The Coulsdon branch of the British Legion has formally closed, 104 years after its foundation.
Permanently laid up: the Coulsdon Royal British Legion branch’s standard given a permanent resting place
The decision was taken due to declining numbers of members. The occasion was marked with a final parade and the retirement of the branch’s standard – the organisation’s flag, which was handed over in a special service at Coulsdon’s St Andrew’s Church.
Coulsdon’s British Legion branch was formed after World War I, as the Legion was created from the amalgamation of four ex-service associations as a non-political association to represent the rights of ex-servicemen and women who had served or had been discharged from service during that “war to end all wars”.
What’s now known as the Coulsdon Club was for a century called the Comrades Club, and is where the Legion members met for teas and coffees, perhaps a frame of snooker and a chat, and a beer or three.
The club’s garden area remains dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts through to the present day.
Coulsdon’s old warriors disbanded their branch in 1927, reforming in 1953 as Coulsdon and Purley, active in the area, especially in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday each year.
The larger, national Legion organisation provides financial, social and emotional support to the forces community and their families, and also acts as the national Custodian of Remembrance. Membership in the Royal British Legion is open to anyone who wishes to support the armed forces family, not just those who have served in the military.
Final parade: Legion members at St Andrew’s to see the standard handed over for one last time
The retirement of the branch standard was a solemn, poignant ceremony.
Historically, standards, or “colours” – military flags – were vital rallying points for soldiers in the “fog of war” in battles, right up until the 20th Century. While the role of standards has changed with modern warfare, the tradition of their ceremonial retirement continues.
Retiring standards typically involves a formal ceremony where the worn or outdated standard is laid up in a place of significance. The flag then remains in safekeeping, untouched.
Coulsdon’s British Legion’s last local act was to lay a wreath at the Marlpit Lane memorial on Armistice Day, November 11, in 2022, to dedicate the 16 missing names from World War I on the memorial.
Earlier this month, a service was held at St Andrew’s Church Coulsdon where the branch standard was surrendered to Rev Esther Foss as a final act of remembrance and respect.
It will remain in the church alongside previous standards.
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Falling standards – a sign of the times
Make that your “last post”
I wonder what will happen to the building now ?
It’s called the Coulsdon Club, as it says in the article, and is in use every day.
It’s the headquarters of my old club – South London Harriers. There’s a bar!!
It’s ironic that the RBL ended up meeting at The Comrades Club.
While the Comrades of the Great War (CGW) association was one of the founder associations of the RBL, it had a reputation for being a bit more political and even ‘bolshy’ compared to the other.
Thus, when the RBL formed, a number of CGW branches (perhaps half a dozen) – maintaining a visceral disdain for Haig, with whom the RBL was closely associated – refuse to join.
The Couldson branch of the CGW was one of those ‘hold outs’ .