May 2026

Dear friends,

As the number of surviving Second World War “Golden Generation” veterans sadly dwindles, I’m sometimes asked whether this means the Royal British Legion still matters.

A lot of people think the RBL is all about commemorating the past – and this is certainly an important aspect of our role.

At our recent ceremony in Hotton, close to the 81st anniversary of VE Day, we remembered in particular the oft-overlooked British troops who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of the Bulge.

The RBL delegation in Hotton (from left): Andrée, Freddy, Laura, 
Yvon, Olivier, Colonel Nick Thom, Alain, Dennis, Melvyn, and Bruce

One speaker highlighted the importance of “passeurs de memoire”, that is the keepers of memory, who take responsibility for sharing the stories of the past with today’s generations.

For me, this matters more than ever when we witness present-day conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere. It sometimes appears that a few of today’s leaders have forgotten the lessons of history. Or at least need reminding occasionally.

This was very much the message of Philippe Courard, the Mayor of Hotton, in his unexpectedly political speech at the memorial outside the church.

It may have raised a fair few eyebrows, but he certainly made a point worth making.

The RBL embodies this duty of remembrance and it is one that we must never become complacent about.

But it's also vital that, as branches, we do more to communicate that the RBL is not here only to remember the veterans of the First and Second World Wars. 

Funds raised through the Poppy Appeal and our subscriptions also provide financial and emotional support for veterans suffering from the consequences of their service in more recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan. This might, for example, be due to PTSD, physical injuries or self-medicating.

It always pains me to see veterans who are homeless or struggling.

The Legion helps wherever it can, often working in coordination with other agencies. We can never do enough for these veterans and their families. It’s also worth stressing that serving personnel can also receive support from the RBL.

Long may this continue.

***

I was shocked to learn of a spate of recent thefts from Belgian war cemeteries. Plaques on graves have been removed en masse, most likely because they contain copper which is prized for its resale value. The perpetrators are beyond words.

***

I have been busy updating and editing our Brussels branch history, with new content and photographs. The work is still ongoing but it’s always satisfying when I discover something new. For example, I found out that one of our illustrious post-war committee members, Vice-Chair Lieutenant Colonel Edward N. Ackroyd MC, was the father of the founder of The Bulletin magazine, Monique Ackroyd. Her son John sent me a picture of his grandfather and told me more about Edward’s secret role in intelligence. If you have a story or photo that you feel we should include, please get in touch. The plan is to publish the branch history as a free e-book later this year.

Dennis

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