Royal British Legion marks centenary milestone
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
BUCKIE British Legion celebrated the centenary of the national organisation with a ceremony in Cluny Square.
A small party from the branch gathered at the war memorial to lay a wreath to commemorate the milestone event. While the anniversary actually fell on May 15, lockdown restrictions in place at the time prevented the occasion being marked publicly.
Addressing those present last Saturday morning was Gordon Highlanders Association Trustee Lt Col (retd) Gordon McKen MBE TD.
He said: "Today we are gathered to celebrate the centenary of the Royal British Legion.
"In the aftermath of the First World War it became apparent for the need for an organisation to support and represent all members of the Armed Forces; [to ensure] all those who served and sacrificed were given the support they deserved.
"The British Legion was formed on May 15, 1921 bringing together four national organisations of ex-servicemen and women that had established themselves after the First World War. These were: The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers; The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailers and Soldiers; The Comrades of the Great War and the Officers' Association.
"The amalgamation of these diverse bodies can be attributed to two men – Field Marshal Earl Haig and Tom Lister of the Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailers and Soldiers.
"The Royal British Legion was formed by and for former Armed Forces personnel...there was no distinction between rank, religion or political affiliation. Lord Douglas Haig served as president of the Royal British Legion until his death on January 29, 1928.
"As a result of the war the British economy plummeted and in 1921 there were two million people unemployed. Over six million men and women had served in the war; of those who came back, 1.75 million had suffered disability and half of those were permanently disabled. There were those who depended on those who had gone to war – wives, children widows and so many orphans.
"The Royal British Legion was established to care for those who had suffered because of service...and have been helping the Armed Services and their families ever since.
"For 100 years the Royal British Legion has been a symbol of hope for the Armed Forces community and we take pride in our heritage on which we have built the Royal British Legion of today. An organisation fit for the future and ready to continue its work for another 100 years and beyond, building on a century of work to make sure that those who have served and sacrificed on our behalf get the treatment and recognition they deserve.
"We look forward to our future and remain dedicated to our mission of creating better futures for those who have served."
A wreath was laid by Buckie British Legion chairperson Donna Farquhar.
The poppy symbol which has become synonymous with remembrance of those who have fallen in conflict was the work of Anna Guérin, who came over from Canada and persuaded the Legion to adopt it. This resulted in the first ever British Poppy Appeal, which raised the equivalent of £5.21 million (in today’s money).
This important tradition continues to this very day with the Royal British Legion’s Branches (and its yearly poppy appeal) continuing to provide vital support to those whose lives have been affected and forever changed by their time in the Armed Forces and providing service to their country.
Dr Claire Armstrong, chief executive of Legion Scotland said: “We are extremely proud to have reached our centenary year.
"It is a momentous occasion, not only for us as an organisation but for the wider public. Since our formation, the Legion has stood as a collective voice for the ex-service community in Scotland and this continues today. Although we were founded in the aftermath of the Great War, there have been many conflicts since, and it’s vital that all veterans are supported and remembered regardless of when and where they served.
“Legion Scotland’s heart is in local communities with more than 20,000 members, 142 branches and 60 clubs in towns and villages across the country. No national or local wreath-laying ceremony would be complete without Legion representation and while many people associate November as the time of remembrance, we ensure that war memorials all over Scotland remain an important focal point for commemorations throughout the year.
“We are delighted to kick off our centenary celebration by honouring those that came before us, those that will come after us and most importantly all of the men and women in Scotland who have served and are serving our nation.”
