Postman delivered a 'back log' of packages ! :D

1. My complete set of Rugby Ball pins , including this year's ones.
2. 2022 Overseas pin (Thanks !)
3. Etched Poppy in Gold Tone , PoppyShop are selling them in batches of 10 but I got this one from a friend.
4. Small 1914-2014 double poppy , lots of various ones around but this is one of the better ones.

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I also got an addition to my "Cornish" set , the timing is perfect ! :D

"Happy Birthday Your Majesty"

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CITY OF NOTTINGHAM POPPY APPEAL

As I already have 3 poppy pins I snapped up a 2008 one on eBay , then discovered I already had the 2005 one (in with badges of different Branches). Next day I spotted a 2009 one , so my Nottingham set has basically doubled !.


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FAKE !
 

On eBay a few days ago a 2006 Poppy pin went for £77.95 + £2.99 postage !

At first glance it looked genuine , right size and plain back , but on very close inspection I am sure it is a fake. I have personally seen and handled four 2006 pins , have also seen and handled at least a dozen other early dated (2007-2010) pins and they are all identical so I'm sure this isn't a genuine one.
Plenty of bidders , so price shot up but someone is going to get a surprise /shock when it arrives.

This is the first time I have spotted such a “good” fake and worry that more will start appearing on eBay.

As they say - "Buyer Beware" !


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Not RBL but a couple of nice badges I was given .

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I have a Veterans Poppy & RAOC Badged Poppy which I wear on my suit/overcoat on occasions, my wife wears a QARANC example.

I've got the R.A one (my forum photo) and have my Veteran's pin.

I also ended up with this unusual REME Veteran one , was in with a job lot.

Always interesting! Are the QARANC pins hard to come by? Might have to look for one if they're not over the moon.

Terry

The Royal British Legion one is £7.99 + postage :
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...g?v=1586362625

But I prefer this one :
https://www.qaranc.co.uk/photos/poppy-badge-qaranc.jpg


Will see if I can find one for you .

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As if by magic another 2006 pin has appeared !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224989705...kAAOSwNptigoJW

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Re Post #449 - Yes Ann has both of them as well as a badge sized Gold/Silver Brooch she used for mess 'Ladies Night' dinners when I was still serving :) I have a Coller Dog sized Gold/Silver RAOC Badge

Just to get on Thread I also have a Gold Poppy Stud I wear as well.

Just picked up a nice small poppy pin , no idea where/when it is from but it is a similar style to a "doggy" one (war dogs/PAWS/dog handler ?) I found in 2019.

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A second fake 2006 poppy pin has just gone for £102 + £2.99 postage !

There is a third one with starting bid at £30.00 which finishes tomorrow.

I'm guessing there is a batch of them around and more will start to appear , a lot of people are going to end up disappointed and out of pocket.

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What's up with the same guy posting 2006 poppy badges as soon as one ends on eBay, and it seems like he has multiple account's? He has one on now for £10.50! Clearly something wrong there.

Post the accounts being used and members can check them out.

I'm sure they will have already been reported to the RBL and they will hopefully take action.

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Little & Large

Just picked up this motorcycle pin , it is the same size as the I.O.M/Riders ones but doesn't have the same enamel/varnish finish.

It is the same type of badge as the larger version (bought 2 year ago) which I assume was not an "official" one.

I don't know if these are "branch" items or simply made for MC clubs/rallies ?

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The latest additions to my collection (Thanks Bob). :D

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Mike,
Looking at the exhaust system on the bikes, I'd say they were Harley Davidson's, so probably HD Owners Club.
Regards,
Leo

Thanks , I've been told they are cheap "knock-offs" of the pins produced for the Royal British Legion (I.O.M) who sell them at the T.T and for poppy appeal.

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2022
 

Last year there were eleven of the special "double" pins :

4 x Rugby Balls
1 x Isle of Man
1 x Motorbike
1 x Overseas
1 x Manchester Bee
1 x Welsh
1 x Irish (shamrock)
1 x Golf Ball

Today this year's I.O.M and Motorbike arrived , I already have the Overseas and the Rugby Balls so am doing a lot better than last year ! ;)

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What I have heard of and am looking for in 2022 and received so far in bold
Not all are doubles!

4 x Large Rugby Ball doubles White, Blue, Green & Red (Large Red is scarce)
1 x Dated 2022 single poppy
1 x 2022 Overseas double
1 x Platinum (70th) Jubilee single
1 x Falklands War 40th single
1 x undated Isle of Man Manx double
1 x undated Motorbike double
1 x Dated Irish (Poppy & Shamrock) single [illustrated in my wants list but not yet obtained]
1 x Welsh [no details as yet]
1 x Manchester Bee [no details as yet]
1 x 2022 London Poppy Day Pin [Looking for multiple dates]


If anyone has details or pins for Ireland, Wales, Manchester or London I would like to know...

Same Golf pin as last year (undated)

The Manx and Motorbike pins were available at the T.T (29 May 2022 – 10 Jun 2022) so should start appearing on-line soon.

The Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland are hoping to have their pin (see photo) available for the Annual Somme Commemoration and Wreath Laying at Islandbridge on 9th JULY.

The Poppy/Shamrock and Poppy /Welsh Dragon pins were only available in their respective countries last year (due to supply issues) but hopefully more will be around this year.

