4. 4
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015
Live On
Remembrance
Remembrance Weekend
8-9th November 2014
Remembrance weekend is a time when traditionally the
Legion is very busy participating in two of the pillars of
the Legion: remembrance and comradeship, plus fund-
raising. 2014 was no different and involved the first out-
ing of the new branch gazebo on ‘Poppy Saturday’ doing
lots of fundraising; our branch Standard was on parade at
the Hoe (see photo below) as part of remembrance; and,
of course camaraderie in the form of a few drinks the
Sgt’s Mess at Stonehouse Barracks.
Saturday went very well, with the help of the Military Ve-
hicles Trust who, as always, parked their vehicles under
the big screen TV making it a focal point for the day.
Not only did we have the gazebo and vintage military ve-
hicles in the city centre but we also had our usual stand
outside Marks and Spencer, volunteers up at Sainsburys,
Plymouth City Market and WH Smiths. In the afternoon
our Branch Chairman came in to offer moral support, not
to mention coffee and cake, to some of the volunteers
who looked as though they were close to freezing!
Sunday began with the parade on the Hoe. Our Branch
Standard was the only Legion one present because the
other branches have their own individual parades to mark
‘1100’ whereas our branch prefers to be part of the wider
remembrance parade. The turnout at the Hoe was ex-
cellent, as usual, and the weather held out.
After the parade on the Hoe many of the volunteers de-
scended onto the Stonehouse Sgt’s Mess to see our
Branch Chairman make a presentation to WO1(RSM)
Baz Gray RM, the President of the Mess Committee of
Stonehouse Sgt’s Mess and one of our branch members.
Remembrance weekend serves as a reminder of the new
strapline of the Legion: Live On. To the memory of the
fallen and the future of the living.
Military Vehicles under the big screen TV
The branch Gazebo under the big screen TV
Standards marching onto the Hoe
Presentation to WO1(RSM) Baz Gray RM
5. 5
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015
Live On
Commemoration — 2Lt James Bulmer Johnson VC
Monday 23rd March 1100
Our branch is on a mission to commemorate one of
the city’s most decorated war heroes.
James Bulmer Johnson VC (31 December 1889 –
23 March 1943) was an English recipient of the Vic-
toria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award
for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be
awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
According to records, James Bulmer Johnson was
born in Widdrington, in Northumberland, on Decem-
ber 31, 1889.
He was 25 years old and working as a clerk at the
Newcastle Infirmary when the war broke out.
He enlisted on October 13, 1914, and joined the
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Military records show he was commissioned in the
2nd Battalion on May 29, 1918.
He became a Second Lieutenant in the Fusiliers,
attached to 36th Battalion during the war.
He was a Second Lieutenant attached to 36th Bat-
talion during the First World War and 28 years old
when on 14 October 1918 south west of Wez Mac-
quart, France, he performed the act for which he
was awarded the VC.
During operations by strong patrols, Second Lieu-
tenant Johnson repelled frequent counter-attacks
and for six hours, under heavy fire, he held back the
enemy. When at length he was ordered to retire he
was the last to leave the advanced position carrying
a wounded man. Three times subsequently this of-
ficer returned and brought in badly wounded men
under intense enemy machine-gun fire.
After World War I, Johnson served in the Auxiliary
Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
He died in Plymouth, Devon, in 1943 aged fifty-
three, and was cremated at Efford Crematorium,
Plymouth.
The commemoration will take place at 1100 on
Monday the 23rd of March 2015 at Efford Cemetery.
The idea of organising this commemoration was
suggested to our Standard Bearer, John Martyn, by
the Federation of Plymouth and District Ex-Service
Associations; we were naturally eager to start ar-
ranging something to acknowledge his bravery.
We are also in the process of trying to trace any
family members of James Bulmer Johnson so that
we can invite them to the occasion.
John told the Plymouth Herald recently that “our aim
is to honour him… from what we have learned he
deserves no less that that’.
Anyone who would like to attend this commemora-
tion, particularly any Standard Bearer, is more than
welcome to join us. Please let the Branch know on
07934 619213 or at plymouth.afs@btinternet.com
With thanks to www.plymouthherald.co.uk and www.wikipedia.com .
John Martyn with representatives of Efford Cemetery
6. 6
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015
Live On
Representation
New Campaign — Insult to Injury
Veterans injured during Service are having to give
up most of their compensation to pay for the costs
of their social care.
Military compensation is awarded as recompense
for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity experi-
enced by injured Service personnel and veterans; it
should not be treated as normal income.
It's unfair and has to change!
Veterans who were injured in Service on or before 5
April 2005 receive a War Disablement Pension, and
are known as War Pensioners. Should a War Pen-
sioner have social care needs, they will routinely
find that their local authority takes all but the first
£10 per week of their military compensation to cover
the costs of their care. This is despite the fact that a
veteran with a similar injury, but who was injured on
or after 6 April 2005 and therefore receives com-
pensation through the Armed Forces Compensation
Scheme, is able to keep all of their compensation
payments.
