Membership renewal letters are dispatched approximately six weeks before your membership expiry date. The letter will tell you how you can renew and pay.

You can renew your membership online through our self-service portal (please note that to open an online account we must have your email address and date of birth on the system). Alternatively, you can renew by phone:

Telephone UK (free from UK landlines and main mobile networks): 0800 307 7773

Telephone overseas (full rate): +44 (0)207 191 1091

Telephone Republic of Ireland (free): 1800 911 936

Lines are open Monday to Sunday 8am - 8pm, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Choose your preferred payment method from the list below:

Direct Debit: Set-up recurring payments by visiting our Self-Service Portal and follow the instructions on the page, or call the Membership Helpline. Direct Debit is the fastest and most secure way to pay for your membership every year.

Credit or debit card: Visit our Self-Service Portal and follow the instructions on the page or call the Membership Helpline to make a payment.

PayPal: Make a quick and secure online payment through our Self-Service Portal.

PayPoint: Take your renewal letter to your nearest PayPoint outlet, scan the barcode and complete your payment. Find your nearest PayPoint store at paypoint.com.

Cheque: Complete a cheque payable to the Royal British Legion for the total fee and send to the address listed on your renewal letter. Please include your membership number with the cheque.

Euro cheque: Complete a cheque payable to The Royal British Legion for the total fee and send to the address listed on your renewal letter. Please include your membership number with the cheque. Please allow 5 weeks for Euro cheques to be processed.

Overseas Bank Transfer: If making a bank transfer from outside the UK, please use the following including your membership number as the payment reference.

For payments in any currency excluding Euros, use our GBP Account (IBAN and BIC included for overseas payments that are not Euros):

IBAN: GB20NWBK60023573629774

BIC: NWBKGB2L

For payments in Euros, use our Euro Account:

IBAN: GB91NWBK60720170076359

Swift-Bic: NWBKGB2L

 

I am not happy with my membership. How do I make a complaint?

In the first instance, please contact the Membership Services team: [email protected]. We will investigate your complaint and will aim to get back to you within two working days.

 

How do I complain about a member or a branch?

Please email [email protected] and they provide you with the process to make a formal complaint.

 

How do I request information on someone who is a member of the Legion?

Please email our membership team at [email protected] or call 0800 307 7773 and they will be able to assist. Due to GDPR we cannot share individual member details without a formal request from a legal entity, such as the police.

Contact Information

The Membership FAQs above have not resolved my membership query

If you need to get in touch with our membership team, please contact us using the details below:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone UK (free from UK landlines and main mobile networks): 0800 307 7773

Telephone overseas (full rate): +44 (0)207 191 1091

Telephone Republic of Ireland (free): 1800 911 936

Monday to Sunday 8am - 8pm, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

 

How can veterans and their families get in contact to receive welfare support, including advice and grants?

Veterans’ Gateway supports veterans and their families to find the help they need. Connected to a network of Armed Forces organisations, they will make sure that you are quickly referred to those best placed to provide support, including the Royal British Legion.

Veterans’ Gateway also has an extensive range of self-help resources,  allowing veterans to search for help and advice independently on a range of issues such as housing, employment and finances.

If you’ve not found the answer to your query through our online Knowledge Base, please contact us using one of the options below:

Email: [email protected]

Live Chat: For an immediate response to your query, try our live chat service (Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm).

Telephone UK: For welfare and general enquiries, call our free helpline on 0808 802 8080 (calls free from Isle of Man). Lines are open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Telephone Overseas: For welfare and general enquiries: +44 (0)20 3376 8080 (calls charged at full rate).

 

Donations and Fundraising

For help with donations or fundraising, you can reach us via:

Phone: Call our Supporter Careline on 0345 845 1945

Email: [email protected].

Post: Freepost Plus RTZT-ATBH-RGBZ, The Royal British Legion, Bumpers Way, Bumpers Farm, Chippenham, SN14 6NG

Branch and County Officials

What systems support branch / county officials?

The Membership Administration Portal (MAP), also known as Office 365 or Microsoft 365, has been designed to assist branch and county officials in running a branch or county. Users can access membership listings in their area, are given an official RBL email address, and can access various resources relevant to running and operating a branch or county.

How do I log into my Microsoft 365 / MAP account?

• Open a ‘Guest’ or ‘Private’ browsing window and go to the MAP system.
• Enter your username - e.g. [email protected] and click ‘Next’.
• Enter your password and click Sign In. Please note the ‘Can’t access your account?’ link is not in use. Please contact Your MEO and/or Membership Services [email protected] for password resets.

 

How do I reset my Microsoft 365 / MAP password?

For security reasons it is not possible for a user to reset an account password through the system. If this is your first-time logging into Microsoft 365 / MAP or you have reached the 90-day password expiry date, you will be asked to enter in a new password. Please remember you will need to know your current password to do this.

If your MEO or MEA has provided a temporary password, please enter this as the current password. A password reset can be requested via [email protected] , in which a temporary password will be provided to log into Microsoft 365 / MAP.

The system will then ask you to update your password. The temporary password will need to be entered as the current password along with your new password.

What is available on MAP?

The MAP homepage is the gateway to the different areas of Microsoft 365. Here you will have access to your emails, resources, membership news, County and Branch document libraries and the internal social network called Viva Engage (formerly Yammer).

Once you have logged in to MAP, there is a navigational bar at the top of the page which will take you to the different areas on MAP, as well as the four main large buttons on the page.

• County & Districts links: You will only be able to access your own county if your Microsoft 365 account has been given access. From the county page, you can access your branch page.
• Membership Resources: This will take you to the Membership Resources Area that contains all the Membership documentation, support guides and general information.
• Branch Community Support (BCS) portal: If your branch has registered with BCS and you have a BCS account, you will have access to the BCS portal and management system.
• Outlook online: This opens your RBL.Community email account. It will also have listed any Office 365 groups you are a member of e.g. CTO group.
• Viva Engage (formerly Yammer): A social networking online forum for branch officials to communicate with each other and the opportunity to collaborate on any area. There are groups made based on roles, interests and location with the chance to join any that if of interest to the branch official. Only users with an RBL Microsoft 365 account can access this.
• Documents and Resources: Access to the MAP documents library, membership system guides and data protection guidance.

Can I link my RBL.Community email account to my personal email account?

It is not possible to add an RBL.Community email account to a desktop email client. This is due to the licence that we have with Microsoft and the security risks that come with the type of connection that would be needed in their email client. It may be possible to use the official Outlook mobile app, but that can depend on several factors, such as the device being used.

Does RBL provide membership training?

Providing members with training is one of the ways the RBL improves its ability to support the Armed Forces community. Training helps to ensure compliance with legislation and the Charity Commission and preserve our good reputation.

Our membership training provides our members with the knowledge, skills, and support to fulfil their volunteer duties effectively and efficiently Training also supports Branch, County/District Officers and Committee members to carry out their responsibilities within RBL policies, charity procedures and rules.

How are training courses delivered?

Training is provided by either the Membership Training team or County Training Officers. Courses are delivered in a variety of ways, including: · Online via our learning management platform Discover

• Online via Microsoft Teams
• Face-to-face in person
• Some courses are delivered locally within the County or District by County/District Training Officers. These courses may also be face-to-face or delivered online via Microsoft Teams.

How can members apply for courses?

Individuals can apply to attend courses by speaking to their County/District Training Officer or Membership Engagement Officer (MEO), or by searching for a course on Discover.

For details of the courses or for support with signing up, please get in touch with your:

• County/District Training Officer (C/DTO)
• Membership Engagement Officer (MEO) Or you can contact the training team: L&[email protected].

Further FAQs for branch officials can be found on MAP.

Our members and supporters are at the heart of our work, enabling us to provide lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.

Supporting us should be a rewarding experience. We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and comply with the key principles embodied in their Fundraising Promise:

We will commit to high standards

•  We will adhere to the Fundraising Code of Practice.
• We will monitor fundraisers, volunteers and third parties working with us to raise funds, to ensure that they comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice and with this Promise.
• We will comply with the law as it applies to charities and fundraising.
• We will display the Fundraising Regulator badge on our fundraising material to show we are committed to good practice.

