A note by Lt Cdr George Milne PN (ret’d)
As once again we near Remembrance Sunday and the annual Poppy Appeal, I have been asked to write a few words about these two very closely related events and the work of the Royal British Legion, a branch of which was formed in Taplow and Hitcham as long ago as 1923 with Lord Astor as its first President. Since then, the branch has played a leading role in the observation of an annual Service of Remembrance at the two war memorials, and organising the collection for the Poppy Appeal in both parishes to help any ex-service men and women who are in need.
Originally the national act of remembrance was observed on the eleventh day of November, which was the anniversary of the armistice that brought about the end of the First World War. It was then known as Armistice Day when all activity paused at the eleventh hour and we all observed a two minutes silence in honour of the dead of that war. After the Second World War, the current practice was introduced of honouring the dead of both wars at the eleventh hour of the Sunday nearest to the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
On retirement from the Royal Navy in 1964 I came to live in Taplow and before long became a member of the Legion. In those days our membership was in the order of 45, about half being veterans of the First World War and half from the Second with one or two from both. Our service was held at three o’clock in the afternoon and alternated annually between St Nicolas’ Church in Taplow and St Mary’s in Hitcham. Later it became expedient to combine the service with the morning service in church and at the same time invite the attendance of the local scouts and guides, which is the current practice and has served the parish well. Sadly however it meant that the total attendance far exceeded the capacity of St Mary’s and hence the sole use of St Nicolas'.
Past presidents of the branch include Victor Williams, Major Rex Law, Mrs Eileen Law, Louis Freedman and Sir John Page. Past chairmen include Colonel Bernard Morton (1958-1967), myself (1968-1984 and 2000-2009), Major ‘Budge’ Francis (1985-1990) and Commander Lee Grey (1992-1999)and the current chairman is Major Paul-Anthony Viollet.
As honouring the dead of war is a keenly felt need throughout the nation so there is equally a keen need to to provide for the the welfare of the living casualties of war and in 1920 an initiative was taken by Field Marshall Earl Haig to inaugurate an annual and national appeal for funds to relieve the suffering of thousands of severely disabled ex-servicemen for whom life had little to offer. The emblem of this appeal was the red Flanders' poppy that we all know so well. In Hitcham and Taplow, since the foundation of the branch in 1923, there has been a dedicated team of supporters who make a house-to-house collection in aid of the Poppy Appeal which produces a well worth-while contribution to the national fund. Past organisers have been Mrs Anne Paines (1964-1972), Major Budge Francis (1973-1990), Commander Lee Grey(1992-1996) and most recently Mrs Pamela Bentley (1997-2009), whose final year produced a total of £4,462, which was a record for the branch. The current organiser is Mrs Gillian Holloway.
In these days, our television screen bring us into almost daily contact with the young servicemen and women who are engaged on our behalf on active service in Afghanistan, many of whom have, or will, become horrific casualties of war. We can weep for them, or we can make an extra effort to provide the resources they need to overcome suffering and distress in order to lead useful and rewarding lives. The Royal British Legion is the principal national charity dedicated to this never-ending task. When the Poppy Collector calls this year, please give as generously as you can and wear your poppy with pride.
George L Milne