Haven't heard or seen anything about Manchester Bee this year but as these are normally widely available for sale/donation they may start appearing nearer the Manchester Poppy Day.

The London Poppy Day pin is probably the hardest one to get hold of as they are not sold and only available to to those taking part on the day.

If I hear any more information I'll post it.

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My Post @ #461 updated thanks to Mike V

The ROI/Irish pins are available for CFR's but not PAO's to order on Poppy Appeal order site so should be OK for 9th July.

Welsh 2022 Poppy Pins are now available for Welsh CFR/PAO's to order

If anyone sees an Irish or Welsh Pin for sale either buy it for me or let me know where...

I will refund cost plus postage via PayPal Friends or BACS

Got hold of a 2019 Overseas pin , I know there is a 2017 one I need to get but were there any earlier ones ?

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Always interesting finds Mike!!!

Terry

Well done on the 2019 Overseas Pin, which is also on my wants list

Have also seen a 2017 example, but not any earlier dates.

Thanks Mike , I haven't seen or heard of any pre 2017 either but thought it best to check.

The 2019 was listed as a P 0 P P Y badge , so wouldn't appear on most searches . I was the only bidder ! :D


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Royal Military Police
 

Managed to find a 2014 pin , I know I need a 2013 one but was there any earlier ?

These great pins were privately produced and sold , with profits split between RMP Association/RBL .

Then , like many other fine groups , the RBL banned them from using the Poppy so for 2 years they used a different design but after last year's badge they are not going to produce any more.

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Channel Islands
 

Although I don't actively seek out Channel Island pins I do pick up the occasional one if the price is right ! :D

These are great quality , well made , limited edition pins (individually numbered) and excellent additions to a collection.

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CITY OF NOTTINGHAM POPPY APPEAL

Another one , 1996 , to added to growing my collection.

I now have seven Nottingham pins but have no idea when the were first produced or if they are still making them . :confused:


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The Poppy Factory
 

Today I went to the Poppy Factory Visitor Centre , a very pleasant couple of hours.

Photos

1 & 2 : The Beatles had their "crossing in Abbey Road , the Factory has theirs on the main road outside.

3 & 4 : Pick and Mix , visitors get to assemble a Poppy but have to use their 'wrong' hand !

5 : Two "special" Poppies , one made by the Queen during one of her visits and the other made by Camilla ,Duchess of Cornwall , who is the Patron of the Factory.

6 : A nice example of a WW2 "Austerity" Poppy.

Basic Poppies are no longer made/assembled at the factory (it is easier/cheaper to have machines do it) but wreaths and wooden religious symbols are still made/assembled there.

https://www.poppyfactory.org/visit/

NB : No one at the factory was aware of a Poppy with 100 on the leaf , they did not produce/sell or have any involvement with them and I still have not even seen a photo of one ? :confused:

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A very special "unique" Poppy , I put it together and plan to frame it with John McCrae's moving verse.

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I did the Poppy Factory Tour a few years ago, and have also visited the Poppy Warehouse at Aylsford where all the Poppy Factory production is sent - They are in fact different Charity Numbers! I order all stock for my local Appeal as PAO from Aylsford.

Only around 10% of Poppies are now produced at Richmond, The Poppy Warehouse at Aylsford now produce the rest on 4 automated machines including all 'Sticky Poppies.. (Around 30,000,000) Here in Harrogate I maintain a stock of 40,000 Paper Poppies to distribute in October/November - That's 20 bulk boxes of 2000 needing to be re-packed in the smaller recognisable blue counter boxes...

A CFR/PAO can order packs of 100 Poppy bits for schools to assemble poppies during a 'poppy talk' They can also order boxes of 5,000 Poppy Petals as used at the Festival of Remembrance for Special Projects.

Thanks for the info Mike .

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Mike and Mike, thank you both for some very interesting information and pictures. Although my interest is pretty limited I always find the subject of great interest.

Terry

PS - There is a scene in "Our Girl" just prior to passing out where the recruits are taken to one of the cemeteries and a retired gentleman wearing a beret with a Middlesex badge recites that poem. It's a very moving scene.

Terry , in 1918 the verse was published in an American magazine (Ladies’ Home Journal ) under the title "We Shall Not Sleep" .

Moina Michael, a teacher at the University of Georgia, had seen McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” reprinted in the Ladies’ Home Journal just before the Armistice in 1918, and the poem and accompanying illustration (see photo) moved her so strongly that, she reported, she immediately composed her own poem “We Shall Keep the Faith” on the back of an envelope.

She also went and bought a bunch of silk poppies , wore one on her lapel in Remembrance and sold other to her friends to wear with the profits going to charity.

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Very interesting Mike, I was not aware of that.

Terry

20th Anniversary
 

Arrived today , a 1941 dated Poppy Pin Badge ! :D

It matches a description on the IWM website :

Dimensions : Diameter 23 mm

NB: I think the "Haig Fund" rather than "Haig's Fund" is simply a spelling error by IWM.

I assume the badge (there was also a large paper weight) was produced as a limited edition souvenir to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Poppy appeal.

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Latest from PoppyShop
 

Described as "Polished Silver Plated Poppy Pin" , 2cm high , cost £9.99 + £3.99 postage !. (I still had a free delivery code ;))

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