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.

The British Legion was established in 1921 to act as a voice for the ex-service community of that day because of the legacies of the Great War. Nationally today, over 450,000 members continue to ensure that this voice does not go unheard and are there to safeguard their welfare, interests and memory. Her Majesty The Queen is patron of the British Legion, bestowing the title of Royal into its name.

The Old Basing Branch was founded in October of that same year, making it one of the oldest in the land and although it had a meeting place in the Reading Rooms and the old Village Hall in The Street for many years, it was not until August 1949 that a building licence was received from Basingstoke and District Council. A small parcel of land had been made available by Lord Camrose upon which stood a Nissen hut and this quaint structure was altered and modified to make a suitable HQ for the Legion in Old Basing.

The Branch’s main purpose is to support the principle objective of the Royal British Legion  in raising money to provide welfare support for ex-service personnel and their dependants, and with conflicts in numerous parts of the world today the role of the RBL has never been more important. We, as a branch, raise in excess of £15,000 every year which is spent for those in such need. The Branch benefits from the support and assistance of its club and through that YOU can do your little bit to help.

The Women's Section of the Old Basing and District Branch of the Royal British Legion was started in July 1944 and is one of the few remaining in the North of Hampshire.

Find us here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.2692804,-1.0480094,18z

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.

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. 

Membership is open to everyone. If you have an interest in the objectives of the Legion and want to help and support 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.

Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk for details of our national initiatives.