why do you wear a poppy?

[oiolehnvn]

Lots of red poppies around us at the moment. Disclaimer I am not British but come from a country that is currently waging a war, in fact technically two countries that have been in the news for waging wars and have always been uncomfortable with people supporting or celebrating our army. I am therefore puzzled as to why the Brits wear poppies ever year. If you choose to wear one, what's your rationale? Equally, if you do not - what's yours?

Both my grandfather's fought in the WW2, my grandmother was a WRN as well (it's how my grandparents met). My great grandfather fought in the trenches in WW1 (he's written about in a book). We must never forget what they did and gave for our freedom.

My father was in the army for 30 years.

I have a lot of time for our armed forces past and present.

I wear one on the 11th. I remember the sacrifices that my grandparents' generation made. I do not virtue signal by wearing the poppy for the best part of a month beforehand, nor do I judge others for their ambivalent or objection towards it.

Irish soldiers, from both sides of the border, suffered and died in Flanders. Are their deaths of less or more value because of their professed religion? I don't think so.

As i lay my wreath at Polygon Wood, my great uncle, whose grandparents came to Britain from Ireland but who had himself emigrated to Australia and therefore served in that country's forces, will be the member of my tribe that I honour.

Under the Menin Gate, there gather Chinese, Punjabi, Kiwis, Australians, Canadians, North American Native peoples, Melanesians, Europeans from every district...

Religion matters not one jot. Fellowship and recognition and repentance rules the day. Political point scoring means nothing as I bob a curtsey to the Belgian War Memorial as we march by on the way to the Armistice Day service.

Did you grow up as a Catholic in NI subjected to daily abuse by British soldiers?

No, I didn't.

However, I stand beneath the Menin Gate and see so many nationalities, all of whose citizens served and died, all coming together, in free will, to regret past tragedies, past political disasters and their outcomes...

Nobody has to wear a red poppy to understand that hate among peoples incurs nothing but dreadful trouble and death.

Lucky you!

I think a lot of this comes down to the fact that Irish experiences of the World Wars weren’t all the same. Plenty of Catholic Irish men did fight in the British Army, including in WW1 and WW2. But many did so in really difficult circumstances. Many signed up due to poverty, lack of work, and the promise that supporting the war would help deliver Home Rule. That promise was never delivered after the war, and many Irish families, mine included, felt betrayed by that.

You’re absolutely right that atrocities happened on all sides during the Troubles. But for lots of people in NI, the British Army were physically present, in their streets and homes, not from the past. I myself have first hand experience of brutal behaviour from British soldiers patrolling the streets and my parents know unarmed, innocent people who were killed by them. So while the poppy is intended as remembrance, in NI it is often conflated with very recent trauma, identity and politics in a way that isn’t the case elsewhere in the UK.

As for the Royal Irish Regiment, it doesn’t exist because some Irishmen “don’t want to stay at home”, it exists because the British military recruited heavily in Ireland. Partly due to strategic need and partly because joining the army was one of the few routes out of extreme poverty at the time. Some men also believed service would help secure freedom for Ireland from British rule. So again, the meaning of that service is complicated and not experienced the same way by everyone.

Anyway back to the poppy. None of this is to say people shouldn’t wear a poppy. Anyone who wants to honour the fallen should absolutely do so. It’s just that for many Irish people, remembrance takes a different shape, and that deserves the same respect.

And I think part of the difficulty is that this is British history. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but a lot of what happened there isn’t taught or acknowledged widely in Britain. So people often don’t realise why the poppy can feel different to those of us who grew up during the Troubles and the history of Irish involvement in the world wars being very close with it being our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. It’s not about offending anyone. It’s just that for some of us, our experience of that history is much closer to home, and remembering looks different for us because of that.

I wear them as a symbol of remembrance for war dead, but there are also other artistic and community incentives, take a look at this article https://alisonlittle.blog/2025/11/07/rivers-of-poppies-at-christ-church-united-reformed-church-port-sunlight-a-stunning-tribute-of-remembrance/

To remember those who literally gave their lives in defence of this country. To honour thousands who still serve, our retired veterans (of which many are members of my own family) and to encourage my children to remember these brave men, women and children.
I wear mine with pride, as a symbol of respect. Nothing else.

You're quite right. I am lucky.

My family, massive Irish inheritance, CHOSE to move on.

I say again, as I stand beneath the Menin Gate, among representatives of dozens of nations, forgiveness is the only way forward.

Has anybody in the whole history of humankind ever come up with something better?

Forgiveness is what the military is all about all right @Phoenix1Arisen!
Why do you think people are reluctant to support the RBL?

Please do not claim that your ‘massive Irish inheritance’ entities you to any particular insight. Any more than the racists who have imaginary black best friends.

Your are funny - “my grandparents were Irish” that’s a bit of a joke in Ireland it’s something we usually hear from Americans who know nothing either. If you knew anything you’d say nothing, but you don’t - I forgive you.

In respect and memory of the men and boys who were slaughtered to keep their homeland and loved ones safe.

If only there was a symbol that only represented the fallen of the World Wars while excluding ‘soldier’ who abused and murdered civilians in NI.
But there isn’t.

Do only British people have an appreciation of the impact of WWI and WW2?

When have you ever had to apologise to anyone for wearing a poppy? Such an absurd thing to say.

I’ve yet to meet anyone wearing a poppy who felt the need to apologise for wearing it, that’s total BS.

No, it's not Bull Shit you can say it.
Nobody needs to apologise for wearing a poppy nor should they.
I was refering to the side of society that doesn't agree with red poppies and promotes it in a negative way.
You won't need to go too far to educate yourselves on the matter.
Some people believe it to be racist in favour of white people totally incorrect view but theit opinion.
Others think it's outdated, which it never will be and others say they won't wear it due to past links of the empire oppression among other examples.
My first h was killed in the Falklands so I have full respect for the military veterans.

‘red poppies and promotes it in a negative way.’

promoting it how, by not wearing a poppy???? I don’t care if you wear one or not, I choose not to and Inhave very good reasons.

It’s thanks for those who lost their lives so that we kept our freedom.

The money raised goes to a good cause. 👍

Have people directly criticised your wearing of the poppy or is this something you’ve been aware of online? I

Thank you for asking, yes, it has been commented on by several who knew my h had been killed.
Also it is online on many areas, 'why are red poppies so negative' brings up a lot of reasons.
I actually said in a pp that Britain apologises for a lot of things, history related, that other countries couldn't give a shit about and wouldn't do so, poppies got pulled in with my thoughts.
But I do think some peeps are being obtuse on here regardless.

That's shocking that people have commented directly to you, knowing what you have been through. I think we all need to respect each other's trauma not diminish it as less important - something it forget and get over. Britain has done some bloody awful things - they rightly should own it, if other countries don't that doesn't make them right.

Thank you, I wear it for my deceased h, for the fallen, for veterans and their families.