THE INSPIRATION FOR THE POPPY It was as

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE POPPY! It was as a result of the efforts of two ladies, one American, one French that the poppy became an international Symbol of Remembrance. *Variation on a theme started by Gill Charles in 2011. * In this project we include how the Royal British Legion embraced the idea of the poppy and its efforts to help servicemen past and present.

MOINA MICHAEL - ‘THE POPPY LADY’ Moina Belle Michael was born in Walton County, Georgia, USA on August 15, 1869. She began her career as a teacher at the age of fifteen, spending time in every section of the educational system in Georgia, teaching in county, town, state and church schools. The idea for the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy came to her while working at the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries' headquarters one Saturday morning in November 1918, this was just two days before the Armistice was declared at 11 o'clock on 11 November. Round about mid-morning, when everyone was on duty elsewhere she found a few moments to read a magazine. In it she came across a page which carried the poem "In Flanders Fields" by the Canadian Army doctor John Mc. Crae. It was a poem she had read many times before but on this occasion she was transfixed by the last verse: "To you from failing hands we throw the Torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders Fields. “ At that moment Moina Michael made a personal pledge to 'keep the faith' and vowed always to wear a red poppy of Flanders Fields as a sign of remembrance and as an emblem for "keeping the faith with all who died. " Compelled to make a note of this pledge she hastily scribbled down a response on the back of a used envelope, entitled "We Shall Keep the Faith”

ANNA E GUÉRIN- ‘THE FRENCH POPPY LADY’ Madame Anna E Guérin, a French woman was present at the 29 th September National American Legion convention. Anna was a representative of the French YMCA Secretariat. She was inspired by Moina Michael's idea of the poppy as a memorial flower and considered that artificial poppies could be made and sold as a way of raising money for the benefit of the French people, especially the orphaned children, who were suffering as a result of the war. Anna Guérin returned to France after the convention and through the “American and French Children's League” of which she was the founder, organised French women, children and war veterans to make artificial poppies out of cloth. Her intention was that these poppies would be sold and the proceeds could be used to help fund the restoration of the war-torn regions of France. French widows, many with children on their laps, hand-making hundreds of thousands of poppies

Madame Guérin was determined to introduce the idea of the memorial poppy to the nations which had been Allied with France during the First World War. During 1921 she made visits or sent representatives to America, Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Field Marshal the Earl Douglas Haig, founder and President of The British Legion was one of the people Madame Guérin visited, she persuaded him to adopt the Flanders Poppy as an emblem for The Legion. This was formalised in the autumn of 1921. Field Marshall Douglas Haig

When the first Poppy Appeal was launched in 1921 nine million poppies were made but nobody was sure the idea would work. The first poppy was bought in London a few seconds after midnight, from that moment onwards it was a seller's market. The poppies were on sale at an official price of threepence but before breakfast single petals were selling at the Smithfield Market for £ 5. All day crate upon crate of poppies were requested and were emptied until supplies ran out. A message from Queen Mary brought sellers to Buckingham Palace, but hearing that poppies were in short supply she bought only two. The first appeal raised £ 106, 000 (nearly £ 30 million in today's terms) and all the poppies were supplied from France. In 1922 the "Poppy Factory" was established in the UK to keep costs down and employing disabled ex. Servicemen to make the poppies. Three times as many poppies were ordered for the next appeal and it made £ 204, 000 with lower overheads. The poppy appeal built up quickly to produce its best results during the 1930’s and 1940’s although there worries about supply of materials to make poppies during the war years. There was also concerns if these supplies would survive bombing raids etc. but the public rallied round and showed its generosity and support making the Second World War a period for record donations.

By the 1960’s the appeal was facing problems such as a decline in the number of collectors and the need to recruit from the younger generation. Recruitment came in the form of young girls from universities and technical colleges equipped with new style collecting boxes and colourful plastic bags of poppies. The ‘swinging sixties’ along with its infamous ‘mini skirts’ were the order of the day. The ‘buttonhole’ range was reduced to a single style of poppy. A single poppy meant they could ‘give what they wanted’ instead of having a set amount. This helped when the coinage changed with the introduction of decimalisation. ***Note that poppies were "sold" when the appeal started but charity legislation now requires them to be 'distributed in return for donations'.

In 1971 the British Legion was granted ‘Royal’ status therefore becoming The Royal British Legion. Inflation continued to affect the collections during the 1970 s and early 80 s but with the Falklands War of 1982, the Gulf Wars, and other conflicts where service personnel were involved in brought home the awareness of the needs of ex-servicemen.

This collection of pictures covering the next two slides were taken in Port Stanley by Mick Johnson when he visited the Falklands in 2009. Mick has very kindly allowed us to use them. *All five photographs remain the property of Mick Johnson. 1914 -18 & 1939 -45 War Memorial 1982 War Memorial

1982 War Memorial Bluff Cove

On the 11 th of November each year a two minute silence is observed. The RBL and many other organisations attend ceremonies to honour the dead. Standard Bearers are normally in attendance. Here we have our very own John ‘Bungy’ Williams representing his local Royal Naval Association at Bude on the 11 th November 2011. *Both photographs remain the property of John Williams.

The British Legion, now the Royal British Legion was formed in 1921 from four separate ex-Service organisations under the chairmanship of The Earl Haig. In 2011 it celebrated ninety years of supporting the troops. Funding necessary to provide this assistance is all directed into the Poppy Appeal Fund. Events to raise money for the Fund are organised by the Branch throughout the year though the main effort occurs during the period of ‘REMEMBRANCE TIDE, ’ the two week period up and including Remembrance Sunday.

Major John Mc. Crae, second in command of the 1 st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. It is thought that doctor John Mc. Crae began the draft for his famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ on the evening of the 2 nd May, 1915 in the second week of fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres. Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was an officer in the 2 nd Battery, 1 st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery and had become good friends with John Mc. Crae. On the morning of Sunday 2 nd May Alexis left his dugout and was killed instantly by a direct hit from an 8 inch German shell.

IN FLANDERS FIELD by JOHN Mc. CRAE In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. “We Shall Keep the Faith” A poem penned by Moina Michael in November 1918. She received inspiration for this poem from the John Mc. Crae poem: ‘In Flanders Fields. ’ Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died. We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields. And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields we fought

In the early days, poppies were made from cloth, a metal stem and a button made from pitch.

Today they are made from paper with a plastic stem In the centre of this poppy are the words ‘Haig Fund. ’ On the more modern poppy are the words ‘Poppy Appeal. ’

The National Memorial Arboretum is the UK's year-round ‘Centre of Remembrance, ’ a living and lasting memorial to commemorate and celebrate: Those who have given their lives in the service of their country, All who have served and those who have suffered as a result of conflict, Others who for specific or appropriate reasons are commemorated on the site. The idea for the Arboretum was conceived by David Childs in 1988. He believed that it would form a living tribute to service men and women for future generations to reflect upon and enjoy. The Arboretum was officially opened on 16 May 2001. It is managed by The Royal British Legion.

AERIAL VIEW OF THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

www. cloudobservers. co. uk Two verses from ‘For the Fallen’ accompanied by the music ‘Flowers of the Forest’

INFORMATION SOURCED THROUGH THE INTERNET Royal British Legion The Great War Wikipedia National Memorial Arboretum The Earl Haig Fund in Scotland Compiled on behalf of Cloud Observers by © the 2 xislesteam