The Sturminster Newton Branch of the Royal British Legion was formed in 1921 from what was known as the Old Comrades Association. This had been formed in 1919 by Colonel William Douglas Whatman CMG to assist the men returning home from World War 1. The British Legion was formed in 1921 to amalgamate the many different Ex-Servicemen’s Associations that had come into being at the end of the War in 1918. Col Whatman was the Branches first President and oversaw the Branch until his death in 1929; he was assisted by Mr Charlie R Stride who acted as Secretary from 1920 – 1927.

Col Whatman arranged for a wooden hut to be brought from Blandford Camp in 1919 and erected on land given to the OCA by the Pitt-Rivers estate, adjacent to Bath Road which became the headquarters of the Branch. The site still is to this day. “The Hut”, as it was known, was also a social club for Ex Servicemen and was also used by the townspeople as a cinema when the mobile movies came to town. When it was first opened, it was looked after by Mr Robert (Bob) Hatcher MM. Bob was a local war hero, having been awarded the Military Medal during the First World War. Bob was appointed Steward in 1919 a post he kept until he took over the Red Lion public house in the mid 1940s.

The Legion remained largely unchanged until the 1960s, when a dance hall was added to the rear of the premises.

The Branch looks after the welfare of ex service personnel and their dependants primarily through the Poppy Appeal which it has co-ordinated within the town since its launch in 1921. It also takes the lead in organising Remembrance services within the town.