Establishment of the Yeovil Branch of the British Legion 1921.

*Acknowledgement to Peter Forrester for initial information*

The first Annual General Meeting of the Yeovil RBL was held on Tuesday 12th July 1921 with the purpose of setting the subscriptions and election of Branch Official's (The Western Chronicle dated Friday 15th July 1921, page 11, carried a report about the meeting).

Membership subscriptions of The British Legion was set at 6 shillings per year, and membership of the Yeovil Branch and Club would be set at 9 Shillings per year, culminating in a total membership fee of 15 shillings per year. This proposal was carried unanimously. The second Tuesday in each month was fixed as the Legion's general meeting night. It was further resolved that members would address each other as "Comrades".

The following officials were elected:

President - Colonel G.C.W. Heneage, D.S.O., M.V.O. Chairman - Mr F. Denman.

Secretary - Mr R.W. Miller and Mr A. Lea. Executive Committee - Messrs. A.R. Gould, G. Sibley, S. Martin. 

15th July 1921 - Dedication of Yeovil Town (WWI) Memorial - Roll of Honour - Somerset - Yeovil (roll-of-honour.com)

During September 1921, Mr A.H.J. Lea resigned as Joint Secretary due to him leaving the region. The Secretary was confirmed as Mr R.W. Miller.

The Western Chronicle dated Friday 14th October 1921, page 3, reported: BRITISH LEGION CLUB HOUSE. - The British Legion (Yeovil and District Branch) has just acquired the Mansion House, Princess-street, Yeovil, for the use as a club-house for ex-Service men, and the committee will be most grateful for any contributions towards the furnishing of the premises. Contributions, however small, will be appreciated and can be sent to the resident secretary on the premises.

Dedication of RBL Yeovil Branch Standard ???

6 Nov 1929 Exeter & Plymouth Gazette - At Yeovil Parish Church the Vicar (Rev J.E.S Harrison) has dedicated a Banner of blue and gold for the Women's Section of the British Legion.

TBC 1934 Men's Branch Standard Laid up in St John Baptist Church Yeovil Bell Tower (picture Link)

? Dedication of Current Standard? 34-2025 (90yrs)

1939-1946 WW2

1946 Yeovil Branch 25th Year ???

1952 Death of HM King George VI

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

1971 Yeovil Branch 50th Year ???

Y.E.S.S Club (Yeovil Ex Services Social Club, Preston Road, Yeovil), Was Formerly the Yeovil RBL Club House ????

Falkland Islands Memorial Maple Trees and Stone St John's Churchyard Yeovil - Commissioned by the Rotary Club Yeovil. - Used by local Veteran's of the FI Conflict along with the Y&D RBL as a place of reflection.

1996 Yeovil Branch 75th Year

6th June 2004 - US Forces Memorial, Lloyd's Bank Middle Street - Recognition of US Forces Stationed in the Yeovil area leading up to the D-Day Landings - Commissioned by Yeovil Town Council (picture Link)

April 2018 -Present Day (for Current Branch Officers please see Branch Information Page)

In April 2018 with a dwindling branch membership the prospect of the closure of the Branch was very much a reality. However, due to a small number of committed members the branch did not close and slowly recovered enabling to function during the Covid Pandemic period with the chairman maintaining contact with all members via Social Media and the Dog and Bone including Annual Acts of Remembrance with in the Yeovil area. The following branch officers and committee were (and some still active).

Branch President - Lt. Colonel (retired) Christopher Le Hardy.

Branch Chair - Simon Woodrow. Branch Vice-Chair - Peter Forrester.

Branch Secretary - Dan Crook. Branch Treasurer - Andy Kendall.

Branch Standard Bearer - Dan Crooke. Committee - Bruce Trigger, Craig Price and Tricia Hymas. 

2nd June 2018 - Branch Face Book Group Created by Dan Crooke, then Branch Secretary.

30th September 2018 - Pittards Poppy Memorial Trophy (an annual award for best Remembrance Display in a Shop Window/Garden/Community/Club or School) was presented to Peter Forester the then Branch Vice-Chair, by Pittards PLC Yeovil, Chief Designer, Alice Chambers.

