David Fitzgerald: Remembrance Day 2025

It is that time of year again when the poppy has appeared on the lapels of so many people and we have remembered those who have served or are serving in our armed forces. 

So many people give freely and generously to the Royal British Legion each year and I can never quite get over the guilt of discarding the red paper emblem of those who have fallen. 

However, recently I have looked into the history of the legion and discovered it was formed on May 15, 1921 as The British Legion. It brought together four national organisations of ex-servicemen that had established themselves after the First World War. They were the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, the British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, the Comrades of The Great War and The Officers’ Association. 

The amalgamation of these diverse bodies can be attributed largely to two men, Field Marshal Earl Haig and Tom Lister of the Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers. Lord Haig went on to serve as the President of The British Legion until his death in 1928, but I was surprised to learn that the title ‘Royal’ was not bestowed until 1971.

That is all history but the legion is looking ahead to the future and new branches are springing up right across the country, with the latest being found in Bishopsteignton. I was lucky to catch up with the man who has put this new venture together, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Ridgway KBE, CB, DL.

“Yes, we have a brand-new club,” said Sir Andrew at his home high on the ridge above the river Teign. “There used to be one here mainly based around the Huntley care home but that closed and thus so did the branch. I was approached and asked if I would set one up. I managed to get some really positive people together, some great committee members and away we went. Mr Les Down has acted as standard bearer for many years and has agreed to continue with our brand-new standard that was dedicated at our church and used on the 9th of November for our Remembrance Day parade.”

Old standards are always treated with the greatest respect and many come to rest in churches and chapels for generations to see. However, the old legion standard will be laid up at the Bishopsteignton Heritage Hub, the community centre on Shute Hill.

“We feel more people will get to see it there,” continued Sir Andrew. “The legion is very important, not just for those who have served but for their families as well. A lot of people think it is a club for veterans. It’s not. It encompasses anyone who wants to support the armed forces community in need. Last year over £1 million was raised in the county, an incredible amount, and hopefully this year that figure will be matched.

Sir Andrew went to school in Exeter and at the age of 18 went to Sandhurst under a scholarship. 

He said: “I remember the money from that scholarship was being paid into an account which was meant for me to buy a sword when I was commissioned… I took the money out a little early and went and bought a surfboard. However, I did win a prize in Sandhurst and was presented with a sword!”

Joining the Royal Tank Regiment, he served in Germany. 

“We were a recce regiment and had a helicopter squadron attached to us. I managed to get a private pilot’s licence and was lucky enough to become a regimental pilot and thus served in Belize, the Rockies… Canada and in Northern Ireland. But eventually I went back into tanks and commanded the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment …the West Country armoured regiment, known as the armoured farmers. I went on to command the Desert Rats, the 7thArmoured Brigade in central Bosnia and ended up as head of intelligence for all three services, which took me all over the world. I got around a bit.”

So, this is all very different from opening a branch of the RBL in South Devon.

“It is… but still a challenge. I want to make this a thriving success. We have started small with a meeting once a month, on the third Wednesday in the evening at The Cockhaven Arms. We had 12 at the first meeting and 24 at the second. If we go on at that rate it will be very successful. We are very keen to get people from the local area and beyond.  I am told that some branches are closing so we are bucking the trend. 

“Teignmouth had a very successful branch but sadly it shut so we would love to see anyone from the Teignmouth area to come and join us. We have been supported greatly by county legion level. Yasmin Gibbins the county chair and Jo Ashkettle the membership engagement officer have been extremely helpful and have guided us through the process.” 

In other parts of the county, parades and gatherings took place early, including the county Festival of Remembrance. This year the venue was Lympstone Barracks, CTCRM, The Royal Marines’ base on the banks of the river Exe. Over 300 people packed The Falklands Hall for a show which touched on the anniversaries of conflicts and the lives of remarkable people of the county. 

The end of the Second World War and VJ Day were marked, plus the liberation of Auschwitz. The 100th anniversary of The Royal Observer Corps, now disbanded, came to the stage with memories of the headquarters in Exeter and an observation post at Exeter Airport. The rededication of Torbay’s D-Day harbour slipways was shown with film of the service which took place on June 6. Ironically, the slipways are the scene of a small invasion itself, Pacific oysters, a non-native species that have made the concrete shelves their home and can be seen living very happily in the shallow water. 

Coverage of one of Devon’s VC holders was also shown to the audience with a special gathering this year in Dartmouth. Theodore Veale, Devonshire Regiment, was awarded the highest medal for valour in 1916, becoming one of three VC holders from the county in the First World War. The two others were George Onions, Devonshire Regiment and Thomas Sage from Tiverton who joined the Somerset Light Infantry. Yes, they were Veale, Sage and Onions!

If that is not a strange story, how about the local celebration of The Coldstream Guards! Formed 375 years ago by General George Monck, the regiment was raised in Scotland by Monck in August 1650. It formed part of the New Model Army and, the following month, was one of the units used by the Commonwealth to defeat a Scottish Royalist force at the Battle of Dunbar. 

However, Monck swapped sides and went on to help restore Charles II to the throne. So, what is the link between Devon and a village 450 miles away? George Monck was born in Merton and indeed, The Coldstream Guards have been granted the freedom of the parish in North Devon and have marched through the village and paraded in Exeter.