THIS year marks the 90th anniversary of not only the Royal British Legion and the first Poppy Appeal, but also the opening of War Memorial Park in Basingstoke.

The significance of the anniversaries is important to Bill Sample, who is chairman of the Basingstoke and Overton branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL).

He is looking forward to a special anniversary dinner that is set to take place at the Red Lion Hotel on Friday, July 1, for members and guests.

The official opening of War Memorial Park was big news in Basingstoke and all ex-servicemen, whether they were members of the RBL or not, were asked to meet at the Town Hall – now The Willis Museum – at 6pm on Thursday, May 26, to take part in a parade to march to the park.

Described as a red letter day in the annals of Basingstoke, The Hants and Berks Gazette, the forerunner of The Gazette, reported how Major General John Seely, who was Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire – described by The Times as a “gallant figure in war and politics” – had the honour of opening the park.

Originally known as Goldings Park, it was purchased and opened for the people of Basingstoke as a memorial to those killed in the First World War of 1914 to 1918.

It was as a consequence of the difficulties that many faced after the war that the RBL was formed.

Bill said: “The main purpose of the Royal British Legion was to look after those who had suffered as a result of service in the armed forces.

“It wasn’t just to look after those who saw action, as suffering took many forms, whether it was a serviceman who had a war wound that affected his ability to earn a living and support his family, or a widow struggling to give her children an education – and we are still collecting for ex-servicemen and women today.”

Bill said that even those who came through the First World War relatively unscathed found it difficult to find work.

“Because of the war, the country’s economy plummeted and in 1921 there were two million men unemployed,” said Bill.

“More than six million men had served in the war – 725,000 never returned. And of those who came back, 1.75million had suffered some kind of disability. Half of them were permanently disabled.

“You’ve then got to add those who depended on the men who went to war – the wives, children, widows, orphans and parents who lost their sons.”

The fledging RBL not only sought to look after those who suffered because of the war, it also aimed to prevent further sacrifice by reminding everyone of the human cost of war.

“The tradition of the two-minute silence in memory of the dead had already been established,” said Bill.

“In 1921, the British Legion held its first-ever Poppy Appeal, which was held that year with the first Poppy Day on November 11 – the day that the war ended in 1918.”

Bill, who has been a member of the RBL since he was 18 and who became chairman of the Basingstoke and Overton branch in 1999, is keen to find out more about its history.

He said: “The Basingstoke branch was founded in 1921 and the Overton branch in 1922, and they amalgamated in 1966.

“Over the years, with several moves to the Ex-Services Club, in New Street, where we are now based, all of our earlier records were lost.

“If anyone has any information it would be of help.”

After a look through The Gazette archives, Bill has been able to glean some information.

An article published in the paper on October 8, 1921, reports that The RBL moved to premises previously known as Radnor House and renamed The Victory Club, in New Road. The chairman was Colonel J Oakley, while Lieutenant commander HD Simonds RN was vice-chairman with Mr WW Dipstale being described as “the hardworking and energetic secretary”.

If you have any information about the history of the Basingstoke and Overton RBL branch, then please contact Richard Garfield on 01256 337430 or email richard.garfield@ basingstokegazette.co.uk.