We will be clear, honest and open

• We will tell the truth and we will not exaggerate.
• We will do what we say we are going to do with donations we receive.
• We will be clear about who we are and what we do.
• We will give a clear explanation of how you can make a gift and change a regular donation.
• Where we ask a third party to fundraise on our behalf, we will make this relationship and the financial arrangement transparent.
• We will be able to explain our fundraising costs and show how they are in the best interests of our cause if challenged.
• We will ensure our complaints process is clear and easily accessible.
• We will provide clear and evidence based reasons for our decisions on complaints.

We will be respectful

• We will respect your rights and privacy.
• We will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift. If you do not want to give or wish to cease giving, we will respect your decision.
• We will have a procedure for dealing with people in vulnerable circumstances and it will be available on request.
• Where the law requires, we will get your consent before we contact you to fundraise.
• If you tell us that you do not want us to contact you in a particular way we will not do so. We will work with the Telephone, Mail and Fundraising Preference Services to ensure that those who choose not to receive specific types of communication do not have to.

We will be fair and reasonable

• We will treat donors and the public fairly, showing sensitivity and adapting our approach depending on your needs.
• We will take care not to use any images or words that intentionally cause distress or anxiety.
• We will take care not to cause nuisance or disruption to the public.

We will be accountable and responsible

• We will manage our resources responsibly and consider the impact of our fundraising on our donors, supporters and the wider public.
• If you are unhappy with anything we have done whilst fundraising, you can contact us to make a complaint. We will listen to feedback and respond appropriately to compliments and criticism we receive.
• We will have a complaints procedure, a copy of which will be available on our website or available on request.
• Our complaints procedure will let you know how to contact the Fundraising Regulator in the event that you feel our response is unsatisfactory.
• We will monitor and record the number of complaints we receive each year and share this data with the Fundraising Regulator on request.

The Royal British Legion additionally promises that:

• We comply with the law including those that apply to data protection, health and safety and the environment.
• We only work with professional fundraising organisations that meet our high standards, working with them in a transparent way.
• We will share how much money we make each year and how this is spent.
• We are clear about who we are, what we do and how your gift is used.
• Your data is safe with us. We only collect data that is required and relevant and do not share our supporter details with charities or other third parties unless they are acting on our behalf. We never sell on your details Please see our Data Protection, Privacy and Communications Policy for more details of how we manage your data.
• We monitor and record the number of complaints we receive and publish this information in our Annual Report as well as sharing this with the Fundraising Regulator.

Contact us

If you want to know more, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact our Supporter Care team using the following details:

• Telephone: 0333 011 4500
• Email: [email protected]
• Post: The Royal British Legion, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA

Take part in our fundraising lotteries, raffles and prize draws.

By playing, you can support the Royal British Legion and have the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

With up to 400 prizes on offer every week, what are you waiting for? Play today – it’s a fantastic way to support our Armed Forces community, who continue to step up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, to help keep us all safe.

 

Complaints procedure

The Royal British Legion has comprehensive procedures for complaints and disputes relating to Lottery and Raffle draws. Read our complaints procedure online

Gambling support

For some people gambling can become a problem. If you are worried about the amount you are gambling or are concerned for a friend or relative our gambling support advice may be a help.

Charity No. 219279. The Royal British Legion is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission under account number 4294.

Responsible Person: Holly Seabrook, Head of Supporter Development.
www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

 

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Fundraising Complaints Procedure

We always aim for the highest fundraising standards and to provide you with the best service possible.

Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong and when they do, we want to know. We welcome complaints about our fundraising and third parties acting on our behalf in the fundraising process. Telling us about your experience gives us the chance to put things right and make improvements.

Contact us

We want to sort things out for you as soon as we can. The easiest and quickest way is by talking to our dedicated complaints team on 0345 845 1945.

We can help you quicker on the phone but we recognise that this may not be your preferred choice, so you can also email us at [email protected] or write to us at: Fundraising Complaints, Royal British Legion, Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA

Email is not a secure communication medium so please avoid detailed personal information.

If you have a complaint about an item you have bought from the Poppy Shop please direct your complaint here: Poppy Shop, Adamsway, Mansfield NG18 4FN, or call us on 0300 123 9110. You can also email us at [email protected]

Complaints about Poppy Shop items are not covered by this procedure, which is designed to address complaints about fundraising.

What we need from you

Please provide us with as much information as possible when making your complaint. This will help us to understand the issue and resolve it quickly. Please include:

• Your name and address
• Your supporter number, if you have one. You can usually find this near the top of the letter if we have written to you recently
• A description of your complaint and how it’s affected you
• When the issue happened
• A contact number (or other preferred method of contact) and a convenient time to contact you.

Why do we need this information?

This is to make sure the right person handles your complaint so they can investigate and fix the situation as soon as possible. Your contact details will help us reach you if we need to discuss your complaint, especially if we need more information. We will always try to call you back at an agreed time. Please note that calls from us will appear as our general Supporter Care line 0345 845 1945.

What we'll do

We'll record your complaint and do everything we can to resolve it quickly:

• We'll get in touch with you to discuss your complaint.
• We will try to agree the resolution to the problem at that point.

For more complex issues, we may need more time to investigate your concerns. If this is the case:

We'll send you an acknowledgement letter outlining the next steps and when you can expect to hear from us.

• We'll give you the name of the person handling your complaint and a contact number if you need to contact us.
• If necessary, we will contact you for more information using your preferred method of contact.
• If the investigation is likely to take longer than two weeks, we'll keep you updated of our progress throughout our investigation.

Our response

Once we've completed our investigation, we'll send you a Response Letter. This will outline the details of the investigation, how we reached our decision and what we propose to do to put things right. It will also provide information about what to do if you disagree with our response.

Appeal and escalation

We strive to do things the right way first time. However, if you don’t agree with our response, you may appeal and we will ask our Director of Fundraising to take a look and make sure your complaint has been resolved fairly.

Just contact our complaints team again on 0345 845 1945, by email to [email protected] or by post to: Head of Supporter Services, Royal British Legion, Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA

When we hear from you, we will send your request to the Director of Fundraising who will ensure there is a review of your complaint by senior staff.

Once your independent review has been completed, we’ll send you a Final Response Letter with our resolution.

If you disagree with the Final Response Letter you can escalate the complaint to the Fundraising Regulator. If your complaint is about a lottery or raffle you can escalate the complaint to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). We talk about these processes in Section 8 below.

Timescales

We aim to resolve all complaints as quickly as possible but sometimes resolution may take a while, especially if we need to undertake an investigation.

If we can resolve your complaint over the phone then that’s what we’ll do.

If your complaint requires a Response Letter, we will send that as soon as we can. If it’s likely to take a few days to investigate your complaint then we’ll send an acknowledgement as soon as possible, usually within two business days.

In our experience, most investigations can be completed within 14 days, after which we will send you a Response Letter. If we can’t meet this deadline we’ll send you an update indicating when we are likely to resolve your complaint. Where we need more time, we will continue to send regular updates until your complaint has been resolved.

Putting things right

We will usually ask you for your agreement before we implement any remedial action. If we agree that action is required to put things right we will take that action without delay or explain why we can’t do that.

If you've already complained

If you need an update on a complaint you’ve already made please contact your complaint handler. Their name and contact details are included in the acknowledgement letter.

8. The regulators

If you don’t agree with our resolution you can refer your complaint to the relevant regulator. Depending on the nature of your complaint there are two regulators who you can talk to.

For complaints about fundraising the regulator to contact is the Fundraising Regulator. For complaints about our Lottery or Raffle the regulator to contact is the Independent Betting Adjudication Service.

The Fundraising Regulator

We would like you to refer your complaint to our Director of Fundraising first (as described in Section 4 above) but you may approach the Fundraising Regulator sooner if you prefer. We are committed to abiding by the Fundraising Regulator’s final decision.

Part of the Regulator’s role is to investigate complaints from members of the public about fundraising practice where these cannot be resolved by us.

Following a referral to the Fundraising Regulator we will respond to their requests promptly and we will do what we can to ensure a fair outcome. At this point in the process we will usually engage directly with the Fundraising Regulator.

We’ll give you their details when we send our Response Letter but, for reference, you can get in touch with them in the following ways:

Online: Fundraising Regulator website

Telephone: 0300 999 3407

Post: The Fundraising Regulator, 2nd floor, CAN Mezzanine Building, 49-51 East Road, London N1 6AH

The Independent Betting Adjudication Service

Following a referral to the IBAS we will respond to their requests promptly and we will do what we can to ensure a fair outcome. At this point in the process we will usually engage directly with IBAS.

