The Royal British Legion Northampton Branch Website
Our site aims to provide information on the Legion's work nationally and locally.
POPPY APPEAL 2009 - BEST EVER TOTAL RAISED
During our two weeks' the people of Northampton have helped us raise a wonderful and record breaking total for the town of:
£91,352.00
The appeal was very successful thanks to the generosity of the public and the hard work of all our collectors and volunteers.
We resoundingly surpassed last year's £84,000 and 2007's record for the town of £89,000.
In times when people's money is tight we are very grateful indeed.
Our thanks over the two weekends to the serving soldiers of the Household Cavalry Regiment (Blues & Royals), 9th/12th Lancers and the Grenadier Guards who joined us in the town centre.
We again received great support from all ranks of 118 (TA) Recovery Company, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers in helping us collect and for the use of the TA Centre. Many of their members are currently on operations in Afghanistan and we wish them all a safe tour.
Please see the Poppy Appeal page on this site for more information.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
On Remembrance Sunday for the parade we were joined by lads from the Household Cavalry Regiment (Blues & Royals), 9th/12th Lancers and the Grenadier Guards and by 8 serving Royal Marines from 45 Commando, who marched in honour of Marc Birch. Members of 118 (TA) Recovery Company REME also paraded in good numbers.
The turnout was again very good in terms of veterans and public.
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THE POPPY AND LEGION - STILL NEEDED
It is now 91 years since the First World War ended and the Poppy has since become a symbol of remembrance and the Royal British Legion.
Since 1921 the Royal British Legion has helped ex-service personnel and their dependents, and that work is as important today as it ever was.
Although the Generation who fought in the First World War have left us, we continue to help veterans and their families who served so gallantly in World War Two.
We also provide support to the National Service Generation, many of whom saw active service in Korea, Suez, Cyprus, Malaya and Kenya for example.
In more recent times veterans of conflicts and wars such as Northern Ireland, The Gulf 1991, Kosovo, Bosnia, the Falklands and Iraq need our help.
And of course, the current operations in Afghanistan have and continue to mean our work will be required for many many years to come.
Last year the Royal British Legion raised £30.1m from the Poppy Appeal but it spent over £100m on its work.
The success of the Appeal is only made possible thanks to the wonderful support we receive from the public here in Northampton and across the Country.
You can read more about this work on the Poppy Appeal pages on this site.
Thank you.
The branch extends it's sympathies to the family of Rifleman Aidan Howell, aged 19, who was serving with 3rd Battalion, The Rifles and was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 28th December 2009.
Rifleman Howell from Braybrooke Road in Desborough attended Montsaye Community College in Rothwell before enlisting in 2006.
We are saddened to add his name to our Northamptonshire Post -1945 Roll of Honour.
The branch extends it's sympathies to the family of Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, aged 24, who was serving in the Royal Military Police and was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 3rd November 2009.
Corporal Webster-Smith lived at Brackley with his family.
We are saddened to add his name to our Northamptonshire Post-1945 Roll of Honour
Corporal Marc Birch from Kingsthorpe, Northampton was killed in Action aged 26, on 12th December 2008 serving with 45 Royal Marines Commando on Operation Herrick, Afghanistan.
Marc's widow, Charlene and their families continue to be in our thoughts.
At Marc's funeral we were honoured to be asked to join the Guard of Honour, which consisted of serving and former Royal Marines.
The continuing sacrifices being made by our Armed Forces are and will not be forgotten.
Rest in Peace.
Post-1947 Casualties Roll of Honour for Northamptonshire and appeal for information on names
The branch is compiling and researching a roll of honour for all those who have died in service since 1947.
The list has names reaching across the decades from 1947 to 2009 and covers many of the wars, conflicts and operations the Armed Forces have participated in since World War Two.
You can see these names on on the "News" pages of this site.
We have or are writing short biographies, and including photographs were possible, of all these recorded within to ensure that their names are not forgotten.
Contacting families
The Northampton Royal British Legion would still like to make contact with families of those who have been lost since 1945 in order that we can add sufficient detail to the tributes we have written.
Equally, should readers be able to assist us with providing information to help us with the memorial book we would be delighted to hear from you by contacting our LegionLine on 01604-457655 or use our branch email address guy.voice@virgin.net
2009 Armed Forces & Veterans Day Memorial Service
The Northampton Branch of the Royal British Legion held a memorial service to mark the inaugural national Armed Forces and Veterans Day on Sunday 28th June.
This took place on a beautiful hot summer's day at the Towcester Road Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery.
In previous years we have marked a number of anniversaries for specific wars and campaigns (VE & VJ Days, The Falklands, Northern Ireland etc) but for this important day the Branch remembered all those from the County killed in action, by terrorism or on duty since World War Two.
The names listed within our Post-1945 Roll of Honour were laid at the Cross of Sacrifice in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery during the service.
The service included the reading of the names of all those who lost their lives, and we were delighted and honoured to welcome many families and friends who joined us on this special day.
Our funds are needed as much today as they have been since the RBL started in 1921.
Left: The Black Watch send their 3 comrades home from Iraq who were killed on 4th November 2004.
Centre: Private Marc Ferns is brought home. Marc was single and aged 21 and was serving with the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch when he was killed by an explosive device in Basrah on
Right: Lance Corporal of Horse Matty
A full list of casualties and units is available for Iraq and Afghanistan via the MOD http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/.
Pictures Courtesy MOD, Reuters a
More information on how your money helps people can be found in the Poppy Appeal and News sections.
In the Club Information Section you can find details on when and where we meet.
The Branch is a friendly group with members who have served from World War Two through to very recent operations.
The “Officers” page shows who works on the committee and in what role.
There has only been one year since 1945 following the ending of the Second World War that has not seen a member of the armed services lost on active service (1968).
In the news pages there is a list of some of the active service operations British service personnel have served and died in since 1945.
Information on Humanitarian work and peacekeeping operations the Forces have been involved in since the 1960s are also included to demonstrate the constant, varied and often very dangerous work our service personnel do.
It is to remember these men and women, and to help care and comfort their dependents, those wounded or scarred by action as well as all others who served in times of peace and war that we belong to the
Pictured: Above the
If you wish to join the branch* or perhaps more importantly think we can help you or someone you know then please call us on:
01604-457655 or use our branch email address guy.voice@virgin.net
Our Website is important to us
The Website is a key part of our branchand has proved its worth to us by providing information to people and groups, enabling people in need to contact us and of course keeping our members informed.
This site is provided and funded through the RBL (Please note that this funding is provided by our General Fund and not through Poppy Appeal monies).
