The Haig Fund (more properly the Earl Haig Fund, also called Haig's Fund) is a

charity Charity may refer to: Common meanings * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sha ...

set up in 1921 by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig.

History

In response to the poem '' In Flanders Field'' by

John McCrae Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (November 30, 1872 – January 28, 1918) was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium. He is best known for writing th ...

Moina Michael Moina Belle Michael (August 15, 1869 – May 10, 1944) was an American professor and humanitarian who conceived the idea of using Papaver rhoeas, poppies as a Remembrance poppy, symbol of remembrance for those who served in World War I. Early li ...

started selling silk poppies in 1918 to raise funds for ex-servicemen. The "Disabled Society" was started in 1920 for disabled ex-servicemen and to raise funds for it Anna Guérin organised the production and sale of silk poppies. In 1921 Guérin persuaded Haig to adopt the poppy as the symbol of the

Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion (RBL), formerly the British Legion, is a British charity providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants. Membership Service in th ...

, however demand exceeded supply. In 1922 George Howson pledged that the disabled society could provide the poppies, which under the name of "The Poppy Factory" they continue to do. On 1 January 1994 the words on the central black button were changed from "Haig Fund" to "Poppy Appeal". The Haig Fund continues to support veterans from all conflicts and other military actions involving

British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces are the unified military, military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its British Overseas Territories, Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests ...

up to the present day. Its members sell remembrance poppies in the weeks before

Remembrance Day Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces me ...

Armistice Day Armistice Day, later known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the United States, is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark Armistice of 11 November 1918, the armistice signed between th ...

Notes

References

External links

Royal Canadian Legion

Earl Haig Fund of Scotland

Royal British Legion Scotland

Royal British Legion
British veterans' organisations Aftermath of World War I in the United Kingdom 1921 establishments in the United Kingdom {{UK-charity-stub

History

See also

Notes

References

External links