The Royal British Legion was formed 100 years ago, in 1921 by Earl Haig. It was created to offer support for those who had suffered in The First World War. That same year, the RBL adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, but why do we wear poppies? Simply put, it is to remember those who sacrificed their yesterday so we can enjoy our today.
But why the poppy? Many believe it’s because the black centre of the poppy, surrounded by the red petals resembles a bullet hole. Whilst it most certainly does, the truth is that poppies grew on the battle fields of The Great War.
This wasn’t always the case. In the early days of the conflict there were precious few poppies to be seen in the carnage of war and mud. However, by 1915 an increasing number of letters home and poems began to emerge referencing them growing on the battlefields.
