Yesterday we had a discussion about the Royal British Legion and why I won't donate to the poppy appeal or wear a poppy.

The Royal British Legion are actually a shit charity. During one of the worst times of my life - just after losing my dad - my ex service brother was slowly killing himself with alcohol. He ended up homeless after the bank repossessed his house and my mum ended up with him sleeping on the floor in the dining area of her small house.

We were both paying out a fortune to keep him and it was straining our finances massively.

Me and him didn't see eye to eye at that point as he had been stealing from us, and when I had to drop him at a hospital appointment and then pop in to do a quick job for a customer he stole a bottle of vodka from behind one of their bars - on CCTV - and I volunteered to reimburse the customer.

I approached the Royal British Legion for help and their first step was to send a means testing sheet for both me and my mum. I was absolutely disgusted and sent it back. He was actually a fully on target case for their assistance.

Other charities on the other hand stepped up and helped him including SSAFA and CRUISE.

Royal British Legion can do one.

He died in 2016. Ten years ago. Alcoholic hepatic cancer and cirrhosis.

@nomenloony The Poppy wasn’t originally a symbol of a specific organisation, but in the last 50 years or so it became associated with the RBL and they got incredibly litigious about its use (not sure if/when they trademarked it) and wearing one became politicised. If I wear a poppy at all in November it’s always a white one.
Sorry to hear that they weren’t interested in helping an ex-serviceman in need…
@nomenloony That's terrible :(. I wish I could say I was very surprised. No a la guerra.