Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion helps provide care, advice and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families.

It also remembers and honours the sacrifices of those who fought and continue to fight in the service of our nation.

The Burnham on Crouch branch covers Southminster and the surrounding villages of the Dengie Hundred.

The legion helps organise the poppy appeal for the two weeks up to and including Remembrance Sunday. The day is marked by a ceremony, at 11am, at the War Memorial, in which the legion plays a central part.

Remembrance Sunday commemorates the contribution and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and in more recent conflicts. It is always held on the second Sunday in November, the Sunday nearest to Armistice Day.

Armistice Day marks the anniversary of the agreement between the First World War Allies and their German opponents to cease hostilities on the western front. This took place at 11am –  ‘the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918.

So Armistice Day is always on the 11th November, and, again, the Royal British Legion plays a central part.

In 2018, the 100th anniversary, Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day happen to coincide. In the years that they don’t coincide, the legion contributes to the separate commemoration events for each day, each at 11am.