To remind you all of this BEFORE the Poppy becomes a divisive symbol

[OneAmusedShark]

That in the First and Second World Wars, literally hundreds as thousands of black and Asian people fought for Britain.

They answered the call, as volunteers, to fight in the trenches side by side with white British soldiers.

Soldiers from Africa, the Caribbean and what is now India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs…
they all did their bit.

Winston Churchill is on record praising them. He said “The bravery of Indian soldiers, both Hindu and Muslim, is unparalleled in the history of warfare”,

Don’t forget also the Eastern Europeans who fought the Nazis alongside us,
especially the Polish airmen.

And remember this, when the Americans came over with their segregated units,
and tried to impose segregation in local pubs and cafes near where they were stationed, Churchill refused to assist them.

Remember the Battle of Bamber Bridge where white US military police tried to stop black troops from drinking in certain pubs, and the local British population sided with the black troops.

So if you’re white British, next time you see someone of African, Caribbean or Asian heritage, just remember that their Grandfather or Great Grandfather or Great Great Grandfather may have fought alongside yours in WW1 or WW2.

When we wear the Poppy,
we remember ALL of them and give thanks for their sacrifice.

Actually it’s true. Really surprised at people saying they couldn’t find anything when googled?
https://rbli.co.uk/news_articles/rbli-receives-sponsorship-from-bae-systems-for-its-annual-the-great-tommy-sleep-out-to-highlight-veteran-homelessness/

Here’s a source direct from Royal British Legion detailing their sponsorship from BAE, who have profited hugely from the war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza.

“However, the fact that you as a British resident can actually choose whether to show support for the armed forces or our government by wearing a poppy is part of the values that were hard fought for in both world wars”

Effectively you can’t choose, not if you’re in the public eye, and if you want to avoid censure. That’s the issue. Everyone should be able to choose, but they’re not.

It doesn’t, but without publicity in the places that people like my school mates will see it why would you think what you learned wasn’t correct? What will prompt you to look at this again?

I was the only non white person (including staff as well as pupils almost every year.) The rest of the school was almost all local and no immigrants, though a few for a year or so from Kosovo.

The UK treats its soldiers appallingly, it treated the soldiers of WW1 with MH disorders as freaks and locked them away, some where even shot.

Post WW2, soldiers etc and SOE operatives were treated with disdain, piss poor pensions, reliance on charities, whilst once a year our leaders and royalty standing solemnly at a memorial.

Afghanistan? why exactly should a charity provide these men and women with help? they died or were injured in a pointless war, that achieved nothing.

Instead Farage wants to pay the Taliban to send back people who we wont help - to certain death.

The state sends our children to war, they should fucking well look after them when they return.. with the best treatments and housing available.

Lest we Forget? BS we forgot long ago.

No, lots of people don't know that.

I think the other areas of the world wars are forgotten- VJ Day in the UK seems almost an afterthought in commemoration

I was talking to DH about this and he wondered if the comparative silence about VJ day is that the war in the East was much more about Empire whereas in Europe people were fighting for their lives and way of life. There may be an element of that. And I guess also the way the war in the east ended with the atomic bombs (and firestorming of Tokyo, although that happened to Hamburg as well).

Anyway I donate but no longer wear a poppy because they always fall off.

Of course the state should provide full after care and all the forces charities should campaign on that as should the senior retired forces personnel. Ideally charity for nice to have extras. However while that doesn’t happen the need is still there. If the government won’t step I will in the very small way that I can.

The soldiers don’t decide where to serve - disagree with the government that decided on the Afghan war or others and kept it going. The troops were sent and along with everyone there suffered.

It is very divisive. Fucking poppy fascist flag shaggers have ensured that in the last few years. It has become mandatory to wear one for anyone in public life, and it should be no more mandatory than a Marie Curie daffodil or a bird pin for the RSPB.

It is very divisive. I find it hugely threatening and won’t wear one. It just symbolises far right to me. Who have hijacked everything British and desecrated it.

Peoplle go on about fighting fascism in WW2 and fighting for our freedom. And the poppy has almost become a symbol of that far right fascism. Which is horrible.

And people jump on here having a go. But it means different things to different people. I had relatives traumatised by WW2 and 1. I’d rather just think about them and other who died quietly than wear a symbol of what l see as an increasing trend to the far right.

Sad indeed. The fight against fascism has come full circle.

A lot don't and a lot prefer to forget it.

But they chose to join up?

The ones who were conscripted had no choice.

I've always worn a poppy but having just read The Royal British Legion has a DEI executive on £65k a year, not sure I will. That money should be going to ex servicemen.

I am not clear how are armed forces are currently achieving this laudable aim.
Si vis pacem, para bellum: if you wish to see peace, prepare for war.

Or, if you don't have well-trained and properly equipped troops, you can expect the bully-boys to walk all over you.

As for VJ Day, the Asian war was a long way away from Britain, and the troops who fought in it as part of British forces were predominantly Indians, Australians, etc. British forces in Burma were known at the time as 'the forgotten army', and that doesn't seem to have changed.

No it’s not.

Yes it is!

And the fact that l disagree with you shows it’s divisive.

I think some people are not understanding what it means for some thing to be divisive. I think people are just ignorantly believing divisive means bad rather than it divides people due to differing opinions. The white poppy was created pre the second world war which just shows that it’s been divisive for a long time.

Thank you for this. I was one of the people who asked for links and also did not find anything when I googled. In fact, the AI links that pop up at the top of the Google search told me there was nothing in this. Thank you for sharing this. It’s really informative and is helping me understand better.

Lots of Irish died in particularly WWI however the poppy is very controversial here due to more recent British military action here.

Yes, there are negative connotations because of the collusion of the army.

All these people saying 'no it isn't' have been asleep for at least the last 50 years.

Lots of people have no idea about what actually happened during the Troubles though.

This is one of the most stupid posts on Mumsnet, they are called “world” wars, not white British war one and white British war two. Obviously many different religions, ethnics and races died, the word “world” implies that alone.
We wear the poppy for all who have fallen, if you think people think this is just white British men, that says way more about you than anyone else.

Really pointless post OP. The poppy is no longer just about the sacrifices made during the World Wars but instead a general support for the armed forces. Many of us will not show unwavering support for a military which has been the aggressor in many conflicts around the world since WW2 and has had many soldiers commit war crimes and get away with it.

So no, I will not wear a poppy and nor will anyone else I know.

My grandfathers and their brothers and friends fought in ww2. I’ll always wear a poppy to honour them and anyone else who fights / fought to defend our country.

This. My grandfather was a ww2 veteran and my partner is ex army too- but we don’t wear a poppy anymore for this very reason.

There’s a site on social media called ‘giant poppy watch’ that exposes the sheer hypocrisy of it all. It has been hijacked by the flagshaggers and manipulated to mean something else.

This dignified display gets to the pure heart of what Remembrance Sunday is all about obviously…….🙄