An insult to all
Join Date: Mar 2005
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I have a metal badge poppy brought some years ago as I often used to lose the RBL ones. It doesn't stand out like the regular poppies but that's what I prefer and at the same time I still drop a few coins into the collection tins each year.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Yorkshire
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The cunning RBL has put the year onto the new metal poppies! i am becoming a bit nervous about the direction the Legion is heading in these days. It is becoming less about remembrance and much more commercial. I believe that BAe are a major sponsor and that could be seen as a bit incongruous.
The cunning RBL has put the year onto the new metal poppies!
Anyway, if you personally were trying to sell poppies for charity, wouldn't you see a metal non-dated poppy at say, £2 as a severe business risk? You know that certain people will buy one and then re-use it for years to come, and you know that'll lose many years of potential donations. So why not date them?
At least it helps you spot the cheapskate at rememberance day. ;-)
Last edited by Laarbruch72; 1st Nov 2013 at 21:42.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
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Every year the Jersey Branch of RBL produces a different pin, in a limited edition of [usually] 3,000. They have become collectables for some people, and a very small edition of box-framed sets has raised large sums at auction. In addition, most years there are small production runs [100] for organisations such as Police, Fire & Rescue ... and this year it was Police again, The Law Officers and the WRVS. In addition there are even smaller runs for Poppy Appeal volunteers, so you end up buying 2 every year. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 ... many people give more. And we usually sell out, from our pop-up "Poppy Shop", within a couple of days!
As Laaarbruch72 says, you stand out of you wear "last year's pin"
One day my collection will be very valuable!
As Laaarbruch72 says, you stand out of you wear "last year's pin"
One day my collection will be very valuable!
Join Date: Oct 2004
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When I was doing my A levels our head of sixth form gave a deeply offensive "sermon" at the weekly sixth form assembly in which he attacked the Remembrance service for glorifying war. I and several others tackled him about it and tried to put him right but he wouldn't have it.
At around the same time, the same teacher told me that I was a fascist murderer because I had been selected by OASC to join the RAF after completing sixth form. Funnily enough, he left teaching a few years later and became the local Vicar in Ducklington, quite close to Brize Norton.
I doubt very much that he will be reading this but just in case..............Rev. Bob Edy, you were an offensive idiot then, are an offensive idiot now and probably always will be an offensive idiot.
I always donate - even out here in the UAE there are ways to do it, chiefly thanks to the local English-speaking schools (yes, Remembrance is on their "syllabus", even here) and I try to wear a poppy if I can. If for any reason I can't wear one, it doesn't really matter because in my mind I carry images like the one below. My great uncle is in the cemetery at Bayeaux - he was 24 and never even made it off the beach on D-Day. RIP Billy - your sacrifice is appreciated by the majority of the people you fought for.
At around the same time, the same teacher told me that I was a fascist murderer because I had been selected by OASC to join the RAF after completing sixth form. Funnily enough, he left teaching a few years later and became the local Vicar in Ducklington, quite close to Brize Norton.
I doubt very much that he will be reading this but just in case..............Rev. Bob Edy, you were an offensive idiot then, are an offensive idiot now and probably always will be an offensive idiot.
I always donate - even out here in the UAE there are ways to do it, chiefly thanks to the local English-speaking schools (yes, Remembrance is on their "syllabus", even here) and I try to wear a poppy if I can. If for any reason I can't wear one, it doesn't really matter because in my mind I carry images like the one below. My great uncle is in the cemetery at Bayeaux - he was 24 and never even made it off the beach on D-Day. RIP Billy - your sacrifice is appreciated by the majority of the people you fought for.
Last edited by moggiee; 6th Nov 2013 at 17:10.
Harry Drinkwater's lost diary from the Great War | Mail Online
For those who cannot bear to sully their eyes with the DM, here's a precis:
Good going for a paddle, innit?
For those who cannot bear to sully their eyes with the DM, here's a precis:
Harry Drinkwater recorded the horrors of the First World War in vivid diary entries
Within an hour of moving off, we were up to our knees in mud and water.
The mud gradually got deeper as we advanced along the trench.
After five days in the trenches, we’re thankful we can still walk. I’ve had approximately an hour’s sleep a day - always standing up.
We eat with hands caked in mud, which has caused many cases of acute dysentery.
Snowed all night. Had a hard job to keep awake. One or two fellows - of whom I was one - were found to be fast asleep at the end of their sentry. We’d gone to sleep standing up - and the relief man was also asleep.
Under military law, this is a crime of the first water [punishable by execution]. So, as a preventative, we’ve arranged between ourselves that each sentry along the trench will fire his rifle at intervals.
Buried alive: Sergeant Ashby (pictured far left before leaving to fight) was buried in the mine crater mentioned in Harry's 6 June entry
I helped to carry an NCO to the dressing station. His features were blown away but I recognised him by his identity disk as one of my pals.
