The British Legion - now the Royal British Legion - was formed in 1921 from four separate ex-Service organisations.  The first official Legion Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11 November 1921.

In 1922 Major George Howson MC, who served in the First World War, founded the Disabled Society.  He recognised unemployed ex-Service men could make artificial poppies and approached the Legion.  He founded a small factory, which was later to become the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory.

More than 40 million Remembrance poppies, 500,000 poppies of other types, 5 million Remembrance petals, 100,000 wreaths and sprays, 750,000 Remembrance Crosses and other Remembrance items are made at the Poppy Factory each year.

Hundreds and thousands of people each year donate something special to the Legion - their time.  Volunteers are on the front line for the Legion, carrying out a range of activities all year round, including fundraising, Remembrance and welfare. 

Our posters, billboards and print ads were designed to show that when you wear a poppy you're not just remembering those who've lost lives in conflict, you're also helping the Legion to provide assistance to today's Armed Forces community.

The Legion is committed to helping everyone understand the importance of Remembrance so that sacrifices of our Armed Forces past and present are never forgotten.

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The above wreath was laid by the Branch President Noel Irwin MBE at the Menin Gates in August 2018 - GP90 Trip

TO THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING 

 Our Dungannon/Moy Branch has shown its Fundraising skills by once again improving on its Poppy Appeal.   Total raised for 2021 was £24.378.44 This was an increase on the previous year.

In Flanders Fields 

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.

 The first Remembrance poppies were inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields. 

Written by John McCrae, In Flanders Fields is probably the best-known and most popular

Of all First World War poetry.  It is believed that McCrae was moved to write the poem

After the death of his friend L

            Anyone interested in helping in the next Poppy Appeal should contact our Poppy Appeal Organiser Mrs Jolene Spence 07887782419 email: jolene.spence@hotmail.com, Mr Jonny Spence jonny.spence@hotmail.co.uk (assistant Poppy Organiser) or email the Branch President Noel Irwin MBE on: jamesirwin6262@live.co.uk

We are the nation's leading Service providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. We are also the national Custodian of Remembrance and we safeguard the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. We are best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.

 Each year the nation expresses its unequivocal support for the Legion's work through its generous support of the Poppy Appeal. It is one of the best known and supported campaigns in the calendar.  Dungannon/Moy Branch Poppy Appeal Collectors form the 'frontline' of our annual Poppy Appeal, standing on the street corners, House to House, Shopping Centres and raising money from special events throughout the year.

We don't just support people during the Poppy Appeal, so we need people to fundraise for us all year round. Our work simply wouldn't be possible without our committed and innovative fundraisers.

 You don't need to be a Legion member if you would like to help with the Poppy Appeal.   Why not get involved and host your own event for The Royal British Legion Dungannon/Moy Branch Poppy Appeal?

Each year, in early November some 30,000 Legion volunteers take to the streets with poppies and collecting boxes, raising millions of pounds for the Poppy Appeal.

The money collected at this time and from numerous other fundraising activities throughout the year, goes to providing help and support to serving and ex-Service men and women and their dependants.

We always need new volunteers - Poppy People - to assist with Poppy Appeal collecting in the Dungannon Area. 

Without volunteer collectors out there on the streets, without appeal organisers planning the collections, this great cause - that helps thousands of ex-Service men and women every year - would grind to a halt.

And we urgently need to recruit more people as many of our current volunteers are retiring from active duty. Add to this the ever increasing demand on the Legion's services and you can see we need your help more than ever.  

If you are interested in helping please contact our Poppy Appeal Organiser Mrs Jolene Spence or Mr Jonny Spence assistant Poppy Organiser on the above telephone number.

Dungannon/Moy Branch Poppy Organiser Mrs Jolene Spence and assistant

Poppy Organiser Mr Jonny Spence with Mr David Healy raising funds for our

2015/2016 Poppy Appeal

Our Poppy Organiser Mrs Jolene Spence manning the Poppy Shop and raising funds for our 2015/2016 Poppy Appeal

   Poppy Collectors receiving their Poppy awards from Kim Aston for their loyalty, outstanding work and devoted service over the years towards the Poppy Appeal.

Poppy Appeal static display in the Dungannon Primary School

Poppy Appeal Launch 2018

 Held on 25 October 2018, in the Irish Linen Centre Lisburn & Museum.   Left to Right: Mr Noel Irwin the Branch President and the Northern Ireland District Vice Chairman, Mr Neil Salisbury OBE Northern Ireland District President, the Lord Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh Councillor Uel Mackin and Mr John Stewart  Northern Ireland District Chairman.

Mrs Betty Meneely (Branch Secretary also Chairman of the Women's Section) walking the walk of fame at the Festival of Remembrance in the Waterfront Hall Belfast.  Betty has devoted over 55 years loyal service to the Poppy Appeal.

   THE INQUISITIVE MIND OF A CHILD

Why are they selling poppies, mummy?
Selling poppies in town to-day
The poppies, child are flowers of love
For the men who marched away
But, why have they chosen a poppy, mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because, my child, men fought and died
In the fields where the poppies grow
But why are the poppies so red, mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child
The blood our soldiers shed
The heart of the poppy is black, mummy
Why does it have to be black?
Black my child, is the symbol of grief
For the men who never came back
But, why mummy, are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain
My tears are my fears for you my child
For the world is - FORGETTING AGAIN

 THE POPPY  

Nature created a flower, with petals of brilliant red
Who'd have thought such a beautiful flower,
Would be used to remember the dead
For when all the guns have stopped firing, and there's only mud and rain
God sent down his little red flowers, to cover the lads who remain
So remember every November, when we hold our Remembrance Day
Of the lads who lie neath the poppies, and the price that they had to pay

D. Rothwell

  "We will Remember them"