British Legion... the unsung army

LEGION of help . . . officials in Saddleworth, Brian Gregson, left, president and poppy organiser, and Stanley Coburn, treasurer

Poppy-sellers on the streets of Oldham and other towns are a familiar sight around Remembrance Day. But this is just a small part of their year-long work.

The charity, the Royal British Legion, is operating 365 days a year to protect the interests of servicemen.

In fact, the Legion is busy all year round providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

And the call for a welfare service is increasing year on year, especially among younger serving or ex-serving men and women and their families.

An immediate needs scheme can provide funds in a temporary crisis, such as homelessness or assist with loans for property repairs and starting up a small business.

The Legion gives practical help to homeless ex-service people as well as advice and support on things such as war pensions, compensation claims and carers.

Thousands of people in Britain are entitled to a war pension, including young people, but many may not realise that they qualify.

The Legion says that every year, the Legion’s pensions department helps thousands of ex-servicemen and women with claims as well as helping war widows fight for what is rightfully theirs.

As well as providing care for ex-service people in their seven UK Poppy Homes, the Legion also provides free breaks at four coastal centres.

During last summer, hundreds of children between the ages of 12 and 17 benefited from Poppy Adventure breaks where youngsters from Armed Forces families were given free week-long breaks. Meanwhile, Poppy Travel specialises in visits to war cemeteries, memorials and battlefields.

The Saddleworth branch of the Royal British Legion is one of the smallest in the area with between 60 and 70 members.

But it has a big heart when it comes to charitable work.

The busiest time is the annual poppy appeal where around £5,000 is raised.

But the rest of the year, they are involved in looking after the welfare of ex-servicemen, often arranging for them to convalesce after illness in one of the Legion’s homes.

Other activities include visits to local primary schools to give talks involving a wartime theme, a parade on Yorkshire Day in August and a service on Armistice Sunday at Holy Trinity Church, Dobcross.

And when Remembrance time comes round again, there is the annual service in the centre of Uppermill and the long trek for the hilltop Pots and Pans service on Remembrance Sunday.

There are other branches in Oldham and at Newtown Street, Shaw.

The Shaw branch was established in 1931 and was first was based in a room over a slaughterhouse in Lyon Street.

The present club in Newtown Street was set up in 1946 from money raised through beetle and whist drives.

Treasurer and secretary Harold Tetlow said that apart from the Poppy Appeal they were often busy helping ex-servicemen and they had their own family liaison officer.