We’ll give you their details when we send our Response Letter but, for reference, you can get in touch with them in the following ways:

Post: Independent Betting Adjudication Service Ltd, PO BOX 62639, London EC3P 3AS

Telephone: 020 7347 5883

Online: IBAS website

Instant win scratch cards that are fun to play and also raise vital funds

The Royal British Legion operates scratch card lotteries from time to time in conjunction with Rieves Lotteries Ltd. a registered External Lottery Manager with the Gambling Commission.

Sales of scratch cards raise funds for the charity. After the cost of prizes and producing and distributing the scratch cards, 20% of the sales revenue is funds for the Legion to use in its work to provide support services for the Armed Forces community.

There are currently scratch cards on sale in some Poundland and WH Smiths stores at the checkout. The scratch cards cost £1 or £2 depending on the lottery. Prizes up to £50 can be claimed from the retailer and larger prizes are claimed by completing a claim form and returning it to Rieves Lotteries.

For details, please visit the Rieves Lotteries website where you can find the prize claim form and full terms and conditions. 

Details of the scratch cards currently available:

• Lucky Scratch, Scratch and Match & Lucky Leprechaun (Poundland)
• Best of Luck and Lucky Hearts (WHSmith)
• Lucky Scratch and Pot of Cash (WHSmith)

 

Gambling support

For some people gambling can become a problem. If you are worried about the amount you are gambling or are concerned for a friend or relative our gambling support advice may be a help.

Charity No. 219279. The Royal British Legion is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission under account number 4294.

Responsible Person: Guy Upward, Assistant Director of Fundraising.
www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Poppy Walk

Come together during the Poppy Appeal for a short, family friendly walk to lay a poppy tribute and mark Remembrance.

This November we invite you to personalise and plant your own poppy tribute in honour of someone you may have loved and lost, and in recognition of what others have given and sacrificed for us all.

Bring friends and family together to celebrate the lives of Service men and women and help raise much-needed funds, as we share a moment of personal reflection on a sociable walk.

What your fundraising means to the Armed Forces community 

£10 could pay the travel costs to get a Veteran to employment related training.

£40 could provide a winter coat to keep a Veteran warm. 

£100 could pay for one day of a week’s art course with Bravo 22 to aid someone’s recovery and transition to civilian life by improving their confidence and motivation. 

Read more about how your fundraising is supporting the Poppy Appeal. 

Volunteer with us

Not taking part in the event this year? Why not join us for the day at one of our Poppy Walks and be part of something meaningful, with a moment of reflection during remembrance. Your time directly impacts the experience of our participants on the day, provides an excellent opportunity to meet new people & supports building new skills. We have various roles available in our event village, and along the route – join the RBL team today

Sign up here

 

1. Introduction

We always aim for the highest fundraising standards and to provide you with the best service possible. Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong and when they do, we want to know. We welcome complaints about our fundraising and third parties acting on our behalf in the fundraising process. Telling us about your experience gives us the chance to put things right and make improvements.

2. Contact us

We want to sort things out for you as soon as we can. The easiest and quickest way is by talking to our dedicated complaints team on 0345 845 1945.

We can help you quicker on the phone but we recognise that this may not be your preferred choice, so you can also email us at with [email protected] or write to us at: The Royal British Legion, Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA

Email is not a secure communication medium so please avoid detailed personal information.

3. What we need from you

Please provide us with as much information as possible when making your complaint. This will help us to understand the issue and resolve it quickly. Please include:

• Your name and address
• Your supporter number, if you have one. You can usually find this near the top of the letter if we have written to you recently
• A description of your complaint and how it’s affected you
• When the issue happened
• A contact number (or other preferred method of contact) and a convenient time to contact you.

Why do we need this information?

This is to make sure the right person handles your complaint so they can investigate and fix the situation as soon as possible. Your contact details will help us reach you if we need to discuss your complaint, especially if we need more information. We will always try to call you back at an agreed time. Please note that calls from us will appear as our general Supporter Care line 0345 845 1945.

4. What we'll do

We'll record your complaint and do everything we can to resolve it quickly:

• We'll get in touch with you to discuss your complaint.
• We will try to agree the resolution to the problem at that point.
• Please be aware that our call will appear as 0345 845 1945, rather than the 4565 complaints line

For more complex issues, we may need more time to investigate your concerns. If this is the case:

• We'll send you an acknowledgement letter outlining the next steps and when you can expect to hear from us.
• We'll give you the name of the person handling your complaint and a contact number if you need to contact us.
• If necessary, we will contact you for more information using your preferred method of contact.
• If the investigation is likely to take longer than two weeks, we'll keep you updated of our progress throughout our investigation.

Our response

Once we've completed our investigation, we'll send you a Response Letter. This will outline the details of the investigation, how we reached our decision and what we propose to do to put things right. It will also provide information about what to do if you disagree with our response.

Appeal and escalation

We strive to do things the right way first time. However, if you don’t agree with our response, you may appeal and we will ask our Director of Fundraising to take a look and make sure your complaint has been resolved fairly.

Just contact our complaints team again on 0345 845 1945, by email to with [email protected] or by post to: Head of Supporter Services, Royal British Legion, Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA

When we hear from you, we will send your request to the Director of Fundraising who will ensure there is a review of your complaint by senior staff.

Once your independent review has been completed, we’ll send you a Final Response Letter with our resolution.

If you disagree with the Final Response Letter you can escalate the complaint to the Fundraising Regulator. If your complaint is about a lottery or raffle you can escalate the complaint to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). We talk about these processes in Section 8 below.

5. Timescales

We aim to resolve all complaints as quickly as possible but sometimes resolution may take a while, especially if we need to undertake an investigation.

If we can resolve your complaint over the phone then that’s what we’ll do.

If your complaint requires a Response Letter, we will send that as soon as we can. If it’s likely to take a few days to investigate your complaint then we’ll send an acknowledgement as soon as possible, usually within two business days.

In our experience, most investigations can be completed within 14 days, after which we will send you a Response Letter. If we can’t meet this deadline we’ll send you an update indicating when we are likely to resolve your complaint. Where we need more time, we will continue to send regular updates until your complaint has been resolved.

6. Putting things right

We will usually ask you for your agreement before we implement any remedial action. If we agree that action is required to put things right we will take that action without delay or explain why we can’t do that.

7. If you've already complained

If you need an update on a complaint you’ve already made please contact your complaint handler. Their name and contact details are included in the acknowledgement letter.

8. The regulator

If you disagree with our response to your complaint you can contact the Independent Betting Adjudication Service. You can also refer your complaint to the Gambling Commission.

The Independent Betting Adjudication Service

Following a referral to the IBAS we will respond to their requests promptly and we will do what we can to ensure a fair outcome. At this point in the process we will usually engage directly with IBAS.

We’ll give you their details when we send our Response Letter but, for reference, you can get in touch with them in the following ways:

Post: Independent Betting Adjudication Service Ltd, PO BOX 62639, London EC3P 3AS

Telephone: 020 7347 5883

Online: IBAS website

 

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Complaints Leaflet PDF

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/docs/default-source/finance-docs/ops-complaint-leaflet.pdf?sfvrsn=8e67b306_2 

The founding of RBL

In the aftermath of the First World War it became apparent there was a need for an organisation to support and represent all members of the Armed Forces, to hold the Government to account and ensure all those who served and sacrificed were given the support they needed and deserved.

Support for the Armed Forces

Before the war soldiers received little support from the state apart from a small war pension. When the size of the Armed Forces grew through civilian volunteers and later conscription during the First World War the huge increase in military personnel and sheer number of casualties resulting from the war made it clear this was insufficient, and more support was needed.

In response the British Government set up a scheme for those who returned home from the frontline as a result of injury to claim compensation. But this fell short when men who had been sent home due to injury and had been through the medical system were sent back to the frontline - including men who were medically unfit to serve - because of a shortage of fighting-fit men.

This was met with outrage and led to the formation of a body called the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers in January 1917. The Federation was based in the South-East of England and had links to the Liberal Party. In the same year, The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers was formed in Blackburn which had strong links to the Labour Party and campaigned for better pensions.

The Comrades of the Great War was also formed in 1917 and was established to fight for the rights of the ex-serviceman and woman.

