Poppy etiquette: got told off by a veteran today

[AKMD]

I bought a poppy today as 20mo DS scrunched up the one I bought yesterday I asked the old soldier (full uniform, lots of medals) to pin it to the lapel on the right hand side of my coat as I carry DS on my left side and I didn't want him to scrunch up this one or get pricked by the pin. He refused and gave me a stern telling-off because a poppy should be worn over your heart. I've never heard of that before: will anyone except this guy care that I swapped it over when I was out of sight? I looked for a pin badge poppy as a compromise but no one had them.

My 2 army cadets are told ( ordered) to wear on the left!

I was told by a very nice man from the British Legion who I bought my poppy off that women should wear their poppy on the right, with the leaf at 11am.

So I shall wear mine on the right.

I thought you had to wear them close to your heart (and the older generation always seem to have a button hole in their jackets near the heart area) although it makes sense for you OP to wear it on the right so as your child does not get scratched.

The Scottish poppies do not have a leaf.

I have always had a poppy at this time of year, but this is the first I have

heard about it being worn on the left, and I am old (38).

Does it matter really?

What a shame he saw fit to be gruff and admonish you. I heartily disapprove (of him !). If he was just sharing this information in a friendly way that would be different . . .

Oh dear. Mine is still inside my handbag. I was actually considering pinning it to that (its cloth) rather than a coat because I always have the same bag but not the same coat, but evidently that would be a faux pas!

Going back to the OP - well, my late father and father in law were both in WWII and I'm pretty sure they would rather a poppy with a pin was placed such that it wasn't likely to stick into a small child.

I go through so many normal poppies each year that it would probably be more economical to buy a designer one

I think you've missed the point - isn't the whole point of the poppy appeal to give as much money as you can afford for the cause; you don't just adorn yourself with a pretty flower

I think you've missed the point - isn't the whole point of the poppy appeal to give as much money as you can afford for the cause; you don't just adorn yourself with a pretty flower.

I wear a poppy for rememberance and to show respect for those that gave their lives, their health or their loved ones fighting for the freedoms I enjoy. The money bit is obviously important but it's not one of the charities that I routinely support and it seems a real shame to have poppies screwed up. To me, wearing a crumpled poppy would feel disrespectful. If I could get a poppy that didn't crumple, it would save a lot of waste.

No, the poppy is a symbol of remembrance not a symbol of the fact you've put money in a pot. Perfectly reasonable to buy a more durable one to wear every year and chuck a few shekels in the collection separately.

I sell poppies for the Legion and I have never come across a Rule about this but when the other ladies pin them on for people, they always pin on the left lapel of their coat.

Most people seem to wear them on the left.

The Elizabeth Cross is however worn on the right, so I can't see why a poppy shouldn't be on that side if you wanted it to be.

< note to self - look to see where the members of the War Widows association wear theirs >