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 with the purpose of setting the subscriptions and election of Branch Official's (The Western Chronical 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 i 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. 

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 Friday14th 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 Yeovil Town (WWI) Memorial 15th July 1921 Roll of Honour - Somerset - Yeovil (roll-of-honour.com)

Dedication of TRBL Yeovil Branch Standard

1939-1946

US Forces Memorial, Lloyds Bank Middle Street - Recognition of US Forces Stationed in the Yeovil area leading up to the D-Day Landings

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

Falkland Islands Memorial Stone St John's Churchyard Yeovil - Commissioned by the Rotary Club Yeovil.

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

In April 2018 with a dwindling branch membership and a lack of interest of anyone becoming a branch officer or member of the committee, 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.

18th November 2018 - TRBL Project 100 - Planting of Memorial Oak Tree in Yeovil Cemetery to mark 100 Years of the TRBL. 

7th January2019 -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.

30th September 2019 - Pittards Poppy Memorial Trophy (an annual award for best Remembrance Display in a Shop Window/Garden/Community/Club or School) presented to Branch then VC, Peter Forester by Pittards PLC Yeovil, Chief Designer, Alice Chambers.