Earl Haig

During the war the three organisations campaigned for better support for the Armed Forces, but their work really began in 1919 due to the huge challenge of bringing home millions of soldiers who were scattered across Europe.

Field Marshal Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, had concerns for the future welfare of the men who had served abroad long before the war ended. He proposed demobilisation based on age and length of service as early as 1917.

But his proposals were dismissed, and it was decided that ‘key workers’ were to be brought back first as it was seen as crucial to get industry back up and running again.

This caused a great deal of resentment among those who had been in the services for longer and lead to demonstrations and riots by serving soldiers who were deeply angered by the way demobilisation was being handled.

A united front

It was becoming clear to Haig that there was a need for one large organisation to support all the Armed Forces, including Officers, that would hold the Government to account on behalf of the men and women it represented.

Haig refused to be associated with any one of the ex-Service organisations separately and pushed for them to come together to focus on care for ex-Servicemen and their families.

By Spring 1920 the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers and the Comrades of the Great War had realised that unity was the only way forward and called a conference and invited the other organisations.

The conference was chaired by the President of the Federation, Sir Frederick Lister, who successfully argued for the amalgamation of the four existing bodies.

The British Legion

On Sunday 15 May 1921, a small group of ex-Servicemen and representatives from the four organisations, The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers, The Comrades of The Great War and The Officers' Association walked to the Cenotaph, in London’s Whitehall. As Big Ben struck nine, the four men representing the organisations laid a wreath with the badges of the four organisations that would officially unite to form the British Legion.

The following day the constitution was presented to and agreed by 700 delegates at the Unity Conference in London. The then Prince of Wales was also invited to become the British Legion’s first Patron, whist Earl Haig was appointed as the British Legion’s first President and Sir Frederick Lister the National Chairman.

The British Legion was founded by and for Armed Forces personnel and as a demonstration of its attitude towards its members the constitution was proposed by a soldier and seconded by a General - there would be no distinction between rank, religion or political affiliation.

A life dedicated to the Armed Forces

In the early years of the newly formed British Legion, founder and President Earl Haig worked tirelessly championing the needs of the Armed Forces, launching the Poppy Day Appeal in 1921 and helping to shape modern Remembrance. He also worked hard at grass-roots level, touring the country with Lady Haig, making speeches, visiting branches, opening bowling greens and hospital wards.

On 27 January 1928 Haig visited the Poppy Factory in Richmond and greeted a group of scouts. Sadly, the next day at the age of 66 he died suddenly. It was a devastating loss to the British Legion but his commitment to always put duty before self had earned him the undying devotion from its members and leaves a legacy that is still felt within RBL today.

100 years on we continue Earl Haig’s legacy ensuring all members of the Armed Forces can live dignified and fulfilled lives through our ongoing welfare and campaigning work, whilst remembering those who have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

100 years of membership

Members of the Royal British Legion have been vital to our work since 1921 and continue to play a key role in supporting the Armed Forces community and championing Remembrance today.

After the British Legion was formed, members organised themselves into local branches and this system is still in place today.

180,000

Today our membership stands at 180,000 spread over 2,500 branches in the UK and a further 78 worldwide, with branches in places as far away as the Falkland Islands and Hong Kong.

Become a member

With a footprint in almost every town and many villages across the four countries of the United Kingdom, RBL branches are ideally placed to spot people who need support locally and bring them to the attention of local welfare staff.

Aftermath of the First World War

Founding members estimated the British Legion had responsibility for up to 20 million people.

More than 6 million men from Britain had served during the First World War, of whom more than 700,000 were killed and some 1.75 million wounded or disabled. 

Of that latter number more than half were permanently disabled. Widows, orphans, families of the wounded, disabled and unemployed all needed our support.

The formation of RBL also coincided with the Great Depression which brought mass unemployment and great uncertainty.

Much of the early work of members was focussed on helping those in urgent need of support, with funds from the Poppy Appeal in 1922 used to feed children in Crouch End.

The Women's Section

Earl Haig spoke of the need to enlist the support of women from 1920, but initially they could not become members of the Legion itself, so they formed the Women’s Section in July 1921.

The role of women in society had begun to change as a result of the First World War and many men saw women as a threat. Women had taken on the jobs of men during the conflict and in 1918 some were given the right to vote.

In some parts of the country women found it difficult to get permission from their male counterparts to establish a Women's Section branch.

But despite this early opposition, the Women’s Section became a vital part of the organisation. Over the last 100 years the role of the Women’s Section has evolved but the fundamentals have not changed.

One of its greatest commitments is to help children of serving and ex-Service personnel to get the best from their education. This can start with pre-school assistance for the purchase of baby items, essential clothing, bedroom furniture and school equipment.

Tackling tuberculosis

In its early days, the British Legion was also deeply concerned by the rates of tuberculosis (TB) among returning service personnel. Over 55,000 men returned from the war suffering from the disease, and by 1922 18,000 had died.

After seeing the community suffer, and wanting to help, members helped to create a dedicated TB hospital and village which opened in 1925.

Over 95 years later the village in Aylesford, Kent continues to provide housing and support to over 300 members of the Armed Forces community, thanks to our charity partner Royal British Legion Industries.

The Great Pilgrimage

Members play a central role in Acts of Remembrance, and in 1928 took part in one of the largest ever – The Great Pilgrimage.

Planned to take place on the tenth anniversary of the so-called ‘100 days’ that marked the battles which led to the end of the First World War, the Great Pilgrimage saw 11,000 veterans and widows, including 2,000 Standard Bearers, cross the Channel on 5 August and make their way by train and coach to the battlefields of the Somme.

Earl Haig was behind the idea of this huge undertaking and wished that the climax of the visit, the ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial, should take place on 8 August, the date of the first of those defining battles.

In 2018 over 1,000 members travelled to Belgium to mark the 90^th anniversary of the Great Pilgrimage, marching through Ypres to the Menin Gate.

100 years of supporting the Armed Forces community

In our centenary year, we are firmly focused on our future. By building on a century of work we’ll make sure we are a charity fit for the next 100.

Our centenary

Working with younger generations

Members play an important role in helping younger generations understand Remembrance.

Dilys Hooper is a passionate RBL member who has been involved in one way or another since she was 20 when she volunteered as a collector in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday.

Today she is on the Membership Council with a special 

remit to represent Youth.

‘The youth are our future and our custodians of Remembrance,” says Dilys.

“If we don’t nurture them now, Remembrance will not follow through.’

Over the past few years she has been involved in an initiative with members of the Women’s Institute who knit poppies for schoolchildren in Reception classes. 

A poppy is given to each child to wear on their school uniform and then to give to their parents as a memento of their first Remembrance Sunday. It is a simple idea but it taps into a deep sense of commitment from the older generation and a sense of excitement from the five-year-olds.

*Images from P.120 of book

Supporting local communities

Members of branches across the UK continue to look out for veterans within their communities as they did when RBL was first founded.

When Terence Lake suffered a stroke and his home was burgled, Paul Wallace, a member of RBL’s Oakengates & District Branch in Shropshire helped the Army veteran find a new home.

And during lockdowns enforced because of Covid-19, many members have acted as telephone buddies, keeping in touch with vulnerable members of their community.

For 27-year-old Grace and 99-year-old Ethel, it became the start of a valued friendship.

During these weekly calls, Grace struck up a friendship with former nurse Ethel, who began her career during the Second World War.

“Although I’ve been stuck at home, having Grace calling me up and other members ensuring I am ok has been really appreciated,” said Ethel.

"I have even learnt to video chat thanks to my son’s help and managed to speak face-to-face with Grace, which was just lovely."

Looking to the future

Although much has changed over the last 100 years, the role of our members has remained vital in our support of the Armed Forces community. 

Our unique network of branches has stood the test of time and helps us reach those in need across the United Kingdom and around the world.

And as we look to the next 100 years members will continue to be at heart of our work supporting the Armed Forces community and passing the torch of Remembrance to future generations.

TB Hospital

The welfare and wellbeing of the Armed Forces has been at the heart of the Royal British Legion since our inception in 1921.

One of our earliest interventions saw us create a dedicated hospital and village to support ex-serving personnel suffering from tuberculosis after the First World War.