18th November 2018 - TRBL Project 100 - Planting of the Yeovil RBL Memorial Oak Tree in Yeovil Cemetery to mark 100 Years Anniversary of the Armistice cessation of hostilities of WW1 1914-18. (picture Link)

November 2018 - First Pittards Poppy Award was presented to Eleanor Florence, Bridal Shop, Princess Street, Yeovil. (picture Link)

7th January 2019 -The Yeovil Branch TRBL re-organised its branch outreach activities and the following parishes are now affiliated to the branch for membership and ex-services and family welfare Support:

Brympton, Chilthorne Domer, Chilton Cantelo and Ashington, East Chinnock, Ilchester, Limington, Marston Magna, Mudford, Queen Camel, Rimpton, Sparkford, Stoke Sub Hamdon, Tintinhull, Yeovil, Yeovil Without, Yeovilton.

November 2019 - 2nd Pittards Poppy Award was presented to the Brookie Bridge Community Project, Yeovil.

November 2020 - 3rd Pittards Poppy Award was presented to the Pen Mill Hotel, Yeovil.

COVID Pandemic period -Despite Lock-down and the loss of several members during this time and the policy of the Branch being unable to attend Funerals/Cremations of Veteran's, the Branch still carried out Restricted Annual Acts of Remembrance with-in the Yeovil area, whilst maintaining contact with all members via Social Media and the Dog and Bone.

2021 RBL 100th Year - 

2021 Yeovil Branch 100th Year Project 100 - Yeovil Cemetery, Preston Road, Yeovil. (picture Link)

8th September 2022: Buckingham Palace announce the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In a statement , the palace said, The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. A period of national mourning took place between 8 September 2022 with Laying in State at Westminster and the State Funeral on 19 September 2022.

15th November 2022  - Branch Face Book Group Name changed from Yeovil RBL to Yeovil and District RBL Group.

6th May 2023 Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abby.

14th June 2023 - 1st Service of Remembrance at the Falklands Islands 1982 Memorial Maple Trees and Stone St Johns the Baptist Yeovil. SAMA82 Veteran's requested this becomes an Annual event. (picture Link)

6th June 2024 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings VE Day80th 2025.

14th June 2024 - 2nd Service of Remembrance at the Falklands Islands 1982 Memorial Maple Trees and Stone, St John the Baptist Yeovil. (picture Link)

22nd November 2024 - (The 4th) Pittard Poppy Trophy Award Competition is once again held - the first since Covid (an annual award for best Remembrance Display in a Shop Window/Garden, by either a Retailer, Individual, Community, Club or School.

• Joint Winners: Café Vie, Princes Street & Huish Primary School (picture Link)
• Joint Runner Up: YMCA Middle Street & Break Abbey Manor

8th May 2025, 80th Celebration of VE Day Victory in Europe Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration was held at Yeovil Town War Memorial. 

Sunday 11th May 2025, Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration was held at Rimpton Parish Church were the Branch Standard Paraded and laid on the Alter of St Mary Church Marston as part of the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, in attendance where the Branch President & Chair

14th June 2025 - 3rd Service of Remembrance at the Falklands Islands 1982 Memorial Maple Trees and Stone, St Johns the Baptist Yeovil. (picture Link)

15th August 2025 80th Celebration of VJ Day Victory in Japan Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration was held at Yeovil Town War Memorial. VJ Day Event 15Th May 2025

Sunday 17th August 2025 Branch Standard Paraded and laid on the Alter of St Mary Church Marston as part of the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day and the Baptism of Ola Grace Walters (9mths), Standard Bearer was the Branch Secretary, in attendance were the Branch President & Chair. Marston Magna Church Silhouettes.

22nd Sep - 4th Oct - Pittards Poppy Display in Yeovil Public Library Window. Yeovil Library Pittards Poppy Display

11^th Oct 2025 - Branch Centenarian Member, With great sadness we announce the Funeral of Francis Allan Perry who died on the 11^th of October 2025, aged 102. A resident of Yeovil all his life, Allan was the longest serving veteran of the RAF Regiment, and one of the founding members for the newly formed Royal Air Force Regiment in 1942. He was a stalwart member of the Royal British Legion and of the RAF Regiment Association.

1st November 2025 - Somerset RBL Festival of Remembrance at Wells Cathedral Gary Gilbert represented the Branch Standard (picture Link)

4th- 12th Dec 2025 -(5th) Pittards Poppy Award - Joint Winners Certificates & Trophy was presented to: Robert Frith, Princess Street and Break Charity Shop, Abbey Manor. Yeovil RBL Pittards Poppy Trophy Power Point 2025.