WILTSHIRE has celebrated 100 years of the Royal British Legion (RBL), an organisation that has been a huge part of community life, events and Remembrance Sundays.

Wiltshire has celebrated 100 years of the Royal British Legion (RBL), an organisation that has been a huge part of community life, events and Remembrance Sundays.

The organisation resulted from combining four ex-servicemen’s welfare bodies after the First World War under the leadership of field marshal Earl Haig and Sir Frederick Lister.

The first Poppy Appeal was held in 1921 and the money was used to support those who served in the armed forces and their families.

In Devizes, the branch - along with St John’s curate Rev Gerry Lynch - held an Evensong, in the church, followed by the Act of Remembrance at the war memorial, which was attended by RBL members, the mayor and town councillors and St John’s choir. 

The address was given by the former chaplain general the venerable Stephen Robbins CB. 

Meanwhile in Malmesbury, the Ivy Branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers was formed in May 1919 followed by a Post of the Comrades of the Great Wars in June 1920.

These disbanded and the Malmesbury Branch of the British Legion opened on November, 10 1921.

There are hopes to have an exhibition commemorating the branch’s history this November.

In view of the present Covid restrictions the Malmesbury Branch joined the national celebrations in a low key way when the treasurer, Charles Vernon and secretary, Ian Mace laid a wreath at the First World War Memorial on Saturday. 

The memorial in Malmesbury is also 100 years old, and was unveiled on March 20.