I write this pretty much every year, to explain why I won't wear a red poppy. Nothing at all to do with hating Britain or not supporting veterans, or being a lefty do-gooder, or any other blame you want to pin on me

It's because of my dad's uncle Tommy.

Tommy Parry joined up to fight in WW1. Some in the family say he was underage, but I don't know.

Regardless, he was at Passchendaele, where he was shot by a machine gun.