Not long after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 men began returning home with horrific and life-changing injuries. Whilst hospitals were initially overwhelmed by the number of men, and the severity of their injuries, treatment of the wounded improved dramatically throughout the war – and by 1917 more men stood a chance of making it back to Britain for treatment.

Return from the frontline

With the increasing return of sick and wounded soldiers, disease also became a huge problem. In the early 20th century tuberculosis (TB) was one of the UK’s most serious and urgent health issues, and as well as coming home wounded, men were also returning with diseases, including TB. The laboratory at Preston Hall.

A highly infectious disease that affects the lungs, TB spreads rapidly in unsanitary, cramped conditions, and the poor living standards in the trenches proved to be an ideal breeding ground. That combined with many sufferers returning to similar unsanitary conditions at home meant poorer areas of big towns and cities became TB hotspots.

In its early days, the then British Legion was deeply concerned by the rates of TB among returning service personnel. Over 55,000 men returned from the war suffering from the disease, and by 1922 18,000 had died.

At the time there wasn’t a national health service and there was little effective treatment for the disease, (which wouldn’t be found until well after the Second World War), and the best way to manage infection was to isolate sufferers and quarantine them away from the general population

Forming a TB hospital

After seeing the community suffer, and wanting to help, the British Legion decided that the best way to do so was to create a dedicated hospital and village, based on the model of the Cambridgeshire Tuberculosis Colony - which was set up in 1916 to rehabilitate TB sufferers by providing treatment and offering them appropriate work and housing. Treatment for TB included the use of outdoor wards.

In 1925 the British Legion acquired Preston Hall near Maidstone in Kent - a large Victorian manor house surrounded by 200 acres of farmland that was being used as a model farm for disabled ex-servicemen – and work began on an ambitious programme to help those in need.

Dr Pendrill Varrier-Jones, who established the Cambridgeshire TB Colony, helped set up and run the Preston Hall hospital during its first year, and by 1928 the hospital had expanded to support almost 500 people.

At the time, the only treatment for TB was fresh air and rest so patients were often placed in outdoor wards or on wards with access to lots of fresh air. To expand its dedicated TB support further the British Legion also acquired Douglas House in Bournemouth, which became a seaside TB ward, and took over a 150-bed specialist hospital for chronic illness in Suffolk to treat ex-servicewomen suffering from the disease.

By the outbreak of the Second World War in 1945, Preston Hall had 150 chronic illness beds and a further 360 beds were created to form a general wing of the hospital that was used to treat soldiers throughout the war.

In 1944 the British Legion magazine, The Journal, claimed that, with its three TB institutions, the British Legion was the largest single unit fighting the disease in Europe.

Leaving a legacy

When the Welfare State was set up in 1948, Preston Hall passed into the hands of the local health service, though the British Legion still had a representative on the board, and the responsibility for dealing with wounded, injured and sick service personnel following the Second World War fell to the newly established National Health Service.

The creation of the village alongside the hospital, which had more than 120 houses, where the recovering servicemen and their families lived flourished into a community of its own with a church, restaurant, village shop and workshops to provide the men with employment. It quickly increased in population and became known locally as the British Legion Village.

Not all men suffering from TB at the time needed permanent hospital care. Some were able to work, albeit in more limited occupations than others, so to help the men get back into work a manufacturing workshop was set up. The men were involved with making heated pads and blankets for the hospital, pallet manufacture, injection moulding, light metal fabrication and the production of traffic signs.

Over 95 years later the village in Aylesford, Kent continues to provide housing and support to over 300 members of the Armed Forces community, thanks to our charity partner Royal British Legion Industries. The site also houses our warehouse where we produce over 20 million poppies each year for the Poppy Appeal, during which we raise millions of pounds to help us to provide life-long support to the Armed Forces community.

Today we continue to support currently serving and ex-service personnel who are wounded, injured or sick with their recovery and rehabilitation.

Our Battle Back Centre provides recovery and rehabilitation support to wounded, injured or sick (WIS) serving and ex-serving personnel who need help for both physical and mental ill-health through sports and adventure activities designed to promote self-confidence and improve motivation to aid recovery.

In November 2018 a team of 13 WIS serving personnel and veterans, who had all received support from the Battle Back Centre, took on the challenge of a lifetime to climb to the summit of Mera Peak in the Himalayas. The team successfully reached the summit on Remembrance Sunday 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Research and Reports

Our campaigning and policy work is based on research and evidence. Find out more about research we have commissioned and conducted over the past decade.

Loneliness and social isolation in the Armed Forces Community

Our report explores how members of the Armed Forces Community experience these issues, what are the unique triggers, and what barriers exist to seeking support.

Loneliness and social isolation

UK Ex-Service Household Survey 2014

In 2014 we published the largest survey to date of the UK ex-Service community, looking at its size, profile and needs.

Royal British Legion Household Survey

Lost Voices

Our Lost Voices report brings together what we know about Service-related hearing problems, and calls on the Government to do more to support military personnel and veterans whose hearing has been damaged by their Service.

View the report

Can't find what you're looking for?

There is a huge wealth of research available from across the UK on the Armed Forces community, covering a wide variety of issues:

• Kings Centre for military health research
• Forces in Mind Trust
• Anglia Ruskin University, Veterans and families institute
• Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies

Previous publications

Deployment to Employment – Exploring the veteran employment gap in the UK, The Royal British Legion, September 2016

Health, welfare and social needs of the Armed Forces Community: a qualitative study, The Royal British Legion & Compass Partnership, March 2011

Legion welfare in the 2010s: a decade of change, The Royal British Legion & Centre for Future Studies, March 2011

Literature review: UK veterans and homelessness, The Royal British Legion, 2011

Literature review: UK Veterans and the criminal justice system, The Royal British Legion, 2011

Honouring the Armed Forces Community, Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) and the Royal British Legion

Gulf War: a legacy of suspicion, The Royal British Legion for the Gulf War Group, 2007

Unsung Heroes, understanding the emotional support needs of service families, 2012

Older People in Europe – Health, Social Care and Welfare Full Report, Age Concern, The Royal British Legion, University of Liverpool, 2008

Caring in Spain, A study into the current and future care needs of the British ex-Service community permanently resident in Spain, Royal British Legion and Centre for Future Studies, 2009

Profile of the ex-Service community in the UK 2005, Royal British Legion with Compass Partnership, 2006

Make your donations go further with Gift Aid

You can make your donation - whatever its value - worth 25% more at no extra cost to you just by choosing to Gift Aid it. If you are a UK taxpayer, for every £1 you give to the Legion, we receive an extra 25p from HM Revenue and Customs - it costs you nothing. 

Your easy guide to Gift Aid (FAQs)

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a UK Government tax relief scheme that allows charities to claim tax paid on donations.

If you sign up to Gift Aid, the Royal British Legion can reclaim the tax you have paid on your donations, currently for every pound you donate, currently we receive an additional 25p from the Government, without any additional cost to you. This means we will be able to claim £5.00 on a £20.00 donation. The good news is that Gift Aid can also be applied on donations you have made in the last four years.

You can Gift Aid your charitable donations to as many Charities as you like, as long as you have paid enough Income or Capital Gains Tax to cover all the Gift Aid that will be claimed.

Am I eligible to sign up for Gift Aid?

You must be a UK taxpayer to join the scheme. This means one of the following applies to you:

• income tax is deducted from your salary before you receive it

• you pay tax after submitting a self-assessment form each year

• you have a taxable pension plan, taxable savings, or investment income

• you have paid capital gains tax (e.g., on the sale of a property or shares)

You must have paid an amount of tax at least equal to the amount the Royal British Legion will claim on your donations we would claim in Gift Aid in a tax year, e.g., if you donate £100.00, we will claim £25.00 in Gift Aid, you need to have paid at least £25.00 in Income or Capital Gain Tax.

What if I am a pensioner?

You might still pay tax on a private pension scheme, savings account, capital gains tax if you sell property or shares. We recommend that you check with your pension provider. The amount of tax you have paid needs to be equal to or more than the amount we will be reclaiming in Gift Aid each tax year.  

If you only receive the basic State Pension, then you will not pay any Income Tax and will not be able to Gift Aid your donations. 

Are there any hidden charges?

No, Gift Aid is taken from tax you have already paid so there is no charge to you. It does not affect your tax status either.

How do I sign up for Gift Aid?

