Legion History

This history page about The Royal British Legion is to give a brief insight into how it was formed back in 1921, to the introduction of a Royal Charter in 1925 and finally to it being granted the Legion the prefix 'Royal' in its title in 1971.

Read about the Poppy Appeal in the section with the heading of that name. How it all started from poem written in a First World War front line field hospital. Read also about the Poppy Factory in Richmond, Surrey and when the first poppies were produced.

The Poem and details of The Poppy Appeal and Poppy Factory can all be found by using the link Poppy Appeal.

The British Legion

The History of The British Legion commenced with its formation on Sunday 15 May 1921 by the amalgamation of four other associations. A description of those associations can be found using the link to
British Legion History.

The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers (1916).

The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers (1917).

Comrades of the Great War Badge
The Comrades of The Great War (1917).

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The Officers' Association (1920).

The amalgamation of these four diverse bodies can be attributed largely to two men Field Marshall Earl Haig and Mr T F Lister of The Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers.

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The Royal Charter

The 1925 Conference saw the introduction of the Legion's Royal Charter, nearly four years in the making, at last giving formal status and empowered it with the authority that covered every aspect of its work for the ex-Service community. Although changed many times over the years it is still the focus of the Legion today.

The Royal British Legion

The year 1971 was another landmark in the history of the Legion not only did it celebrate its 50th anniversary. But it was the year that the Queen had granted the Legion with the prefix 'Royal' in its title.

1972 - 1981 Model Gold Badge the Highest Award of the RBL It also entitled some other changes in that the Queen's crown had to be added to the badge (example right of The Royal British Legion lapel badge in Gold) and The National Standard (not Region, County, Group or Branch) of The Royal British Legion. This process involved the Queen's approval to the Royal College of Heralds, the Garter Kings of Arms, the Home Office and Ministry of Defence (Navy) and taking over a year to accomplish.

Information on this page was taken, with kind permission, from the North Staffordshire County Website. Follow the link to see the original page British Legion History.