Leytonstone Branch Information
Our Founding History
On Sunday 15 May 1921 over 100 years ago on a wet and dreary day, a small number of ex-Servicemen walked to the Cenotaph War Memorial in London’s Whitehall.
Four men representing societies that for years had been rivals laid a wreath at the base of the memorial.
On that wreath were the badges of the four organisations that would officially amalgamate to form the British Legion.
This moment was the starting gun for the Royal British Legion we know today. By Christmas of 1921 the ranks of our organisation had swelled to include 2,500 branches across the country, as well as overseas.
These were the groups around which the armed forces community rallied after the First World War.
They made change happen, fundraised during the Poppy Appeal, provided welfare locally and became the foundations for what has become the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity.
One hundred years later we are proud to still have 2,500 branches, some with a history reaching back to 1921 and others established in the last decade.
To mark the moment of our founding, we are re-creating the activity of that day and our National President and serving personnel will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on 15th May.
That moment at the Cenotaph 100 years ago sparked the beginning of something much bigger and to demonstrate that, we the Leytonstone Branch of The Royal British Legion laid a wreath to coincide with the activity at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on 15th May 2021.
After the service we were invited to The Poppy Pantry for tea and pastries which is run by one of our members Paul and his wife Jill who made a generous donation to the branch.
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Death of HRH, Prince Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh
( 9th APRIL 2021 )
On behalf of the members of the Leytonstone Branch of The Royal British Legion we send our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the members of the Royal Family on the passing of her Husband, HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
We are immensely thankful for his lifetime of faithful service, and we mourn his passing deeply.
I’m sure that when our branch is able to meet we will have a moment of reflection at this sad time for the Queen and the Royal Family.
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NOVEMBER 2020 - REMEMBRANCE DAY
Leytonstone Branch of The Royal British Legion held a small service at Harrow Green Cenotaph to mark Remembrance Sunday
We would like to give special thanks to the Police and London Borough of Waltham Forest who allowed it to go ahead and for providing marshals, signage and hand sanitizer stations to comply with the government guidelines.
We would also like to offer our thanks to Bugler, Brian Hawkins who played The Last Post and Reveille.
Wreaths were laid by The Royal British Legion, attending clergy, Police, Sally Littlejohn on behalf of the mayor, Keith Rayner, Clyde Loakes and Arran Angus, Waltham Forest Councillors,
Keith Crowe from the Pearly Kings & Queens laid a wreath on their behalf and Sharon Crowe-O’Connor on behalf of the Leytonstone Ex-Serviceman’s Club.
Leytonstone Fire Brigade were in attendance and laid a wreath, and wreaths were also laid by various other organisations including the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, Rotary Club and Scouts Organisation,
Members of the public were invited to lay wreaths after the service.
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V.J. DAY - 15th AUGUST 2021
This year the Leytonstone Branch Commutate the official end of WW2 in Japan – VJ Day - with Chingford Royal British Legion.
Sunday 15th August 2021 was 76 years since the end of the war in Japan. Leytonstone joined with Chingford branch with a service and wreath laying at Chingford Mount Cemetery, at the Cross of sacrifice.
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V.J. DAY - 15th AUGUST 2020
In marking the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Japan, we look back with pride and respect at the remarkable generation of men and women who helped to secure peace and freedom in the Far East after almost four years of Armed conflict with Japan.
Let us honour their courageous sacrifice, which they made in a gallant effort to restrain evil and to secure freedom for succeeding generations
The Leytonstone Branch of The Royal British Legion held a service on Saturday 15th August 2020 at Harrow Green Cenotaph to mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day.
Due to current restrictions it was only a small service attended by branch members and a few guests.
We would like to thank Fr. Neil Walsh who conducted the service, Bugler Brian Hawkins, Councillor Jenny Gray, Councillor Keith Rayner, Standard Bearers, Andrew Milner, Andrew Miller, Jane Lewis, Linda Dopson, and the Pearly Kings and Queens.
We were delighted to welcome, past branch member, Centenarian Bill Allen, who laid a wreath on our behalf.
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V.E. DAY 2020
75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe 8th May 2020
On 8th May 1945 The Prime Minister announced the end of the war with Germany. In a message broadcast from the Cabinet Room at Number 10 Winston Churchill told the nation the ceasefire had been signed on 7th May at the American advance headquarters in Rheims.
Many young people do not know the horrors of war. They do not know about rationing such as one egg and four rashers a week, some people can eat that in one sitting. Fourteen years of food rationing ended at midnight on 4th July 1954, when restrictions on the sale and purchase of most things including meat and bacon were lifted.
Hearing the frightening noise of the bombers leaving for Germany and the noise of the Germany bombers overhead, and the sound of bombs falling and then the sound of the explosion. Do we ever think of the telegram boy delivering the message "missing presumed dead".
Did we ever listen when granddad told us about how he was involved with the fighting in Europe? How his friend from school that he joined up with him was killed. Some men lost arms and legs others their lives.
Soldiers returned home to loved ones and some returned home with just one loved one to greet them and some none. Some men where shell shocked or as we call it now PTSD.
Finally after six years off fighting ended. The enemy vanished. Families could rejoice, they could dance and sing at the joy of being free again.
The Royal British Legion was started after the first World War in 1921. Men and women banded together to help one and other. Since then there have been many wars, not only the Second World War but Malaysia, Aden, the Gulf, Falklands, Bosnia and now Afghanistan. The Royal British Legion is there to help ex servicemen and their families then and now. So when you see us selling Poppies stop and buy one as that supports the men and women that saved us.
Although we are facing a challenging time please, where ever you are, join us on Friday 8 May at 11am to observe a 2 minutes silence as we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War II generation, from British, Commonwealth and Allied Forces to evacuees and those who served on the home front.
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LEYTONSTONE BRANCH GP 90 CERTIFICATE
We are proud to display the certificate for our attendance and support of the Great Pilgrimage 90 at Ypres on the 8th August 2018.
The Pilgrimage culminated in a march through Ypres to the Commonwealth War Grave Commission’s Menin Gate Memorial for a ceremony to commemorate the launch of The Hundred Days Offensive and in remembrance of those who never returned.
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The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading Armed Forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations.
Members get together through the network of branches and clubs all over the country and overseas to participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities.
Leytonstone Branch meets at 8pm every 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Leytonstone Ex-Serviceman's Club at Harvey Road Leytonstone E11 3DB.
Membership is open to everyone. If you have an interest in the objectives of the Legion and want to help and support for those who have served and their families, come and join us. We welcome men and women of all ages, whether they have served in the Armed Forces or not.
Legion membership ensures that
- Remembrance is kept alive and that the sacrifices our brave Service men and women have made are never forgotten.
- The ex-Service community have a voice and that their concerns are brought to the public eye.
Becoming a member also provides the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities and events held locally, regionally and nationally throughout the year.
Use the link below to join online now.
If you have any problems with our online joining, please phone 0808 802 8080 and one of our staff will be happy to process your membership application over the phone.
If you wish to contact us or to report any inaccuracies or omissions on this site, please email keith.RBL887@gmail.com
About The Royal British Legion
We provide financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces - past and present and their families. The Legion is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces and is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.
Founded in 1921, the Legion is not just about those who fought in the World Wars of the last century, but also about those involved in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.
Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk for details of our national initiatives.
