I have 2 metal lapel pins. One of them has the year on it. The year idea is good as people will be more inclined to buy each year. Not seen any with 2014 yet.
To donate £3 text POPPY to 70020* *Cost £3 plus standard network charges (typically £2.97 goes to the Poppy Appeal).
To donate £10, text POPPY to 70111* *Cost £10 plus standard network charges (typically £9.92 goes to the Poppy Appeal).
Worth emailing round your friends or your office or putting on your Facebook/Twitter. I'm sure plenty of people would donate this way if they don't wear a poppy.
While you are here, can I nudge people in the direction of the National Arboretum. So many people haven't visited, but it is incredible. Especially on remembrance Sunday. So many of us meet with regimental comrades and welcome all visitors, old and new. An absolutely unforgettable experience.
Buy your Poppy but not yet, far too early. I despise the commercialisation of the Poppy Appeal. Ceramic Poppies, car Poppies, any sort of poppy that does not conform to the traditional Poppy; a simple plastic Poppy with a red leaf, black stud and plastic green stick. Nothing more, nothing less. Poppies should not be worn until November in my opinion and only after you have removed the silly modern green paper leaf.
Huge amount of people without poppies this year. Walking to the office from Cannon St I'd be surprised if more than 10% of the people I saw were wearing one.
Huge amount of people without poppies this year. Walking to the office from Cannon St I'd be surprised if more than 10% of the people I saw were wearing one.
I have found the same .. perhaps many want to forget Britain's warlike and colonial past or could it be that the over commercialisation of the poppy and the (in my opinion) overkill of WW1 articles and programmes in the media have put people off the whole project. I will and will always wear my poppy with pride. As I have written elsewhere on the CL site, I have found that my doing so has not gone down too well in a certain area of the UK .. and the arson attack on a poppy seller in Manchester, albeit that it might have been carried out by a crazy lone wolf, is definitely food for thought. Have we gone so soon from burning flags and poppies to burning people who support the wearing of them ?
In the 2nd World War about 35,000 merchant seamen lost their lives, as an ex merchant seaman I will not buy a poppy because the British Legion do not recognise or support the sacrifice given by these brave men and women.
(thanks to RedM for noticing my spelling---whoops) (WayneK - no offence taken)
At Charing Cross this morning a Gentleman with lots of medals had a table selling poppies, metal and otherwise, but also had boxed poppy cufflinks. I enquired as to the price and was told they were £8.00. I gave him a tenner and told him to keep the change. On closer inspection the cufflinks are produced by a Company called Toye, Kenning and Spencer, not usually the cheapest producer/retailer of anything as any one familiar with a funny handshake can attest.
I assume that someone is making a profit on the sale of these and I hope to God it's the Legion. I know they have no overheads in terms of sales staff and premises but even so my question is how the hell do Next et al justify charging me north of £25.00 for cufflinks under normal circumstances? As far as I can tell the quality of said poppy links is as good as you'll find elsewhere and I recommend them if you are around the Station this evening. After all you'll have plenty of time waiting for your delayed Train.
In the 2nd World War about 35,000 merchant semen lost their lives, as an ex merchant seaman I will not buy a poppy because the British Legion do not recognise or support the sacrifice given by these brave men and women.
Politics aside and not in a shitty way, but you might want to edit your spelling.
In the 2nd World War about 35,000 merchant semen lost their lives, as an ex merchant seaman I will not buy a poppy because the British Legion do not recognise or support the sacrifice given by these brave men and women.
A lot of my semen lose their lives everyday.
If this offends, I apologise, not meant as a dig at Lancaster Lad or the brave souls who gave their lives.
At Charing Cross this morning a Gentleman with lots of medals had a table selling poppies, metal and otherwise, but also had boxed poppy cufflinks. I enquired as to the price and was told they were £8.00. I gave him a tenner and told him to keep the change. On closer inspection the cufflinks are produced by a Company called Toye, Kenning and Spencer, not usually the cheapest producer/retailer of anything as any one familiar with a funny handshake can attest.
