Branch News 

The Branch commemorated the RBL's 100th anniversary with a short ceremony at the War Memorial on Saturday 15 May 2021.

The ceremony was led by Joss Joslyn our Branch Chairman and the Rev Jo Stobart. Joss gave the exhortation and Dean Brown the Branch Standard bearer lowered the standard while the Last Post was played to signal the start of the two-minute silence. After the Reveille and the raising of the Standard, John Robson our Branch President spoke the Kohima Epitaph words.

Our celebrations for VJ Day 75 were restricted because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, but a short Civic Service of Remembrance of the Forgotten Army was held at the Burma Star Garden and the Town Crier ( Branch member Andrew Fox) gave the Cry for Peace in the Market House at 11am.

Our celebrations for VE Day 75 were put on hold due to these unprecedented times. In order to keep everyone safe, we invited children and adults to commemorate the occasion in the following ways:

For up to Yr1 - design a medal for a WW2 soldier

Yr2 and up - design a poster for peace (we may divide into different age groups if we have lots of entries, including category for adults to enter)

For all - write a poem which commemorates the war and the celebration on VE Day. (There are the following categories: children Yr6 and under, children and young adults up to 18, adults, and families, if you write one together!)

Entries were posted by the Ilminster Branch The Royal British Legion on Facebook. We are also hoping to put all the entries on display later in the year.

VE Day

The Branch used social media to promote VE Day and advertise the Two Minute silence,  The Legion VE75 livestream and The People's Celebration on BBC One. In addition, the Branch posted on social media:

Branch member David Glossop sounding the Last Post and Reveille at the War Memorial

Branch Standard Bearer Dean Brown dipping the Standard at his home in Taunton

Branch President John Robson reading a prayer at the Minster virtual church service

Branch member and Town Crier Andrew Fox giving a Cry for Peace from his home in Hambridge 

Ilminster Branch Diary Dates 2024

Sun 10 Nov               Civic Remembrance Service and Parade    The Minster at 3pm

Mon 11 Nov                Armistice Day, 2 minute Silence              War Memorial at 11am      

16 to 18 May              Annual Conference                                  Harrogate Convention Centre in Harrogate,                                                                                                  North Yorkshire