It is unfair that War Pensioners are treated different-
ly to other injured veterans. It is also unacceptable
that War Pensioners are treated less favourably
than civilians who have been injured in the work
place, who are able to place compensation awarded
into a trust fund, which is exempt from means tests
for social care. This last point is in clear breach of
the Armed Forces Covenant, which states that Ser-
vice personnel, veterans and their families should
face no disadvantage as a result of Service.
The Legion and its sister charity, Poppyscot-
land, are calling on the UK, Welsh and Scottish
Governments to address this situation at the earliest
opportunity.
Please show your support for our injured veterans
by joining our campaign. To help this campaign go
to www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/
insult-to-injury where you will find a link for you to
email your local MP.
If you do not have access to the internet please
contact our Branch Secretary who can provide you
with the wording of the email that is sent to your lo-
cal MP
New Legion Strapline
For the benefit of those of you not well acquainted with
what a strapline is, it is a catchphrase or a slogan that a
company uses to try to promote its image to the outside
world. For the Legion it has been ‘Shoulder to shoulder’
with all who serve for a number of years now.
However, as you may, or may not have noticed, the Le-
gion has recently changed its strapline. The new strap-
line is: ‘Live On’ to the memory of the fallen and the fu-
ture of the living.
According to the Legion website the reason for this
change, which came into effect on 23rd
October 2014, is
to promote exactly what the Legion is about. The Legion
wanted people to understand that the poppy is not just
about Remembrance; it’s also about providing hope for
the Armed Forces community of all ages, throughout the
year.
Live On is a simple and memorable way to link the twin
commitments; to the memory of the fallen and the future
of the living. It’s also about presenting the Legion in a
lighter, cleaner way.
7. 7
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015
Live On
Fundraising
Poppy Appeal 2014
The 2014 Poppy Appeal was a huge success, without
question.
Our fundraising total, as at the 1st
of January 2015 is
standing at
£53,805.45
This total has only been achieved through the hard work
and dedication of our very loyal band of volunteers. Here
below are just some of them.
Marks & Spencer
Volunteers not pictured above include: David Gaskin,
Robin Peadon, Robert Eton, Keith Allen, Chaz Singh,
and Jennie Benge: thanks to all.
We’d also like to thank the Military Vehicles Trust, who
have volunteered every year for over twenty years, in-
cluding: Dick Eva, Andy Roberts, Clive Runnals, Andy
Rayfleld, Paul Tavock.and Michael and James Dunbar.
Finally we thank the adults and young people from HMS
Heroes who have been volunteering for a number of
years in Drake Circus
George Bray at the Market
Sainsbury’s
Paul Tavock Andy Roberts
HMS Heroes Andy Rayfield and Paul Tavock
Sarah Kaur & Gwyn Martyn
8. 8
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015
Live On
Fundraising
£43,780£43,780
Poppy Appeal 2014 Organisation
By Fiona Weekes, City Centre PAO
It being the centenary of the start of the First World War
we, as Poppy Appeal Organisers, all knew that it was
quite likely to be busy: I had no idea just how busy it was
going to be!
The Poppy Appeal for me started early in the year, with
ordering of stock so that I could make sure not to run out
of anything – my volunteers are very demanding that
way! I was pleasantly surprised that, for a change, I was
given all the stock I had ordered (including thousands of
the enamel pin badges that are so popular). One of my
volunteers was equally surprised when I handed him a
box of 1,000. He is usually forced to beg for more sup-
plies halfway through the Appeal; a request I pass on to
County in an effort to get the odd bag of 100! Not this
year. This year I was, quite literally, overwhelmed by the
stock I received.
Little did I know that we would need as much stock as we
could lay our hands on…
In most year I get phone calls from shops and business-
es all over the city who are desperate to have some pop-
pies and a collection tin. These requests normally start
to filter through about midway through the Appeal, and
it’s normally only a handful. Not this year. Even before
the Appeal started I was taking phone calls from shops
and businesses, some desperate, asking for poppy box-
es and collection tins. These requests were coming from
all over the city; in fact some of the places asking for col-
lection tins weren’t even in the city!
I could tell what kind of a year I was going to have; I con-
sidered hiding under the bed for the duration of October
and November… Needless to say I didn’t.
So, having managed the delivery of poppies and tins to
the city centre I began the process of managing the other
deliveries I’d received. Unfortunately the first week of the
Appeal was also half term, so my son, who was three at
the time, had to come out on deliveries with me. He was,
for the most part, very well behaved – as long as he got a
cake at the end of the day. As it turned out having Ross
with me provide very effective in getting deliveries done
smoothly. Not everyone was initially very understanding
that they’d been, as they saw it ‘left out’ of a delivery, but
when they saw that I was struggling to juggle a small boy
with managing the Appeal they became much more un-
derstanding. Is Ross a Poppy Appeal Organiser in the
making? I hope not!!