I assume that someone is making a profit on the sale of these and I hope to God it's the Legion. I know they have no overheads in terms of sales staff and premises but even so my question is how the hell do Next et al justify charging me north of £25.00 for cufflinks under normal circumstances? As far as I can tell the quality of said poppy links is as good as you'll find elsewhere and I recommend them if you are around the Station this evening. After all you'll have plenty of time waiting for your delayed Train.
That was my friend and her dad, he raised over £26k at that station last year.
There is no genuinely good reason to not wear one, other than being an awkward leftie for the sake of it.
You're wrong.
What's your reason?
There are many people who are uncomfortable with the close relationship between this charity and militarism. This is not the time or place to enlarge upon that. But I also wonder if the idea that unless you wear a poppy you are unpatriotic is causing a degree of resentment. Personally, I am extremely unhappy that people who gave so much in service of our country have to rely on charity, in fact I find it deeply shaming. But my main reason is that my mother ran food to the partisans in the Italian mountains during the war. Her bravery was incredible, but of course her role in the course of events goes unremarked. So I will donate but not wear a poppy, just my personal compromise.
There is no genuinely good reason to not wear one, other than being an awkward leftie for the sake of it.
You're wrong.
What's your reason?
There are many people who are uncomfortable with the close relationship between this charity and militarism. This is not the time or place to enlarge upon that. But I also wonder if the idea that unless you wear a poppy you are unpatriotic is causing a degree of resentment. Personally, I am extremely unhappy that people who gave so much in service of our country have to rely on charity, in fact I find it deeply shaming. But my main reason is that my mother ran food to the partisans in the Italian mountains during the war. Her bravery was incredible, but of course her role in the course of events goes unremarked. So I will donate but not wear a poppy, just my personal compromise.
There is no genuinely good reason to not wear one, other than being an awkward leftie for the sake of it.
You're wrong.
What's your reason?
There are many people who are uncomfortable with the close relationship between this charity and militarism. This is not the time or place to enlarge upon that. But I also wonder if the idea that unless you wear a poppy you are unpatriotic is causing a degree of resentment. Personally, I am extremely unhappy that people who gave so much in service of our country have to rely on charity, in fact I find it deeply shaming. But my main reason is that my mother ran food to the partisans in the Italian mountains during the war. Her bravery was incredible, but of course her role in the course of events goes unremarked. So I will donate but not wear a poppy, just my personal compromise.
If people think that wearing a poppy is milatilistic then they are ignorant. It's about remembering people who made a great sacrifice not a symbol of victory.
There is no genuinely good reason to not wear one, other than being an awkward leftie for the sake of it.
You're wrong.
What's your reason?
There are many people who are uncomfortable with the close relationship between this charity and militarism. This is not the time or place to enlarge upon that. But I also wonder if the idea that unless you wear a poppy you are unpatriotic is causing a degree of resentment. Personally, I am extremely unhappy that people who gave so much in service of our country have to rely on charity, in fact I find it deeply shaming. But my main reason is that my mother ran food to the partisans in the Italian mountains during the war. Her bravery was incredible, but of course her role in the course of events goes unremarked. So I will donate but not wear a poppy, just my personal compromise.
Fair enough but I fail to unserstand the link between your mothers role not being remembered and a reason for not wearing a poppy which remembers the sacrifices of others who were fighting to achieve the same goal your mother was striving for ?
The reason I buy a poppy is as a remembrance to all the brave poor souls, left in unmarked graves / fields / forests etc oversea, who gave their lives, so that we might live in freedom, below is a brief snapshot of fathers life, which some may find disturbing / interesting etc. it was part of my farewell speech at his funeral.
My father fought out in Burma and was in the royal engineers, he had a fantastic life and lived it to its full extent, he came from the wrong side of Dartford, but got on. He never really mentioned Burma, but the few things he did say was horrific.
