History of the Branch. 1923-2023.
The Branch was started by five ex-servicemen in a shed in Chittys Lane. This is now the site of Henry Green School.
The formal registration of the Branch was approved and confirmed on the 5th November 1923 although meetings were being held prior to this date.
The main role of the legion was very much about support and help for the servicemen that returned from war. Help was given to seek employment and to claim benefits. Many people returned from war with injuries that made employment difficult.
As membership grew & with the building of Henry Green School the Branch held meetings at various places. The search was on for a permanent Headquarters.
March 1924 The Women’s Section was formed.
May 16th 1924
Becontree Guardian reports that meetings were being held at Bayne Hall which was part of St Thomas’s Church in Hayden Road.
Extracts from the newspaper article.
The Branch are forging ahead and the committee appeal to all ex-servicemen on the estate to join at once.
Come and Help.
If you were fortunate enough to come out of the war sound in body and mind join us and strengthen our hands in championing the cause of our less fortunate comrades.
To those who were maimed and whose earning power has been reduced on account of war service – we say again – join us to strengthen the cause of maintaining your pension and treatment rights, and of assuring that the state carries out its obligations to its incapacitated defenders.
On 31st August 1924 there was to be a day trip to Clacton.
Meetings continued at Bayne Hall and membership continued to grow.
October 6th – 13th 1928 a fete was organized on land next to Chadwell Heath Station. There is a You Tube Video of the opening by Sir Ian Hamilton.
The fete included a funfair, military displays, and a torch light tattoo. Also a beauty contest, baby contest and an ankle show.
November 22nd 1929 Annual General Meeting.
A building committee was formed to find land & build the Institute. It is reported that ample funds are now available. It is reported that a start has been made to furnish the premises.
It was also reported that an individual took the opportunity to remove a lamp from a bicycle.
Members also attended St Mary’s Church in Grafton Road.
July 1933 land was given by the L.C.C. It was weed ridden and desolate. The members took off their coats, rolled up their sleeves and set to work.
They only had two hammers, a saw and a spirit level with string.
See photo’s at end of bar in main hall of work starting.
One of the building team was a Grave digger!! He is buried in the city of London Cemetery.
January 1935 meetings were being held at the Institute at 541 Becontree Avenue. Our Current premises,
9th March 1935. Official opening of the Institute.
18 months after the land was acquired.
Miss Hanorah Downes the daughter of an ex-serviceman who died due to the effects of the Great War declared the institute open.
The chairman was Mr. H J Piper. President Captain Buzzacott.
Guests included Admiral Sir Henry Bruce, Lady Edward Spencer Churchill and the National Chairman with the Vice Chair of the Women’s Section.
Only one of the five members who started the Branch was still alive. Mr George Cox was a local farmer. Many had gone to higher service due to the effects of war.
There was 300 members.
The L.C.C had agreed a rent of £1 a year for the lease.
The Building was mainly made of timber and was primarily a meeting hall. There was no bar on the premises. There was a Piano which was given by the Women’s Section. They raised money by collecting a mile of pennies.
The Branch went from strength to strength and the building was altered and extended over the years.
Walters Hall was built at the rear of hall at some point. This housed a snooker table. The funds for this was given by the family of 2nd Lieutenant Graham Yuille Laundy Walters. He served in the Irish Guards, Machine gun corps. Died of his wounds at the Somme France in 1916 aged 21.
Unfortunately Walters’s hall has now been removed due to poor condition and Asbestos.
1970. Branch membership had declined to only 30 members. The L.C.C was then taken over by the G.L.C.
The G.L.C then demanded £400 a year rent on the Lease.
It was then suggested that we apply for a license to have a bar at the premises. This had previously been refused but this time it was agreed and soon the Branch grew again. The Original Bar was in the lounge bar along the wall opposite the current bar.
1998 The Branch celebrated 75 years,
October the 9th 2002. Legion members buy a 999 year lease of the land from the council. This secured the future of the premises and the Branch. Membership was back up to 400.
In recent years a lot has been done to improve the premises. Timber floor removed and replaced with concrete, Toilets refurbished and furniture replaced in the main hall. This was all done by the support of the members.
The Becontree and Chadwell Heath Legion Headquarters are now a hive of activity with regular entertainment, bingo nights, Dance classes, Pigeon Club and Darts Teams. We have 350 members at present.
As we celebrate 100 years of the Branch we are thankful to the servicemen who started the Branch. We remember all past members who without their service and commitment we would not be here now.
The Future.
We hope the Branch will be here for many more years. We must continue to remember those that gave so much. We need to continue to help and support Veterans and serving personnel.
To continue to support the Poppy Appeal and raise funds for the work of the Royal British Legion.
We pray and hope for a World without War and Conflict.
Thanks to Mr Vic Scamell for his research and Mr James Hepworth (Secretary) for producing this record of history.
1935
Committee. Opening of Institute.
President. G.C. Buzzacott.
Chairman. H.J. Piper.
Vice Chairman. C. Hunt.
Treasurer. S. Pye.
Secretary. L. Monument.
Ass Secretary. J. Laurence.
Registrar. H. Taylor.
Employment. R. Caudgington.
Relief Sec. R. Hendley.
Publicity. N. Caryl.
Graham Yuille Laundy Walters.
Born 11th January 1895.
Died 15th September 1916. Somme.
2nd Lieutenant Irish Guards.
Machine Gun Corps.
Laundy was Grandfathers Christian name.
Yuille was his Mother’s Maiden Name.
Died of wounds and is buried at Lesboefs Cemetery, Somme, Picardy, France.
Son of Rowland Walters. (Solicitor)
Miss Hanorah Downes.
This is the little girl who officially opened the institute on March the 9th 1935. Her Father had died due to the effects of the great war. Her Step Father was Mr J Cannell who had supervised the building of the institute. She was given a Golden Key to mark the occasion.