Simply complete a Gift Aid Declaration form or tick the Gift Aid Option when you donate online or become a member. You can also speak to our Supporter Care team by calling 0345 845 1945, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

We’ve also got a downloadable Gift Aid Declaration that you can fill in electronically and email to us at [email protected]

What do I need to know when signing up to Gift aid?

You must pay UK taxes to join the scheme, and the amount of taxes you pay in a year must be the same or higher than what the charity or charities reclaim in that year. If you pay less, it is your responsibility to pay back the difference. Tell us when you stop paying taxes or no longer pay enough taxes, and we will stop claiming on your donations straight away. 

Example 1: Jane works part time, and her income tax is £300 per year. She supports two charities and has provided her Gift Aid declarations to both charities. This year she donated £100, and the charities claimed £25 in Gift Aid.  

The amount of tax Jane paid is higher than the amount claimed in Gift Aid, so there is no issue.

Example 2: At the start of the year James was working full time and was paying £25 per month in income tax. He has been supporting three charities for a long time and had direct debits to pay them monthly. James lost his job after one month, but he wanted to continue supporting the charities that were close to his heart. He kept the direct debits running but called the charities to say that he had stopped paying taxes, so the charities stopped claiming Gift Aid on his monthly direct debit donation to them. 

After 3 months James found another job and started paying taxes again, he will need to complete a new Gift Aid Declaration to the charities he supports.

What if I am a higher rate taxpayer?

Charities can only claim Gift Aid at the basic rate. If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you can claim the difference between the higher tax rate you are paying and the basic tax rate in your Self-Assessment. HMRC will refund you the difference, which you can donate as well.

What donations are not eligible for Gift Aid?

Charities cannot claim any donation:

• from a non-UK taxpayer.

• from residents of the Channel Island or Isle of Man.

• made on behalf of someone else or a group of people.

• made on behalf of a company.

• to a family member or friend participating in an event where the charity is contributing to their costs.

• made in return for goods, rights, or services.

• money raised from collections e.g., funeral collections.

• money raised from a sale of goods e.g., cake sale, car wash or sale of raffle tickets.

Why am I being asked whether it is my own money that I am donating?

Gift Aid is tax relief based on your personal taxed income. If you donate on behalf of either a company or another person, this is not from your personal taxed income; charities are not eligible to claim Gift Aid on these donations.

Can I make an anonymous donation?

Yes, you can, every donation makes a difference to our work. Please note that if you make an anonymous donation the charity will not be able to claim Gift Aid, as they need your name and home address when submitting the Gift Aid claim so HMRC can identify you as a taxpayer. 

If you are concerned about sharing your personal details, please have a look at our privacy promise and how your data is managed.

I want to donate on behalf of a company - is that OK?

No, Gift Aid cannot be claimed on a Company donation; however, the company will be able to claim tax relief themselves on any charitable donations they make.

Will I have to make a Gift Aid declaration again?

No, as the declaration you complete is an enduring declaration which will cover any future donations you may make.

Can you claim Gift Aid on donations via Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) or other Charitable Vouchers?

No, Gift Aid cannot be applied to CAF or other Charitable vouchers as the Gift Aid has already been added to your account held with them.

What if I stop paying tax? Can I withdraw the declaration?

Yes, please contact all the charities that you have a Gift Aid Declaration with to cancel your declaration(s) as you will no longer be eligible to Gift Aid your donations as you do not pay Income or Capital Gains Tax. Please remember, if you have not paid enough Income or Capital Gains Tax, HMRC will contact you to pay back the difference.

Please telephone our Supporter Care team 0345 845 1945, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or emailing them at [email protected] to advise them of any changes to your tax status, please don’t forget to include your name and address when you email us.

Can Gift Aid be claimed when I do a fundraising event?

Yes, you can ask your supporters to agree to Gift Aid their donations they make to you either by donating through an online platform like Just Giving or completing a paper sponsorship form, which will be included in your welcome pack.

When you registered for an event, you will be invited to set up a fundraising page on Just Giving.

You will need to invite your friends to Gift Aid each event you participate in.

Once this has been set up, please invite your supporters to sponsor you, they will be given the opportunity to Gift Aid.

Please note: - 

• Your supporters can only Gift Aid their own personal money and not money collected from others. 

• Your supporters can include a message of support, this is restricted to their family members only e.g., ‘Good luck from Mum, Dad and Amy.’ 

• Messages like ‘Good luck from all your colleague’ or ‘Good luck from everyone in your team,’ will be removed from the Gift Aid Claim by the online fundraising platform you are using.

Overseas Challenge Events

If you are raising funds for an overseas challenge event, e.g., Pedal to Paris or Ypres, Gift Aid can only be claimed on donations received from non-family members. Further information will be provided when you register for the event.

Completing the paper Sponsorship Form

When inviting your supporters to complete the sponsorship form please ask them: - 

• if they are a UK taxpayer. 

• to write clearly and use their home address (a work address is not accepted). 

• to tick (☑) the Gift Aid box.

The following donations do not qualify for Gift Aid: -

• donations made from a company. 

• money raised from collections. 

• money raised from a sale of goods e.g., cake sale, car wash or sale of raffle tickets. 

• donations made for an overseas challenge where the sponsor is a close family member to the person doing the challenge, this includes a wife, husband, civil partner, parents, and siblings.

Please remember to send in your completed sponsorship form with your payment once you have completed your event.

Letters from the Far East

Letters brought comfort to men and women in the Far East, many of whom were spending time away from their families for the first time.

The war kept men and women away from their families for long periods of time. For many this was their first time being away from loved ones and was a lonely experience. 

Letters brought comfort to many and helped them through difficult times. 

Help us remember the forgotten history of those who served in the Far East

Browse stories and messages of thanks on our interactive map and help us ensure the contribution of those who served in the Far East is not forgotten.

Explore the map

For some soldiers communication was easy but for soldiers from pre-partition India it was not straightforward.

Letters were censored, similar to the experiences of previous Indian soldiers during the First World War.

West African and Indian troops bathing in a stream

Many relatives at home were illiterate and relied on those soldiers to write letters to be sent back home, which would be read to them by a neighbour or friend.

Letters being sent back to families in India were written in several Indian languages – Tamil, Gurmukhi, Urdu, Hindi and Bengali.

Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan VC

For all men serving in the war, leaving families behind was hard. The separation was not easy on families left behind either, many wondered if their men would return and if they did return would they be injured. 

The story of Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan, Victoria Cross recipient, is an example that men contributing to the war efforts could not guarantee that they would make it home. 

Born on 4 September 1925 in Kalanaur village, Punjab. Naib Subedar Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan joined the Army as part of the 9th Jat Regiment, a mixture of Sikhs and Muslims. 

Naib Subedar Khan was a Muslim. It was his efforts on the 6 April 1944 during the Battle of Imphal that made him an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross. 

When ordered to attack with his platoon a position held by the enemy, the only approach was across a bare slope and then up a steep hill. 

Naib Subedar Khan killed several of the enemy with machine gun fire, but was injured himself. During the attack he was shot twice, the second gunshot killed him. 

The Victoria Cross was awarded to his widow, Jugri Begum. 

Naib Subedar Khan left behind a wife and a three month old daughter that he never got to see.

Images: © IWM IND 3508 / © IWM IND 3507

Poetry

For many men, letters were not the only way to express their feelings and emotions. There was also a range of poems written by men during the Second World War.

With the war stretched over the years, it was no surprise that loneliness would strike.

John Wedge was born in 1921. He served in the Royal Navy during Second World War, first as a telegraphist in minesweeper HMS Norse, then as an officer in HMS Worcester, Garlies. 

His poem, Still no Letter, is a stark reminder that the war affected everyone and loneliness was felt by men and women. 

Still no letter

There’s still no letter...

In my troubled mind

I seek a reason, and quickly reasons find,

Indeed they tumble in, to be discarded

Each as it comes.. It could be that

You’re very busy; missed the evening post;

Or else it’s held up in the mail. A host

Of explanations.. Yet that gnawing fear

O’errides them, still dunning at me that

You just don’t want to write. And vainly I

Attempt to thrust aside the thought; deny

It was with your last note, and the one before.

But no. I must resign myself to wait

Until tomorrow, or the next day and

A day. Surely then I see your hand-

Writing and envelope. And life is sweet, until

A week or so, when…

Still no letter

Men who did not join the war effort were considered cowards and Wedge voices the concern of no or little communication. 