As the Appeal went into its second week the phone calls
from schools started. Bearing in mind there is one school
in the city centre, so I don’t normally deliver to too many
schools. Last year however I was fielding calls from quite
a few schools in the city.
Towards the end of the second week things started to
finally slow down. Poppy Saturday was just as busy as it
normally is, but thanks to one of my volunteers I didn’t
have to ‘man the stand’ in the gazebo, so I was able to
walk around the city centre to see how things were doing
and how my volunteers were managing.
We still had the same issues with stock as we have had
in previous years, but this time it was the Buckley brooch-
es. National RBL had sent boxes of them down to us to
sell (which we were grateful for) but getting our hands on
them to sell was difficult. No sooner did my volunteer get
his hands on fifty of them, then he had sold them all. So,
I had the continual conversation with County “thank you
for giving us more; can we have some more please?”
One of the benefits of the Appeal this year, for me at
least, was that because I was out and about almost every
day it gave me the opportunity to go and see most of my
volunteers. I saw just how busy they get and just how
difficult it is to be a Poppy Appeal Voluntary Collector.
We are all volunteers, but their job, I think, is much more
time consuming. I have been told by some of my volun-
teers that “all they’ve got to do is stand there”. I don’t see
their job as quite that simple. My volunteers stand for
hours, often days, most within shops but some outside in
the cold. In some shops they are provided with seating,
but in others they are required to stand up. Standing for
hours, being stared at by strangers (it does happen), be-
ing questioned about the Appeal (again, this does hap-
pen), being mistaken for other service charities
(mentioning no names but, again, it does happen) and
carrying a (hopefully) heavy tin back to their car, the bus
or a taxi. Most won’t claim any money back for the ex-
penses they incur (food and transport). I couldn’t do it. I
manage the Appeal from the comfort of my office at
home. I tried going onto the streets with a collection tin a
few years ago; I got stared at and didn’t get much money!
Needless to say I now see my job as more management
that worker!!!
When all was finished and we, as volunteers, looked at
what we had achieved I think we can all be very proud of
ourselves. We don’t get paid and yet sometimes it feels
like we put in just as much, if not more energy into raising
money for the Poppy Appeal than we would if it was a
paid job. But then most of us understand that, either hav-
ing served ourselves or just from living in a military rich
city like Plymouth, we are very lucky to have an Armed
Forces we can be proud of.
Next year I am definitely hiding under the bed, from at
least September.
10. 10
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Spring 2015
Live On
Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch—Committee
Branch President
Lt Col Edward Dawes RA
Branch Chairman
WO1(RSM) Steph Moran RM
Branch Vice Chair
WO1(RSM) Mattt Tomlinson CGC MC RM
Branch Treasurer
Capt Kit Carney AGC(SPS)
Appointed Standard Bearer
John Martyn
Elected Committee Members:
Stephen Legge; Marty Pelling; Paul Youngman;
Andy Rayfield; Sarah Kaur; WO1(RSM) Baz Gray RM
Graham Emond, Carole Arnold.
Welfare Representatives
Kellie Legge; Fiona Weekes; Paul Youngman
Branch Secretary
Fiona Weekes
Tel: 07730 031184
Email: plymouth.afs@btinternet.com
Submission of Articles for Newsletter
Submissions are welcome from any member or volunteer of the Branch but may be subject to editing prior to publication .
We are looking for any Branch members who would like to write an article for the newsletter; interesting, humorous, informa-
tive articles or personal stories that our readers might be interested in are always welcome.
For guidance please contact our Branch Secretary.
Legion Line: 0808 802 8080
Knowledge Base: support.britishlegion.org.uk
Plymouth Pop-In Centre: (Please note that the Pop-In Centre is a Nationwide initiative and is not the Headquarters or ‘club
house’ of the Plymouth City Centre Branch)
157 Armada Way
Plymouth
PL1 1LB
Opening Hours: 10am until 4pm, Monday to Friday.
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Opinions expressed in articles are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect official view of the Royal British Legion.
The materials and information provided in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. Every effort has been made to
ensure the accuracy of the information in this newsletter at the time of publication, but neither The Royal British Legion nor the
Branch can guarantee the accuracy of such information. The Royal British Legion is not liable for any action you may take as a
result of relying on such information or advice within this newsletter, or for any loss or damage suffered by you as a result of tak-
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personal data by The Royal British Legion is available from: Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA. Registered
Charity No 219279.
Branch Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/plymouth-city-centre-branch
12. 12
The Royal British Legion
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity No: 219279
Produced by Plymouth City Centre Armed Forces Supporters Branch
BR3672
