History and Online Museum of the Royal British Legion in North Staffordshire

	1938 HAIG FUND Poppy Wreath Brochure Exhibition

The British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club recently acquired for their club several historically important British Legion ephemera documents which they have kindly lent to us for this exhibition of British Legion Poppy Wreaths.

In this world war two Armistice Day photograph [left] there are two men with British Legion Poppy Wreaths. In the foreground the sailor who is wearing the war time HMS on his cap has a No.313 Laurel and Poppy Anchor poppy wreath in his right hand by his right boot. The gentleman behind him in the tweed overcoat is carrying a No.316 British Legion Wreath of Silk Poppies. All the poppy wreaths can be seen in the online exhibition gallery below.

The following is an abstract taken from the 1938/39 Haig Fund Poppy Wreath brochure :

"THE MEN WHO MAKE THEM
All HAIG FUND POPPY WREATHS are made throughout by badly disabled ex-Servicemen. Four hundred of these War-disabled veterans find permanent employment in the British Legion Poppy Factory. One hundred and ten of them are 100 per cent, disabled, their average degree of disablement being 70 per cent., and between them they have lost over 300 limbs.

A cheerful and contented community in spite of their physical handicaps, the workers in " The Factory of Remembrance " as it is known, have a fine record of production and craftsmanship which is the envy of many other industries employing only A-l men. Last year [1937* ] they produced over thirty-two million Poppies and thirty-seven thousand Poppy Wreaths, to mention only two of the most important of their numerous products. You can help them to continue as self-supporting units in the industrial life of the nation by choosing always a " Haig Fund Poppy Wreath."

ALL BRITISH MATERIALS
The poppies, artificial foliage, wreath frames, printed ribbons and labels, boxes, etc., are all manufactured in the Poppy Factory from British materials. All natural foliage used is grown in the Empire and prepared in the Poppy Factory.

DISPOSAL OF PROFITS
In introducing these new styles [1938] of Wreaths we have made a point of giving even better quality and value than before. In consequence the profits for Haig's Fund are much smaller but in accordance with our custom in the past these will be devoted to the general benevolent work of the British Legion."

1938 HAIG FUND Poppy Wreath Brochure Exhibition
Click on a Wreath in the gallery below to see it in its full glory.

Notes:
* 2007 More than 36 million poppies, 107,000 wreaths and sprays, 800,000 Remembrance Crosses and other Remembrance items will be made at the Poppy Factory in Richmond , Surrey.

When reading the above abstract from the 1938 brochure one must see the content as a sign of the times. i.e., 69 years ago. No doubt in this day and age the whole content would have been written from an entirely different perspective.

October 3rd 2007, BBC 2 News report Working Lunch. Poppy Planning
Simon pays a visit to the Royal British Legion poppy factory and finds out how they manage to run their business all year round when their product is only in demand for a few weeks each autumn.

1938 HAIG FUND Poppy Wreath Brochure Exhibition

1938 HAIG FUND Poppy Wreath Brochure Exhibition Click on a Wreath in the gallery below to see it in its full glory.

1938 HAIG FUND Poppy Wreath Brochure Exhibition
Click on a Wreath in the gallery below to see it in its full glory.