Poppy Appeal facts you may not know
You may think you know everything about the Poppy Appeal, but here are 11 things you may not be aware of.
1. Poppies will be available during this year’s Poppy Appeal.
As the Royal British Legion does its utmost to protect our Second World War generation who are among the most vulnerable within society from coronavirus, the charity is asking members of the public to support the Poppy Appeal in a way they never have before.
Volunteers will still be out collecting in local areas where possible, but there will also be more cashless and digital donation options, and opportunities for supporters to host their own fundraising activity.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left some in the Armed Forces community in dire need of urgent help. For those struggling with social isolation, financial difficulties and unemployment, to those facing the loss of loved ones and the threat of homelessness, the Legion’s support is more vital than ever.
2. The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.
Wearing a poppy is a show of support for the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
It represents all those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts; from the beginning of the First World War right up to present day.
It also honours the contribution of civilian services and the uniformed services which contribute to national peace and security and acknowledges innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism.
3. There is no “correct” way to wear a poppy.
Wearing a poppy is a personal choice reflecting individual and personal memories.
It’s a matter of personal choice whether someone chooses to wear a poppy and how they choose to wear it.
From paper poppies to pins, bag charms to pet poppies, and now on face masks, the best way to wear a poppy is simply with pride.
4. The poppy is red because that’s the natural colour of the poppy flower.
During the First World War, the previously beautiful countryside was blasted, bombed and fought over, again and again. The landscape swiftly turned to fields of mud. It was bleak and barren where little or nothing could grow.
But out of this devastation the delicate but resilient bright red Flanders poppies grew and flourished in their thousands.
5. The red poppy directly supports the Armed Forces community.
Around the remembrance period a variety of poppies are worn.
The red poppy is worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces communities across the UK, Allied Forces and the Commonwealth.
Only donations from the sale of red poppies go directly towards helping the Armed Forces community.
In 2019 the Poppy Appeal raised more than £50 million to help support serving and ex-serving members of the Armed Forces community and their families.
6. Poppies are sold in every community across the UK.
Every year the rumour that poppy selling has been banned in some communities resurfaces. This is simply not true and each year thousands of volunteers from all walks of life take to the streets, train stations and supermarkets around the country for two weeks during the Poppy Appeal.
While COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges this year, the appeal organisers want to ensure that everyone who wants to take part in remembrance can do so, either by making a donation for our traditional poppy, or by taking part in other activities.
In 2019 over 40 million poppies were distributed by 40,000 volunteers raising more than £50 million to help support serving and ex-serving members of the armed forces community and their families.
7. A poem inspired the use of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance.
Shortly after losing a friend in Ypres in 1915, Canadian doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies growing in battlescarred fields to write his now famous poem, In Flanders Fields.
The poem inspired American War Secretary, Moina Michael, who bought poppies to sell to her friends to raise money for Servicemen in need after the First World War. This was adopted by The (Royal) British Legion in 1921, who ordered nine million of these poppies and sold them on November 11 that year in the first ever Poppy Appeal.
The poppy has been adopted as a symbol of Remembrance ever since.
8. Poppies weren’t always sold with leaves. Like the natural flower, the original version of the poppy did not feature a leaf. A leaf was first introduced in the 1960s as it was the practice to make poppy sprays as an alternative to a poppy wreath. These were made up of five silk poppies attached to seven pieces of green fern.
Leaves slowly became an optional extra and by 1984 demand for them had grown to 12 million a year, although they were still issued separately to the poppy.
In 1995 poppies with leaves included were made available for the first time.
9. Donations for poppies helps families.
Money raised during the Poppy Appeal helps the Royal British Legion support the Armed Forces community in lots of different ways.
This includes providing financial advice to veterans like Lawrence Philips who was struggling to adapt to civilian life and at the mercy of a payday loan company when COVID-19 meant he couldn’t work.
Lawrence turned to the charity for support and, despite the restrictions due to COVID-19, the organisation’s Benefits, Debt and Money Advice team were able to help him and his family.
10. And funds services like this...
The Poppy Appeal also helps fund services like the Battle Back Centre - the first port of call for wounded, injured and sick service men and women as they start their Individual recovery programme.
In 2018 they took a team of 12 serving military (WIS) personnel and veterans on a life-changing expedition in the Himalayas.
11. Poppies are recyclable.
All of the parts of our poppies can be recycled. After Armistice Day you can recycle your poppy at any Sainsbury’s supermarket.
There are also a variety of enamel poppy pins that you can wear instead of a paper poppy and a range of alternatives available from the Poppy Shop at www.poppyshop.org.uk website.