The History of The Royal British Legion Darlington Branch - (6th February 2021)
The TRBL Darlington Branch was formed on the 30th June 1921.
This was situated within its own building on East Raby Street, Darlington until the 1970’s where the Branch was forced to become a County Supported Branch with 2 members remaining to oversee this.
On the 28th October 1980 Dennis Frankland forged on to get the Branch reinstated as a functioning Branch with originally starting off with 6 members, this grew to over 100 members quite soon. At this time the Branch Membership fee stood £1.50. As the members list was growing new premises were sought and they saw themselves frequenting a number of premises such as the Old Legion Club, The Royal Navy Association Club up until 1993, the RAFFA Club 1993 -1999 and finally settling in The Cleveland Club where they stayed until 2017.
During this time Darlington not only had the TRBL Branch but had a fully functioning Women’s Section that was formed in 1921 also. Both the RBL and the Women’s Section worked together to serve and support the Darlington Veteran community. They organised events year upon year such as plays, pantomime’s, Dinner Dances to bring everyone together, these included services and events to celebrate Landmark events such as VE and VJ day. The Branch was not without having a day to get everyone involved such as a Coach Trip to Bridlington, Eden Camp and not forgetting Sunderland Lights for the cheap price of £1.50. The Women’s Section included Barbara Frankland, Dennis’s Wife who served not only locally in her section but stood as National Chairman for the Women’s Section. Sadly the Women’s Section was closed in 2017.
In the year of 1993 the Branch wanted to start recognising members who had gone that extra mile to assist the RBL. This was marked by presenting Members with the Certificates of Appreciation. This Year also saw several members attend The Royal Albert Hall, London, for Remembrance.
By 1994, the method of Direct Debit was introduced and the members slowly started to get used to the idea of new ways of working. During this same year the Branch took part in the Unveiling of Bradford Memorial Plaque and Rededication of War Memorial Window at Darlington’s 6th Form College.
The Branch has not been without a competitive side and have took part in many events over the years and even held a Balloon Race to raise the profile of the RBL. In the year 1994 the Branch saw themselves bringing home trophies for the Branch. Where in the August they headed off to Hull where they won the County Bowls Team Trophy, Captained by Mr Ken Clayton. In the winter of November 1994, the Branch saw them winning the Shooting Cup for the second successful year, Team Captain was Ron Fairhurst.
During the majority of the Branches history saw themselves blessed by having a Branch Padre to help and assist with events such as Remembrance.
The RBL’s motto has always been to serve the community and help others and it was in 1995 that a Branch Member found himself bravely running into his neighbour’s house to save the children from a house fire. As a token of thanks and pride the Gentleman was presented with an inscribed tankard from the Branch.
Moving forward and now in February 1997, devastating news was about to hit the people of Darlington. Dennis Frankland was contacted by the local newspaper and informed that the Town’s Cenotaph and the Memorial Hall’s marble slabs were to be removed to make way for a housing development. Dennis acted quickly and the “Fight for the Memorial Hall” petition was to be completed with members standing on the High Row, Darlington Town Centre for 2 days to get the people of the town to sign.
As the signatures came in and the petition grew Dennis set off to London with this to enlist help. Several politicians listened to Dennis’s story and got involved. In November 1997 John Horram, Health Minister contacted the Branch who gave assurance that the Memorial Hall would be taken care of for the people of Darlington and declared safe. In the December saw the Chief Executive of Darlington Borough Council give the “The Sanctity of the War Memorial” where the Cenotaph and the Memorial Hall was preserved and made a Listed Building, this building now is home to the a book of remembrance highlighting names of people who were sadly killed in WW2.
Memorial Hall and the Cenotaph still stand in the heart of Darlington to date and where every year the people of Darlington, the Armed Forces parade alongside the Army Cadets, and other Associations come on Remembrance Sunday to pay their respects and honour whose who sacrificed themselves for what we have today.
The competitive streak was back during 1998, where the Branch attended the County Games and 4 members won a trophy each. These events were never far from an organised Pie and Peas night to celebrate.