Jinks was hit by another as we lay next to each other. His legs had been blown off and he was going fast.
Within an hour of moving off, we were up to our knees in mud and water.
The mud gradually got deeper as we advanced along the trench.
After five days in the trenches, we’re thankful we can still walk. I’ve had approximately an hour’s sleep a day - always standing up.
We eat with hands caked in mud, which has caused many cases of acute dysentery.
Snowed all night. Had a hard job to keep awake. One or two fellows - of whom I was one - were found to be fast asleep at the end of their sentry. We’d gone to sleep standing up - and the relief man was also asleep.
Under military law, this is a crime of the first water [punishable by execution]. So, as a preventative, we’ve arranged between ourselves that each sentry along the trench will fire his rifle at intervals.
Buried alive: Sergeant Ashby (pictured far left before leaving to fight) was buried in the mine crater mentioned in Harry's 6 June entry
I helped to carry an NCO to the dressing station. His features were blown away but I recognised him by his identity disk as one of my pals.
Jinks was hit by another as we lay next to each other. His legs had been blown off and he was going fast.
Good going for a paddle, innit?
Join Date: Dec 2006
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I was selling poppies at Sainsbury's in Chippenham last weekend. Tall elderly gentleman approaches me with his wife pushing her little shopping chariot and he rummaged in his pocket for change. As the money went into the tin, he looked me squarely in the eyes and said 'I was there', 'sorry sir, not sure I understand, I asked quizzically', 'I was there on the beaches in Normandy - artillery, going back again next year with the Regiment'. We stood for a few minutes chatting - aged 92 and very much looking forward to next year, he was a delight to talk to.
Two hours in a supermarket shaking a tin for the appeal is a brilliant experience, so many great people out there who care and for those that do not or who have their own opinions, I still engaged them with a smile and a cheery good morning. Here is hoping for a record year of contributions and many thanks to all who filled my tin to the brim, even the tiny children who tested my biceps by filling the tin up with their pocket money pennies.
Two hours in a supermarket shaking a tin for the appeal is a brilliant experience, so many great people out there who care and for those that do not or who have their own opinions, I still engaged them with a smile and a cheery good morning. Here is hoping for a record year of contributions and many thanks to all who filled my tin to the brim, even the tiny children who tested my biceps by filling the tin up with their pocket money pennies.
Collecting for the Army Benevolent Fund in 1979 or 1980 outside a cinema showing "A Bridge Too Far". Wednesday evening I realised that the guy who just put a fiver in my tin had been there the two previous nights, and put a fiver in each time. "You like the film then" I said. ""Very accurate", he replied, " And I was at the "dress rehearsal". He came Thursday and Friday evenings too, an put a fiver in each time - when a fiver really was a "fiver".
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Far North of Watford
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Quote of opening paragraph by Joe Glenton in the Guardian today:
"With the official Remembrance Day ceremony closing in, and soldier worship about to hit its tedious annual peak, the public have been given an unexpected glimpse of war's unsanitised face. A Royal Marine has been convicted of murdering a wounded Afghan in his custody. Two marines were acquitted".
The article, and many comments from readers, make depressing reading.There are some very unkind, unflattering and totally misguided views expressed. It seems that Help for Heroes and all the other initiatives to support our troops and their families are in danger of generating a counter productive reaction in the civilian population.
There is also an increasingly popular counter action to the Remembrance Parade and the red Poppy from Veterans for Peace who believe that the RBL has lost its way and has led to a national glorification of war. Reluctantly I have some sympathy with them.
Armistice Day is about remembrance. It must not become a circus.
"With the official Remembrance Day ceremony closing in, and soldier worship about to hit its tedious annual peak, the public have been given an unexpected glimpse of war's unsanitised face. A Royal Marine has been convicted of murdering a wounded Afghan in his custody. Two marines were acquitted".
The article, and many comments from readers, make depressing reading.There are some very unkind, unflattering and totally misguided views expressed. It seems that Help for Heroes and all the other initiatives to support our troops and their families are in danger of generating a counter productive reaction in the civilian population.
There is also an increasingly popular counter action to the Remembrance Parade and the red Poppy from Veterans for Peace who believe that the RBL has lost its way and has led to a national glorification of war. Reluctantly I have some sympathy with them.
Armistice Day is about remembrance. It must not become a circus.
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Glenstab - your spot on. Its a 4 week sell spree by the RBL. For a good cause yes, the best cause but thats what it is to some.
I dont need a poppy to remember the many, none of us do on here. But I fully understand why some are wearing them and support it. I just think its sometimes over the top.
I dont need a poppy to remember the many, none of us do on here. But I fully understand why some are wearing them and support it. I just think its sometimes over the top.
Just another erk
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Its good to see not all are like that vicar (or vicaress)
Hundreds to attend funeral of war veteran who died alone - Telegraph
Hundreds to attend funeral of war veteran who died alone - Telegraph
