British Legion Somme 100 Poppy
 

I have just purchased from the RBL a poppy that has been cast from brass shell fuses gathered on the Somme and with a small amount of earth from the well known sites of this battle mixed in with the enamel in the centre.

A limited edition item available via a well known online auction house that must remain nameless but shall, for the sake of argument, be known as ebay.

A nice centre piece for my long established collection of poppies, and raising money for an excellent cause at the same time.

Not cheap, but less than you would pay for a rare flash, let alone a rare cap badge.

I commend this item to all our readers. Mine is set to arrive here on the 1st July :cool:

http://www.poppyshop.org.uk/somme-10...lapel-pin.html

Link to RBL shop

The cost is certainly rather less than the price of a great many flashes and cap badges and of course is completely insignificant when compared with the awful price paid by members of the British Army one hundred years ago.

If they have clutch/butterfly fittings they would be very easy to lose. It felt a bit strange seeing he fuses melted down- pity they could not just sell them but I guess one fuse makes many badges. Regards, Paul.

You can buy safety clutch's or one with a tube & bolt which are tightened by an alan key on ebay

Example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-Badge-P...-/390474173386

Apparently, following a feature on BBC breakfast concerning the Somme and the Poppy pin, the RBL shop website has been flooded with requests and the pin is now presently out of stock. Reassuring that so many people still care.

I have 500 of each of the standard Somme Poppy Pins for sale at a suggested price of £2 each and these are available to RBL Branches via their PAO's

Wow! ordered mine at 8am this morning, that was fortunate! and a couple of new leads for the ASBO twins.

I wouldn't dream of wearing it, I have many various fittings on many various poppy pins and brooches and without fail they all drop off. But that's me with most jewellery anyway, if it can break, drop off or get lost in anyway I'll manage it.

Anyway, I'm interested to read more of the certificate when it arrives, each one commemorating a soldier killed on the Somme, I know of someone who on receiving theirs discovered the soldier commemorated wasn't actually killed on the Somme and it was also some time after. But nonetheless a life remembered.

You "manage" it?:(
Do not wear that Garrard Parachute Regiment brooch!:eek:

I know and there is nothing I'd love more than to wear it but its not worth the risk. I wanted to wear one of my RF sweethearts to Dave's funeral but again couldn't risk it. All I permanently wear is a silver skull torque bangle, a men's Casio watch and a silver ring on one of my toes, oh and 5 earrings did you need to know all that?? probably not! :D

Perhaps, I might take charge of the particular Garrard brooch in question, after all, you would not want to loose it, would you?

But Frank it might get lost in transit, however could I get it to you safely??

However indeed, but, at least if it were in my care, you would be able to lose it.:)

Did you mean wouldn't?! :D or are you agreeing with me that no matter what, I will always lose or break things? I've just lost a very tiny Northumberland Fusiliers sweetheart pin, it's microscopic, I put it down somewhere safe.........

:mad: To say that I am both saddened and very angry with the British Legion for not offering these to members (having been a service/ex service member for 34 years) before sticking them on general sale is an understatement as of course these are now sold out in the shop and some blood sucking leeches who probably have not seen a days active service in their lives are selling them on ebay with one example currently at £200+.

I can safely say I wont be renewing my Legion membership due to their commercialism and lack of interest in members, I will now put all my endeavour's towards supporting SAFFA which having worked with both organisations is an equally deserving and sometimes unfortunately an under recognised organisation. :mad:

FMT600