First day they got out there they where taken to a hospital that had been overrun by the Japanese a couple of days prior to their arrival, they where shown crucified nurses still nailed to the crosses, and British soldiers that where bayoneted as they laid in their beds, as he said that made you grow up.
He and a few others used to go behind enemy line to disrupt the Japanese communications and he was an expert with explosives so they below up the odd bridge mostly when the trains where going over, they would disappear for 6 months at a time with very limited rations, when they run and assuming there where no air drops they used to eat there mules, there biscuits where contaminated with weevils which he said was a bonus, still certain if that part was true, for those months while they disappeared they didn't know who was fighting in the next valley, some natives where friendly and other where pro Japanese so they couldn't risk getting food of them.
He was involved somehow in the battles of Imphal and Kohima, both where horrendous and anyone interested should read these stories, after the break out from Burma through India he teamed up with British and Aussies soldiers they never took a single prisoner the hatred was that great. When he came home he met his son of 31/2 for the first time, he didn't even know that his wife was pregnant when he sailed away.
When I was 21 I was not allowed a Japanese watch for birthday present and never allowed a Japanese car. His last trip was back to Burma wargraves to say goodbye to his long lost friends, the old Gerkhas who fought with him walked for 2 days to be with there old comrades, they where all in their 80's. some of his last words to the vicar was restating his hatred of the Japanese race.
A different generation of men of men and women. Hopefully the wavers will now go and by a poppy.
Just caught up with this thread. Great story to share Kerry.
Comments
*Cost £3 plus standard network charges (typically £2.97 goes to the Poppy Appeal).
To donate £10, text POPPY to 70111*
*Cost £10 plus standard network charges (typically £9.92 goes to the Poppy Appeal).
Worth emailing round your friends or your office or putting on your Facebook/Twitter. I'm sure plenty of people would donate this way if they don't wear a poppy.
So many people haven't visited, but it is incredible.
Especially on remembrance Sunday.
So many of us meet with regimental comrades and welcome all visitors, old and new.
An absolutely unforgettable experience.
Special word up to the Japanese cherry and British oak trees planted so their leaves fall together, and the willow trees planted for the victims of recent atrocious wars.
http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/49a7699e-5113-4c98-817f-adaa00793577.JPG
OPhoto from the bikers ride to the wall last month
Poppies should not be worn until November in my opinion and only after you have removed the silly modern green paper leaf.
I will and will always wear my poppy with pride. As I have written elsewhere on the CL site, I have found that my doing so has not gone down too well in a certain area of the UK .. and the arson attack on a poppy seller in Manchester, albeit that it might have been carried out by a crazy lone wolf, is definitely food for thought. Have we gone so soon from burning flags and poppies to burning people who support the wearing of them ?
Probably on the list of "things not advised to save money on"
I have one of the metal ones, I'd rather spend a fiver on a metal one that is pinned on to me than buy 5 of the paper ones.
Also has the numbers 2014 and 1914 on it which is nice.
as per!
(thanks to RedM for noticing my spelling---whoops)
(WayneK - no offence taken)
I assume that someone is making a profit on the sale of these and I hope to God it's the Legion. I know they have no overheads in terms of sales staff and premises but even so my question is how the hell do Next et al justify charging me north of £25.00 for cufflinks under normal circumstances? As far as I can tell the quality of said poppy links is as good as you'll find elsewhere and I recommend them if you are around the Station this evening. After all you'll have plenty of time waiting for your delayed Train.
If this offends, I apologise, not meant as a dig at Lancaster Lad or the brave souls who gave their lives.
Personally, I am extremely unhappy that people who gave so much in service of our country have to rely on charity, in fact I find it deeply shaming. But my main reason is that my mother ran food to the partisans in the Italian mountains during the war. Her bravery was incredible, but of course her role in the course of events goes unremarked. So I will donate but not wear a poppy, just my personal compromise.
That was my friend and her dad, he raised over £26k at that station last year.
Superb effort.
Sorry about the spelling.