The Branch Standard is a constant symbolic reminder to members of the Legion's motto, 'Service not self' and is paraded at Landmark events and at times during the service of a passing veteran.
In 2000, came the year of the Millennium and to mark this occasion the Branch Standard was out on display at Sadberge to mark this special occasion to welcome the New Year in.
During 2017 the Branch moved into the Army Reserve Centre, Neasham Road where the members list continued to hold nearly 100 members. In 2018, the Branch affiliated the Air Cadets into the Branch, a ceremony took place involving the Branch and the young cadets to hand over their certificate where they continue to assist the Branch during the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance.
In June 2018, the Branch took part in the GP90 which marked 90 years since the original Royal British Legion Pilgrimage in 1928, which saw 11,000 World War One veterans and war widows visit the battlefields of the Somme in France and Ypres in Belgium, a decade after the conflict ended.
Since this event the Branch has purchased the GP90 scroll and 100 sash for the Branch Standard.
Since then the Branch has continued to serve the veteran community of Darlington, building on their success each year such as the Poppy Appeal that in 2019 they raised an amazing amount of £80,587.76. This could not have been done without the dedicated efforts of the Poppy Appeal Organiser, Branch Members and Volunteers and People of Darlington. Pat Stoddart, Poppy Appeal Organiser has been a dedicated Branch Committee member for many years and still continues this work to date.
The Branch also pays act of remembrance to people who are close to their community and who sadly lost their lives in conflict such as Pilot Officer William McMullen a Canadian Airforce Man who on the 13th January 1945 was battling with his burning Lancaster bomber in the dark skies above Darlington, his six crewmates bailed out, McMullen stayed with the stricken plane, which was heading home to RAF Middleton St George, and steered it away from the houses so he crashed into a field at Lingfield, where a light industrial estate has since been built.
It is never know how many people he saved. From 1995 to present day the Branch has gathered on the spot where this fatal accident took place to reflect and remember that selfless act.
In 2020 the battered and bent propeller from McMullen’s plane was returned to the scene.
In 2014 the Branch was involved in commemorating an official Headstone for Edward Henry Pratt. He joined the Durham Light Infantry on the 25th October 1915 and was sent to France 10th February 1916. In March he suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg and neck. He was sent home for 3 months and returned to France 15th June 1916. He suffered a further gunshot wound to his right shoulder on 16th September 1916 and was again sent home to recover. He was sent back to France 22nd March 1917 and in October 1917 the trench he was in was bombed and he was half buried and suffered from a brain injury and partial paralysis after being struck by heavy trench support timbers. He was returned home in November 1917 and on 21st May 1918 he was discharged from the Army as unfit for further service. He was 29 years old. Sadly he died from his war wounds on 15th September 1918. He was buried in an unpurchased, unmarked grave in Darlington West Cemetery.
Each Remembrance Sunday Afternoon in November a small Act of Remembrance and wreath laying takes place at Darlington War Graves to remember all that sacrificed themselves on a local level.
In 2019, the Branch was awarded their efforts by County by been presented with the Efficiency Shield. This is judged on a number of categories ranging from procedural aspects, fundraising achievements, social activities, Remembrance activities, involvement in the community and the Poppy Appeal. This shield is now on display in Haughton Club.
The Branch now conducts their Branch meetings in Haughton Club, Haughton-Le-Skerne, Darlington. During this time the Branch has continued to hold events and functions to bring everyone together and not forgetting the occasionally coach trips to Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, the National Arboretum and the Leeds Armouries. The Branch knows how important it is to talk about remembrance and to get all involved and the Branch visits local schools to give talks about the Legion and how they can get involved.
My heartfelt thanks goes to Mr Ron Fairhurst and Mrs Barbara Frankland that were involved in the making of this, it was a pleasure listening to you about the stories you told both during sadness and the happy times of the Branch.
Thank you to Branch Members who have dedicated their time over the years.
May we continue to serve the Veteran Community of Darlington and the RBL.
We Will Remember Them.
Written by Tracy Tinkler
6th February 2021
