You probably know, but in case you don't.... (from a speech I gave this morning, sounds a bit weird as a post)
"Field Marshal The 1st Earl Haig had long been concerned for the welfare of returning military after the First World War and strongly believed that support was needed.
Several groups had been created to care for the welfare of those returning. Chief amongst them; The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers, The Comrades of The Great War and The Officers' Association.
However Earl Haig believed that there should be a single, combined organisation.
Thus, on Sunday 15 May 1921, a small group of ex-Servicemen and representatives from those four organisations, walked to the Cenotaph, in London’s Whitehall. As Big Ben struck nine, the four representatives laid a wreath with the badges of the four organisations that would officially unite to form the British Legion.
The British Legion was founded by and for our Armed Forces personnel.
On the anniversary of that day and in memory of the long journey since, a small group join together to mark this milestone. [names of the group removed]
We remember the members of the Legion, our many supporters and of course members of our Armed Forces family to whom we owe so much."
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RBL - 100 years new