Sandbag - Wincanton RBL Newsletter: September 2011
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Summary
Editor Tony Goddard - 01963 824193
Secretary Arthur Pickup - 01963 32952
Branch Meetings for 2011 and 2012 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Monday at 7 p.m.
17th October
7th November (AGM)
19th December
16th January 2012
20th February 2012
19th March 2012
Coffee Mornings for 2011 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Saturday at 10 a.m.
29th October. At this Coffee Morning we will also have an exhibition on the theme of Remembrance. All proceeds of the event go to Poppy Appeal.
Trips and Events for 2011
24th September - Exmouth with a stop at Honiton for the Saturday market. Cost £10. This will be the last seaside trip of the year. As usual the coach leaves Memorial Hall at 9.00 a.m.
14th October - Annual Branch Dinner at Sparkford. Cost £16 including transport. I am very pleased to confirm that Lucy Giles will be one of our guests of honour. As so many people know Lucy I have asked her to give us an overview of what she has been doing lately, which I am sure will be of great interest. Also with us will be Lt. Cdr. Rob Stephens from the Commando Helicopter Force, our adopted unit, who will give us an update on the CHF, particularly whilst on active service in Afghanistan.
23rd October - Taunton for the County Poppy Appeal Launch 2011/12. This will include a parade and events by 40 Commando Royal Marines. Cost £10.
29th October Wincanton Poppy Appeal 2011/12 will be launched by a Gala Concert given by Wincanton Silver Band in the Memorial Hall with all proceeds to the Poppy Appeal. The concert will take the form of well known nostalgic and patriotic music so bring those Union Jacks to wave!
Tickets are priced at £7.50 and available at Divine Wines, the Town Hall and through the branch officials.
2nd November - We are grateful to Karen Dunford again for organising another Bingo in aid of Wincanton Supports Our Troops. It will take place in the Memorial Hall. All the proceeds will be given to the Commando Helicopter Force which is on active service in Afghanistan. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. and "Eyes Down" at 7.00 p.m.
5th November - Bristol, afternoon in central Bristol then on to Colston Hall for the Festival of Remembrance. Cost for the coach £10 and entrance to Colston Hall £10.00. Full details next month. 19th December - Pre-Christmas lunch and Poinsettia Trail at Ottery St. Mary. Coach cost £10.00. Full details next month.
Welcome New Member
We would like to welcome John Jeremiah who became a member during the last few weeks.
Our 90th Anniversary Year
I know by now we are all fully aware that the Legion is celebrating its 90th anniversary, so I thought it a good opportunity to let you know some of its history.
The Royal British Legion was formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-servicemen that had established themselves after the Great War of 1914-1918.
The main purpose of the Legion was straightforward: to care for those who had suffered as a result of service in the Armed Forces in the Great War, whether through their own service or through that of a husband, father or son. Even those who had come through the war relatively unscathed struggled with employment. As a result of the war, Britain's economy plummeted and in 1921 there were 2 million unemployed. Over six million men had served in the war - 725,000 never returned. Of those who came back, 1.75 million had suffered some kind of disability and half of these were permanently disabled. To this figure then had to be added those who depended on those who had gone to war - the wives and children, widows and orphans as well as the parents who had lost sons in the war, on whom they were often financially dependent.
The situation so moved Lance Bombadier Tom Lister, a Lancastrian, that he decided that if the Government was either unable or unwilling to do anything to improve the lives of ex-service men, he would do something about it himself. This eventually led to the formation of The Royal British Legion.
By the time of the Legion's formation in 1921, the tradition of an annual two minute silence in memory of the dead had been established. The first ever Poppy Appeal was held that year with the first Poppy Day on 11 November 1921.
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