It's that time of year again...

**davidg** · 19th October 11, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

All these things and more are available from the Royal British Legion Poppy Shop website (clickety click)

Often around now, there are questions posed on here asking about poppies and poppy stuff and how to get hold of them so I just thought I'd let you know. The RBL are a very worthy charity too, I encourage you to support them.

The Royal British Legion are, as stated, a worthwhile charity. What some may not realise though is that they only raise funds for service and ex service personnel resident in England and Wales

Scotland has its own, entirely separate, Royal British Legion Scotland and this year celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Scottish Poppy Appeal, which supports service and ex service men and women in Scotland. Even the shape of the poppy is different to that of England

So, support the RBL if you can, but don't forget the RBLS as well as they receive nothing from the donations made to the RBL or from that poppy appeal. Both organisations need funds to continue all the good work and even more so now that ten years after 911 we have the largest group of multiple limb loss injuries caused through the resulting conflict and the extensive use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

**Jordan** · 19th October 11, 01:07 PM

My work started selling Poppy's last week and I started wearing on on my cadet uniform as I do every year until after remembrance day.

I also have one on my work and civi jackets.

**cessna152towser** · 19th October 11, 01:09 PM

No, I never knew there were two separate appeals, one for RBL and one for RBLS. I live on the Scottish side of the Border but I always contribute to the poppy appeal at Carlisle in England through the air museum where I am a volunteer. Yes I will be wearing my poppy and my Royal Air Force tartan kilt to church on Remembrance Sunday 13th November.

**Downunder Kilt** · 19th October 11, 01:26 PM

Thanks for the reminder John, we owe our ex and current servicemen/women a lot.
Lest we Forget

**Mike_Oettle** · 20th October 11, 12:53 PM

Thanks for the reminder, John.
My paternal grandfather was a civil servant (magistrate) during the First World War, but my maternal grandfather was a medical orderly in East Africa.
My wife’s grandfathers both served in France. Her maternal grandfather was in the 4th South African Infantry (SA Scottish) and was one of the handful of men who came out alive from Delville Wood.
Her paternal grandfather was a Mancunian (his father was from Antrim) who joined the Lancashire Fusiliers but, being a short fellow, was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. (In 1920 the regiment reverted to the older spelling Welch.) His regiment relieved the South Africans at Delville Wood, and he also was one of a handful of survivors. He was recommended for the VC, but was in the end awarded the Military Medal.
My father joined up early in 1940 and served in East Africa. After returning to the Union he went north again with the Royal Natal Carbineers and served in Italy as a platoon commander until he was wounded.
As a wounded officer he had life membership of the South African Legion (an offshoot of the Royal British Legion), but was active in the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH).
I have not joined any ex-service organisation, but I honour the contribution of those who have served.
Regards,
Mike

**KenB** · 21st October 11, 01:44 PM

Yes, I will be wearing a Poppy on 11/11.
I wore my Poppy a couple of weeks ago at a book launch in Coburg, ON for "Highway of Hero's", a book memorializing the repatriation of our fallen soldiers over the past few years.
I am proud and happy to wear the Poppy.

**English Bloke** · 22nd October 11, 05:08 AM

Apologies for my oversight. I should have stated at the start of this thread that there are numerous sources for poppy related items other than the RBL and that my link was mearly a suggestion for one of them.

I hope I didn't offend anyone for that was not my intent.

I was just trying to be helpful.

**Laird_M** · 22nd October 11, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

Apologies for my oversight. I should have stated at the start of this thread that there are numerous sources for poppy related items other than the RBL and that my link was mearly a suggestion for one of them.

I hope I didn't offend anyone for that was not my intent.

I was just trying to be helpful.

John,
Don't think anyone's been offended - don't think RBL have any sellers in US, so the guys over there buying local poppies for their local military/servive charities is only a natural extension.

**nloken** · 22nd October 11, 09:17 AM

I do tend to wear a poppy this time of year, although not many people know what it's about here in Norway. Sadly, we're generally speaking a bit behind when it comes to acknowledging our armed forces and the troops which have been in action, but we are thankfully slowly catching up!
Thank you for reminding me, I will have to go find my poppies from when I lived in England - they're not that easy to find this side of the North Sea.