It was not just families at home waiting to hear; knowing what was happening to loved ones is what helped men in the trenches and battlefields. 

 

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The Programme

This is my first Festival of Remembrance as your National President, and it’s a huge privilege to join you in honouring our Armed Forces community.

For more than a century, the poppy has been an enduring symbol of Remembrance and support for our Armed Forces community. This year, the Royal British Legion is incredibly proud to launch its new plastic-free poppy, made entirely from paper, and it is wonderful to see so many people wearing theirs with pride.

This Festival, we pay tribute to the two million National Servicemen who served in the post-war years up until 1963. Hundreds lost their lives, particularly during the Korean War, and we mark 70 years since the end of the fighting.

We also acknowledge the unique contribution of the Windrush Generation, 75 years after the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, which is symbolic for the settlers from the Caribbean who helped rebuild Britain. We honour too those who served in the Battle of the Atlantic 80 years ago, the longest campaign of the Second World War.

As exemplified by the participants of the Invictus Games, we also salute the courage and resilience of those fighting back from horrible injury or vulnerability and of the families, friends and carers alongside them. Finally, as we celebrate the bravery, dedication and service of our Armed Forces, we remember the fallen, those who have suffered and the families still grieving.

Your support remains as vital as ever. Thank you so much.

---

Vice Admiral Sir Clive Johnstone KBE CB

Presented by Clare Balding CBE, the Festival will feature

• The Orchestra of the Household Division 
• The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra  
• String Ensemble of the Royal Marines Band Service  
• The Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra 

Under the direction of 

• Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer MBE, Commanding Officer, The Bands of the Household Division 

The Festival Chorus

• The Bach Choir 

The Service, led by 

• Reverend Scott Brown CBE, National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion

Clare Balding CBE

Clare is an award-winning broadcaster and author. She has worked on every Olympic Games since 1996 and every Paralympics since 2000. Clare won BAFTA’s Special Award for her work on London 2012 and continues to present major events in sport, factual documentaries and Royal events, including commentary of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee for BBC One. A passionate campaigner for equality and women’s sport, Clare is also a best-selling author of numerous books and children’s novels. Clare was awarded a CBE for her services to sport and charity, which she was honoured to receive at Buckingham Palace in December 2022.

The Programme

Follow the programme and performances as they happen.

Entry of the Standards

• Represented Standard Bearers of the Royal British Legion 

Cadet Banner Bearers 

• Sea Cadet Corps Banner 
• Combined Cadet Corps Banner
• Army Cadet Force Banner
• Air Training Corps Banner

Ex-Service Associations’ Standard Bearers

• Royal Naval Association
• Royal Air Force Association
• Royal Marines Association
• Artillery Clerks’ Association
• British Korean Veterans’ Association
• National Service Veterans’ Association
• Royal Tank Regiment
• Fighting With Pride 

---

The Entry of the Standards will be accompanied by organist Peter Crompton

Arrival of Their Majesties The King and Queen

Royal Fanfare by the State Trumpeters of the Household Division under the direction of Trumpet Major Julian Sandford.

The Tri-Service Drummers perform On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Remembering National Service and the Korean War

Some of the service personnel who served in the Korean War share their experiences at the Festival: Brian Parritt, Mike Mogridge and Colin Thackery joined by Brian Hamblett, Trevor John, Ken Keld, Tony White and Ron Yardley.

This year marks 70 years since fighting in the Korean War came to an end. The Korean War (1950–1953) saw British and Commonwealth forces answer the call of the United Nations to support South Korea, which had been invaded by its neighbour to the north. Altogether, some 81,000 members of the British Armed Forces served. Casualty rates were high, with more than 1,100 British killed and 2,500 wounded.

“My MBE is for those in the cemetery”

The 1947 National Service Act (implemented in 1949) meant that men aged 18 to 26 were required to serve in the Armed Forces. More than two million served in the UK and around the world. They included Ken Keld, who served in the Army in the Korean War:

“We went to Japan on HMT Asturias, then straight to Korea. The first thing we saw when we docked in Pusan was a train with large red crosses on the carriages. In May 1953, we took part in the Third Battle of The Hook. We had no idea what to expect and our first thoughts were that we were being sent to death row. I had never experienced anything like it and very much hope I never will again. I’ll never forget the collapsed fighting pits and bunkers due to the heavy bombardment. Most of all, the stench of decaying flesh from buried limbs and bodies has stayed with me.

I remained in Korea until after the ceasefire. Then, in November 1953, I left for Gibraltar, where I completed my National Service.

I was at the National Service 60th anniversary event at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 16th May. It brought home to lots of people what National Service in Korea was about. I’ll be 90 in March and I’m one of the fortunate ones – I can still have a normal life.

Since 1979, I’ve helped to support other British Korean War veterans, and I’m being awarded an MBE for my services next month. It’s an honour for me and my family and for the regiment, but most of all, it’s for those left in Korea – the ones in the cemetery. What I’ve done and what I still do is to make sure they aren’t forgotten.”

“It was a bit of an adventure”

The Royal British Legion’s National Service 60 event recognised and paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of the National Service generation. In total, 395 National Servicemen were killed during active service, many losing their lives in the Korean War. Names of the National Servicemen who were killed are among the 16,000 inscribed on the Armed Forces Memorial at the Arboretum.

One of the veterans attending the event was Richard Vaughan, and the 16th May date is relevant to his story. By the late 1950s, Britain’s military needs had changed and the requirement for conscription was reassessed. Numbers of servicemen conscripted were drastically reduced until 1960. Richard was among the last intake of National Servicemen, joining the Royal Army Pay Corps and serving in Germany. When his service came to an end, he requested to be demobbed in England and travelled back to Gatwick Airport in his uniform.

Richard was officially demobbed on 16th May, 1963 and was the very last National Serviceman. Looking back, Richard says: “It was a bit of an adventure.”

“It makes me feel that I’m part of something still”

Mike Hyde’s National Service was in the RAF: “I started my basic training at Hednesford, Staffordshire, in November 1955. It was cold, damp and miserable, but we all got on very well.

Dealing with a rifle while wearing woolly gloves is not easy, and when we were rehearsing for the passing-out parade eight weeks later, I committed the sin of dropping mine. I was taken to one side and told I was going to be the right marker for the parade – this meant that if I didn’t do it right, everyone else got their actions wrong. But I managed it.

Next, I trained as a radar operator and was posted to RAF Stanmore, where we plotted all the aircraft coming and going. In the summer of 1956, the Suez campaign started and we were needed in Nicosia, Cyprus, to plot aircraft in and out of Egypt.

After that, I was posted to RAF Bawdsey in Suffolk, where I spent my final months of service. We lived in chalets, so it was a bit like a holiday camp – but it wasn’t without incident. The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) does an annual inspection and I was selected to take part in his Guard of Honour. At the rehearsal, it was cold, and my hands were in woolly gloves again. You can imagine what happened: I dropped my rifle for the second time in my career. I had to report to the Guard room, put all my kit on and be smart and polished. I passed, so no charge was made.

Now, I help to run the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire branch of the National Service (RAF) Association. It makes me feel that I’m part of something still.”

“My only regret was missing my son’s birth”

“I received my call-up papers for the Royal Navy in June 1955,” says Mike Bell. “I started my training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall, but I didn’t complete it – I got drafted to join a Motor Torpedo Boat squadron in Malta because they were short of mechanics. I had already met my wife Marion – we got married on 3rd March, and three weeks later, on 24th March, I got on an aeroplane and I was away for more than a year.

When I arrived, I had to go down to the engine room straight away. There were three big Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, as well as torpedoes and guns. I was experienced in mechanical things as I’d been to technical college and I’d worked as an engineer on a farm, then for a drilling company, but it was just me down there in control.

While I was in Malta, the Suez Crisis began and we helped the Royal Marines with beach landings and recovery. It all had to be done very fast to rescue them.

My only regret from my time in National Service was missing my son’s birth – when I was demobbed and I returned to England, he was five months old. It was very odd to meet him for the first time.

When I was in my late 20s, I joined the Merchant Navy and stayed for eight years. Today I’m Secretary of my local Royal Naval Association in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. I’m very proud to have been in the Navy. I liked the camaraderie and that still exists today.

