Brigadier Ian Townsend - Royal British Legion

Question: Talk us through the history of the Royal British Legion.

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: The Legion was formed in 1921. It was created following the conjunction of four different organisations by Earl Haig and Bombardier Lister. They were both World War I veterans and they wanted to pull together the warring factions of different ex-service organisations. They aimed to create a united voice to help those who fought in World War I gain jobs, housing, disability benefits and pensions.

 

Their work continued right through the Second World War. After World War II, the Legion reinvented itself and modelled its corporate governance and organisation very much on trade union lines.

 

The setting up of the welfare state in 1946, lead many ex-service people to think that they were going to be looked after “from cradle to grave.” But as we have moved on from the Second World War, it has become clear that the state has not been able to provide all that it hoped for. This has meant the welfare aspect of the Legion’s work has continued apace; we now help around 300,000 people every year.

 

Question: What will be happening on 10th July this year?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend:The 10th July was designated by the MoD (not by us) as the key date for a national commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was felt that by the time we get to the 75th anniversary, there will not be many veterans still around. It was appropriate therefore, to find a national commemoration time, where as many as possible could be drawn together. There will be a celebration of their part in ensuring peace and freedom.

 

There was a possibility of having a commemoration on 8th May for VE day and another on 15th August for VJ day but it was a felt a day in the summer between those two was a more sensible option. We went along with that as long as there were appropriate commemorations on both VE and VJ day. 10th July will be the culmination of a week of events known as Veteran’s Awareness Week. This will run from 4th July.

 

Question: Can you run us through the events planned for that week?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: Veteran’s Awareness Week begins in St James’ Park where there will be a living museum, a veteran’s reception centre and a number of stands and receptions throughout the week.

 

On 9th July a memorial for the women of World War II will be unveiled in Whitehall.

 

On 10th there will be a service of thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey followed by the Queen hosting a lunch for veterans in BuckinghamPalace. Trafalgar Square will also be decked with Union Jack bunting. We have sent out this bunting for people to write messages of commemoration and hope on. Also on the 10th, recollections of World War II will take place on Horseguard’s Parade and finally there will be a parade of Standards down the Mall to BuckinghamPalace. This will be accompanied by a fly-past and poppy drop by the Lancaster of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which will bring the day to a close around 5pm.

 

There are also events all around the country on 10th July. In Staffordshire there will be a big commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum with a large video wall feeding pictures of the events in London. The same thing sort of event will be going on in other major cities around the country.

 

Question: Why did the government choose the 10th July?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: It was seen to be sensible to have a single day. Initially we suggested that day might be at the very end; in August. But the consensus was that the middle of summer, with better weather and children on holiday, would be a more sensible option.

 

Question: How successful was the event to mark VE day?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: VE day involved two events. There was a small service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall and also at other cenotaphs around the country. Thereafter we ran a major event concert in Trafalgar Square in conjunction with the BBC and the Mayor of London. It was a huge success.

 

In terms of the solemn reflection on those who lost their lives, and then a celebration of peace, I think the event was a success in every sense.

 

Question: What are the plans for VJ day?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: The Burma Star Association is very much at the forefront of the VJ day commemorations. They will be holding an event at the Cenotaph in London and again at other sites around the country.

 

After that, we hope to mark the closing of the whole of the "nation’s biggest thank you" with the production of a book. The book will contain some of the messages written on the bunting that is to be displayed in Trafalgar Square on 10th July.

 

Question: Are enough young people interested in these events?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: All our evidence points to yes. The country as a whole is going to be commemorating and celebrating as it did on 8th May. As far as young people are concerned, a number of us have been running education programmes which specifically link with Key Stages 1-4 of the National Curriculum, they underline the place of service people in 20th Century history.

 

These programmes have gone down very well with young people. We have had a large number of calls for lectures, and young people are very connected. For many of them it really is "living history." Their grandparents and relatives were involved in the war and it is very much a live issue for them. The events are not about morbidly looking back. As the Legion’s strap line says, they are about reflection and hope. We will be using our reflections to create a better future.

 

Question: Why is it so important that we remember?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: It is essential that we remember our history and have a clear understanding of it. It is appropriate that we should think back 60 years to where we came from and to look at what Churchill described as “our darkest hours.”  We can learn an awful lot if we explore how we came through that period. But there is no use just looking back, we also need to ask what lessons we learnt, why those things events happened and how one can avoid wars like that in the future.

 

Question: Has the government done enough to recognise the debt of gratitude owed?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: Broadly, the government has taken some very helpful initiatives and leads in this. The heroes return programme, the educational programme called “their past, your future,” and others have all been extremely useful. £16m of lottery money has gone into all this, encouraged by the government. I am happy with what the government has done but they must continue to recognise that organizations like the Legion have been doing this for a very long time. They work in support of what we’re doing and they should continue to point up our work for the public. Our work is going to continue and there is more to be done, particularly with people involved in the most recent conflicts.

 

Question: Does the Legion live in the past?

 

Brigadier Ian Townsend: Absolutely not. If you take our education programme or the huge range of our welfare services, you will see we are very much up to date. There are also big changes being made to our corporate governance and structure. We are becoming a model charity for the 21st Century.

 

I think we are not only living in the present, we are also looking very much to the future. We are very much in the mould of the vision of our original and forward-looking founders back in 1921.