Immediately following the end of The Great War, Worthing saw several associations start up to cater for the 4,000 plus soldiers that had returned home. Worthing had branches of The Comrades of the Great War (founded in 1919), The Officers' Association and The League of Nations (1920).

Nationally on 15th May 1921 the British Legion was formed through the amalgamation of The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers, The Comrades of The Great War, and The Officers' Association. Key figures in the amalgamation were Earl Haig (1^st president), Tom Lister and Mr. H. J. Trevillyan.

In Worthing the branch came into operation through the great efforts made by a local councillor, the Captain H. C. Bowles, R.A. It was he who arranged the first preparatory meeting held at Lloyds Bank chambers, in South Street, during May, 1921. He called together local representatives of the Combined Officers' Association, The Comrades of The Great War and The League of Nations to discuss the possibility of forming a branch of the British Legion.

After a long discussion and further meetings it was unanimously agreed to forge ahead with preparations for the formation and arrange for some local publicity, this being in the form of a request that all intending members should communicate with the elected honorary secretary, Mr. J. Evans of Graham Road. In October 1921 members of the public and particularly ex-servicemen were invited to the inaugural meeting, which was held at the old Literary Institute in Montague Street. Among the large gathering was the town's first Lady Mayor, Mrs. Ellen Chapman, J.P., the former mayor Cllr. J. Farquahson-Whyte (chairman of the merged The Leaque of Nations), Captain H. C. Bowles (merged Officers Association), Mr. J. Kennedy (Town Clerk), Mr. J. Evans (Honorary Secretary), and Mr. H. J. Trevillyan (co-founder of the national British Legion), the latter gave an address during the meeting.

At that meeting it was stated that some few weeks previous Captain Bowles had presided at a local Services' Pension Meeting of the Officers' Association, and that a sum of £4,743.11.10, had been spent on the after-care of the town's disabled ex-servicemen. This sum had been made up as follows, benevolence aid had been given to one hundred and twenty- one patients, which included twenty-one home- bound, and two dental cases. Now that the town had its own branch of the Legion it would co-operate with the Officers' Association to look after and care for all ex-service people. So it was on October 3rd, 1921, that the branch officially came into operation, thanks to the pioneers of the town.

Locally to Worthing there were thirteen others formed in this area during 1921, and one of the 1,478
branches included in the National total formed during the first year of the formation  of the British Legion. Added to these figures were a number of women’s sections of the then Auxiliary Section, which was to be known later as the Women's Section of the Legion. This was finally agreed at the 1922 National conference, until then women were not eligible for membership. The first British Legion member badge was gifted to our Lady Mayor, Mrs Ellen Chapman at our first branch meeting in 1921. The Worthing Women's Section was founded on 22nd May 1925.

Our earliest earliest Poppy day organiser was Mrs. A. Vowell of Sea Cottage, Wordsworth Road, who with her band of collectors, managed to raise £200 within the Worthing area, including Broadwater and Durrington, in 1922.

The branch made steady progress and was able to co-operate with a number of others that had been formed in nearby districts and towns like Bognor Regis, Brighton, Hove, Arundel, all during the late 1921, shortly to be followed by Angmering (1923), Shoreham(1924), Ferring (1933), and East Preston (1934).So within a period of some years the Legion had branches throughout West Sussex.

A representative from the branch, Mr. W. C. Porteus, attended the funeral in February 1928,of Field Marshall Earl Haig. The Guard for Lying in state at St. Columba's Church (London) and the funeral route Guard of Honour were provided by members of the Metropolitan and South Eastern Home Counties branches. Earl Haig had died having made almost eight years strenuous effort on behalf of the ex-service movement, the Legion had lost a great President.

In May, 1933, the late Prince George made a visit to the town for the opening ceremony of the new Town Hall (Chapel Road). During his visit he placed a wreath at the War Memorial, watched by a vast crowd made up of holiday makers and local residents. A strong contingent of Legion Officers, members and Standard Bearers made up the guard of honour. Two years later, to mark the Silver Jubilee of the King's Accession, a big Rally was held in Beach House Park, this was preceeded by a Drum Head Service and a mile long precession through the town, watched by thirty thousand people. It was a great spectacle with many leading dignitaries and representatives of organisations, lead by a massive array of Standards. Among those present were Major General R. E. Vaughan, Majors Bennett and Forsdyke, Captain Bowles and Legion Officers from branch and Women's Sections.

Mr. Seebold a well-known local business man arranged a Whist Drive and Dance in the town's recently opened ballroom, the King's Hall, all the profits were generously donated to the Poppy Fund. Also in 1933 the branch chairman, R. E. Vaughan, C.B., put on a smoking concert to raise funds to establish a branch headquarters.