British Legion

Paperbackwriter

I wear a white poppy for peace. Something much needed now. You can get them from the Peace Pledge Union. I'm not contributing to an organisation that's paying out to Stonewall.

I'm not making any particular point but I'd be interested to know where the money goes from the sale of white poppies. I know that wearing one is a statement, but where does the money go? Does it go towards furthering peace and if so how?

I also should say that the poppies are all manufactured by ex service personnel, most of whom would not be able to find other employment.

I think we are forgetting the origins of the red poppy. Growing in Flanders where there had been so much destruction and the field were stripped bare.
Shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was moved by the sight of these poppies and that inspiration led him to write the now famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Regardless of the salaries of the Royal British Legion staff, we really should give to the poppy appeal.
My father was a British Legion Standard Bearer and led our local parade every year until he thought he was too old and passed the duty on to a younger member.
Wear your poppy with pride.

Greciangirl

I am also disgusted that there is a poppy/pride flag,
I didn’t know this until mentioned by EeJit.
It seems we are constantly being reminded that they are different and should be celebrated at every possible occasion.

Why can’t they wear the red poppy with pride like the vast majority of the nation.

I agree. They won’t get my money this year.

We should be thankful that we as a nation no longer use horses in war situations today, Oreo, although I believe that some countries still use them. The Purple Poppy is to honour and remember all animals lost in service.

I am also disgusted that there is a poppy/pride flag,
I didn’t know this until mentioned by EeJit.
It seems we are constantly being reminded that they are different and should be celebrated at every possible occasion.

Why can’t they wear the red poppy with pride like the vast majority of the nation.

What horses are used in wars today?

I don't support the RBL anymore, mainly due to the way volunteers (unpaid, of course) at my local branch have been treated by Head Office.

Having been profoundly affected by photographs of war horses during the First World War, I now wear a Purple Poppy from Murphy's Army, which honours all the animals that have died in war service and those who are in service today.

To put the salaries for the RBL in context :

"The prime minister is entitled to two salaries:
£91,346 for being an MP
£80,807 for being PM - although only £75,440 is claimed"

i.e. £166,786 in total."
(latest figures BBC)

Allira, no need for apology. I misunderstood you.

Allira

You can check for yourself what that percentage is.

The Royal British Legion raises money to help veterans and their families and many volunteers give of their time freely and willingly to raise money, not just for the Poppy Appeal.

To attract the right people, charities have to pay decent salaries and employing people in key positions is essential as they cannot be run on fresh air and by volunteers alone.

Thank goodness there are so many people out there who are not mean-spirited.

Agree totally

Foxyferret

Allira, I did not say I was trying to put off people from donating. I have already bought poppies for the family.

My post was in reply to Romola, sorry foxyferret, only other posts got in between.

I think that what Freya said is true and very sad indeed, showing a complete lack of understanding of what the red poppy symbolises.

Allira, I did not say I was trying to put off people from donating. I have already bought poppies for the family.

What do you think the red poppies represent?

"A prayer for World peace"
O God of the nations,
as we look to that day when you will gather people
from north and south, east and west,
into the unity of your peaceable Kingdom,
guide with your just and gentle wisdom all who take counsel
for the nations of the world,
that all your people may spend their days in security, freedom, and peace,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

EEJit

I'm not so bothered about salaries for the reasons already mentionedby others.

What has brassed me off this year is the poppy/pride flag. The poppy is to commemorate ALL those who died not just a section of them. I don't know about war time, but i do know that at one time, gays were not even allowed in the forces.

Before anyone has a dig in reply, I'm not overly happy about the ones with football shirts either.

No digs coming up, it did make me wonder about being gay in the UK army.

In the UK it was not legal to be gay in the army (I'm not talking about the further reaches of gender politics)

until 2000. Before then people were subject to some really dreadful consequences - here is a man describing them

www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2024/05/14/my-experience-as-a-gay-man-in-the-british-armed-forces-and-the-impact-of-change/index.html#:~:text=A%20year%20later%2C%20in%201995,that%20is%20not%20the%20case.

I'm for the general red poppy, but can understand with this shameful history the British Legion taking it on board to some extent

Foxyferret

I always thought the red poppy was already inclusive of all who died whatever their colour, sex etc. Now we have a multi coloured poppy, is nothing sacred anymore. I also read they have employed an inclusivity officer on a big salary, why, as I see no need. Remembrance Day is one day, gay pride already have one month.

The red poppy was as you say. Just that different folks decided to get in on the act, they made it divisive, not inclusive.
Once had to explain to someone about the poppy, she thought it was celebrating war. No hope really.
It is still a charity of choice, I buy a poppy in Remembrance of all , and thanks for what they did.

Thanks paperbackwriter. I shall order some white poppies from the Peace Pledge Union.

I can remember when the RSPCA was much criticised when it became very political but do we stop giving or do we carry on giving to ensure the vital work the grass roots workers do carry out goes on, helping people and animals in their time of need?

If you object to their stance on certain subjects, why not write and take issue with those at the top instead of trying to put others off giving to a worthy cause?

A good few years ago my Dad was struggling to visit my Mum every day in the Home we had to let her go to as she suffered from Dementia! He kept going home to a cold house & did not have enough money to check the boiler. When we tried we found it so expensive it was cheaper to replace. Again an impossibility at the time so Dad said! Then we found a leaflet from British Legion & Dad told us he had been a member for many years! We contacted them & they were able to fit & pay for a new boiler for Dad. Quite how it all worked I do not know as my brother took charge eventually but I will always be grateful for the help for my Dad when he needed it. So always try to help British Legion as Dad was around a lot longer to regale us with his tales from being in the 2nd World War.

I found out about similar salaries for another well known organisation, a few years ago. It is a bit off-putting.
But I suppose we have to remember the work that they do is vital, and it needs to be run professionally.
But I do think that charities need to be very careful about who and what they give our money to.

sluttygran

Large salaries apart, can anyone tell me how the money being raised by the RBL is spent?
I ask because in the course of voluntary work, I met a great many former servicemen, living in difficult circumstances, who had been told that they were not eligible for help from the RBL.
If they were not eligible, then who is, and what are the charitable funds used for?

If they are not eligible for RBL help maybe they would be helped by Help the Heroes or the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens' charity.

I agree that charities have to pay market place salaries but I wonder whether RBL need 63 staff on £60,000+.

I'm not so bothered about salaries for the reasons already mentionedby others.

What has brassed me off this year is the poppy/pride flag. The poppy is to commemorate ALL those who died not just a section of them. I don't know about war time, but i do know that at one time, gays were not even allowed in the forces.

Before anyone has a dig in reply, I'm not overly happy about the ones with football shirts either.

Large salaries apart, can anyone tell me how the money being raised by the RBL is spent?
I ask because in the course of voluntary work, I met a great many former servicemen, living in difficult circumstances, who had been told that they were not eligible for help from the RBL.
If they were not eligible, then who is, and what are the charitable funds used for?

I always thought the red poppy was already inclusive of all who died whatever their colour, sex etc. Now we have a multi coloured poppy, is nothing sacred anymore. I also read they have employed an inclusivity officer on a big salary, why, as I see no need. Remembrance Day is one day, gay pride already have one month.

I was once allowed to shadow a top administrator for a day. I obviously can't say that this particular day was typical but I was left wondering what he did to justify his enormous salary.