Remembering National Service on its 60th anniversary is an excellent idea. It’s very important to have these kinds of events to mark what we did and for comradeship and friendship.”

“To get a medal is some form of recognition”

Nuclear-test veteran Roger Grace was deployed to the Montebello Islands, Western Australia in 1956, during his National Service. Last November, the Prime Minister announced that military, civilian and overseas staff and personnel like Roger who participated in Britain’s nuclear-testing programme in the 1950s and 1960s would have their unique contribution officially recognised with the award of a Nuclear Test Medal. The medals are being presented to service personnel over the coming months. Roger remembers his experience:

“The tests were carried out on two 100-feet-high towers, so there was a lot of construction work to be done. The Royal Engineers had to build equipment to set off the tests by remote control and record the explosions. The first test seemed insignificant, but for the second, we were told we were going to be 12 miles away.

“We all mustered on the ship’s upper deck in shorts and shirt – no protective clothing. We had our backs to the detonation and hands over our eyes. Then there was a countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, boom! The flash was so bright you could see the bones in your hands and the heat was as if an electric fire was being held to the back of your neck. The blast took your clothes out as if you were in a gale. After eight seconds, we were allowed to turn around and look at the mushroom cloud.

“I would never like to see an atomic bomb used, but I feel proud that I was involved in a very small way in producing our UK deterrent. I also feel very lucky – a lot of people involved in the tests died in their early 50s and 60s.

“To get a medal is some form of recognition. I’d like to thank the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association and LABRATS International, which worked on our behalf to get this approved.”

Colin Thackery performs Arirang

Korean War veteran and Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery, aged 93, served in the Royal Artillery for 25 years. Following his success in winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2019, he released hit album Love Changes Everything. His numerous TV and live appearances include fundraising events for the Royal British Legion, such as Poppies on the Prom. This year, Colin sang at two major events in South Korea during the 70th anniversary commemorations for the armistice of the Korean War. He performed in front of the South Korean president, delighting the audience by singing in English and Korean.

Entrance of the In-Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea

Music: The Boys of the Old Brigade

RAF display

The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment performs Blue Devils, Lincolnshire Poacher, Out of the Blue, Swing, Swing, Swing (It Don’t Mean a Thing/Sing, Sing, Sing), RAF March Past

Mica Paris performs (Something Inside) So Strong, accompanied by the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

Mica Paris had her first top-ten hit, My One Temptation, at age 18. She went on to make eight albums, including Gospel, which was released to critical acclaim in December 2020 and shot to number one in the Official UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart. In 2020, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to music, entertainment and charity. Her recent acting roles include playing Ellie Nixon in EastEnders. Her version of Labi Siffre’s (Something Inside) So Strong is one of the tracks from her album Gospel.

Windrush 75: Their lasting legacy

The Windrush Generation helped rebuild Britain in the post-war decades. We mark their service 75 years after the ship HMT Empire Windrush crossed the Atlantic.

During the Second World War, some 16,000 Black Caribbean men and women volunteered to serve. After the end of the war, around 3,000 decided to stay and help rebuild Britain. During the post-war years in the Caribbean, unemployment and economic difficulties led many others to reconsider their future and look to the UK, where there were major labour shortages.

The passengers who disembarked HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks on 22nd June, 1948 became symbolic of the generation of Caribbean men and women who settled in the UK over the post-war years and who played a key role in reshaping British identity and culture. More than 100 of the passengers on the Empire Windrush were current or former Caribbean Armed Forces personnel. Many more settlers went on to serve in the Armed Forces, while others joined the newly founded NHS.

This year, the Royal British Legion has partnered with the National Windrush Museum to celebrate the connections between the Armed Forces and the Windrush Generation and their descendants. These individuals have often faced obstacles in the UK beyond the challenges of their jobs, and we continue to honour them and help tell their stories.

Keeping it in the family

One of the young men on board Empire Windrush was Joshua Westmaas, aged 28, from the mainland Caribbean country British Guiana (now Guyana). When he arrived in London, his first digs were in an air-raid shelter under Clapham South tube station that had been converted to provide temporary housing and food. Two weeks later, Joshua found a flat on the Old Kent Road and became a car mechanic. He would eventually work as a chauffeur for the British High Commission to Ghana.

This wasn’t the first time Joshua had been to the UK – he had already volunteered to serve in the Second World War, as had five of his cousins – brothers Denis, Douglas, Donald, David and Rory. Later, some of the family would settle in the UK as part of the Windrush Generation.

The brothers’ father George had married Winifred in 1910 and they raised a total of eight boys in Georgetown, British Guiana. Denis, the eldest of the brothers, joined the Army along with Douglas. Donald joined the Home Guard in London, and both David and Rory joined the RAF, together with their cousin, Joshua. Although Rory was the youngest, he was also the tallest and lied about his age – when he enlisted in 1940, he was only 14.

Brothers Patrick, Leonard and Rupert remained in British Guiana during the war, but each held a position that contributed to the war effort, with Patrick working for one of the leading sawmills that provided much-needed lumber. His son Rod says: “My family was regarded in British Guiana as the family that contributed most to the Second World War, both in their individual contributions and collectively. They used to be called The Band of Brothers.”

On 14th February, 1942, Douglas, aged 23, was serving in the Royal Signals. He was killed when his ship was torpedoed off the coast of Singapore, just before the city fell to the Japanese.

At the end of the war, both Rory and his cousin Joshua returned to British Guiana, but in 1948, Joshua travelled back to the UK on Empire Windrush. In 1955, after becoming disillusioned with his membership of the People’s Progressive Party in British Guiana, Rory left the party and decided to return to the UK too, going on to become a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a professor of architecture and a town planner.

Rod arrived in the UK with his parents in 1958, at the age of two. As part of the Windrush Generation, he is immensely proud of his family’s legacy. “It gave me a sense of belonging, of contribution,” he says. “Whenever celebrations of their achievements come around, I proudly represent them, and I feel that never shall we forget.”

A story that needed to be told

When Sue Liburd was considering a career, her first instinct was to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Linda Monica, who worked as a nurse. Linda, part of the Windrush Generation, had come to the UK from Jamaica in an NHS recruitment drive.

Sue trained as a Registered General Nurse, a Registered Mental Health Nurse and a Registered Midwife, but in 1987, she decided to go into the Armed Forces. Her father, Austin Franklin, had come to the UK from the Caribbean island of Nevis as part of the National Service recruitment drive and served in the RAF as a Vehicle and Mechanical-Equipment Technician. At the end of his National Service, he decided to remain, and by the time of his death in 1974, he was a Sergeant.

“I’d grown up in the Armed Forces, and my younger brother, Michael, now a Falklands veteran, was serving in the Royal Navy,” says Sue. “But I wanted to make my own mark, and I thought, ‘We haven’t had a Liburd in the British Army, so that’s the one for me.’”

Sue was commissioned into the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and served for seven years. When she left in 1994, she held the rank of Captain. Today, Sue works in various roles, including Deputy Chair of the NHS England Armed Forces Public Patient Voice Advisory Group, where she aims to “help the NHS understand the needs of specific communities – ethnic minorities and women who have served in the Armed Forces”.

Sue is also a Director of the National Windrush Museum, which she has been involved in since its inception two years ago. “The Home Office passport and residency scandal in 2018 profoundly upset me,” she says. “It exposed how little some people in Britain understood about the contribution of people from the Caribbean, and also how they didn’t recognise that we were invited, so I felt our story needed to be told.” 

The National Windrush Museum is now documenting the impact that Caribbean migration has had on Britain by highlighting the achievements and contributions of Windrush pioneers, including their predecessors as well as their descendants.

“It’s really important that the next generation is seeing imagery of Black people who have served so they can say, ‘Actually, this is my culture, this is my history.’”

Invictus Games

Sigma perform Adrenaline Rush featuring Morgan, to accompany dancers from Stopgap Dance Company

Double Brit Award-nominated drum-and-bass DJ duo and producer Sigma (aka Cam Edwards and Joe Lenzie) have had two UK number-one singles, which were both certified double platinum. They released their debut studio album Life in 2015, which achieved gold-certification status. The duo have collaborated with many music artists and played sold-out shows at festivals and venues across the globe. They were the first drum-and-bass act ever to headline the Royal Albert Hall, where they return today to perform Adrenaline Rush, released earlier this year.