9 Decades of Caring & Campaigning – the Exhibition
As part of Leicestershire County Council’s project to mark 90 years of the Royal British Legion in Leicestershire and Rutland, an exhibition was created to give an overview of the history and work of the Legion in the past and today. Although it was created to mark the 90th year of the Legion’s existence in 2011, it is not time-specific, as its themes cover the work of the Legion now as well as in the past.
This exhibition has 8 themes:
- Introduction: an explanation of the project, with an appeal to local people to provide information and material about the Leicestershire & Rutland RBL
- The Early Years: a brief history of the growth of the Legion locally during the 1920s as an organisation to help the survivors of WWI and the families of men who did not return from the trenches
- Women working for Women: the history and development of the Women’s Section of the Legion from 1921 to now, with an overview of fundraising and social events directed to the care and support of the ex-service community, especially women and children
- Lest We Forget: the Legion will always be associated with the symbol of the Poppy, the annual Poppy Appeal and the ceremonies associated with the services of Remembrance held around the country each November.
- Ceremonial Occasions: honouring the memory of those who died serving their country is central to the work of the Legion. The formation of the Standard Bearers’ Association ensured a high degree of professionalism at all ceremonial events
- Caring & Compassion: the Legion’s work on behalf of ex-service personnel and their families continues all year round, giving welfare advice and assistance and campaigning actively for pensions, for compensation and for rehabilitation
- Comradeship & Social Life: the Legion continues to bring together its members for social events and to continue that spirit of comradeship which ex-service personnel missed once they were no longer in the armed forces
- Into the Future: the Legion continues to stand ‘shoulder to shoulder with all who serve’, but as numbers of members fall, can it survive? The need for its work is still there but it faces challenges
The exhibition is on 8 ‘pull up’ banners, which are easy to assemble and transport. It can be borrowed from The Record Office, free of charge, for display at events – either as a whole exhibition or in parts. Each banner tells a story in itself and can stand alone or as part of the bigger exhibition.
Please contact The Record Office for further information or to book the exhibition: telephone 0116 257 1080 or email recordoffice@leics.gov.uk
Page Last Updated: 3 February 2012
