The History of the Remembrance Poppy
Every November, millions of people across the UK wear a red poppy as a mark of remembrance for those who lost their lives in conflict. It has become one of the most recognisable symbols in British history, but have you ever wondered where the tradition began?
HISTORYWW2
Laura Newheiser
11/12/20264 min read
Why do we wear a red poppy?
The red poppy has come to represent remembrance, sacrifice and hope. It reminds us of the millions of people who lost their lives during the First World War and subsequent conflicts, as well as those who returned home with physical and emotional scars.
The poppy also represents the importance of supporting veterans, serving personnel and their families.
Although the design has evolved over the years, its meaning remains deeply connected to the events of the First World War and the people whose lives were changed forever.
A little piece of history that continues today
More than 100 years after Anna Guérin first introduced her fabric poppies to Britain, the tradition continues. Each November, people across the country wear their poppies, attend remembrance services and gather at war memorials to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
What began as one woman's determination to help children and families devastated by war has become an enduring national tradition. And perhaps one of the most interesting things about the story is that the poppy we now associate so strongly with Britain actually began with a French woman, inspired by the words of a Canadian soldier.
So, the next time you pin on your red poppy, spare a thought for Anna Guérin — the remarkable woman whose determination helped create a tradition that has lasted for more than a century.
Lest we forget.
Surprisingly, the story of the British Remembrance Poppy begins not in Britain, but in France, with a remarkable woman called Anna Guérin.
Her determination to help those affected by the First World War helped create a tradition that has continued for more than a century.
The inspiration: In Flanders Fields
To understand the history of the poppy, we need to go back to the First World War. During the fighting across Belgium and northern France, the countryside was devastated by artillery fire, trenches and constant military activity. Yet, amongst the destruction, beautiful red poppies began to grow across the disturbed earth. These flowers became a powerful symbol of life, hope and remembrance.
In May 1915, a Canadian doctor serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, was deeply affected by the death of a fellow soldier. Inspired by the sight of poppies growing amongst the graves, he wrote one of the most famous war poems of all time, In Flanders Fields. The poem was first published in December 1915 and captured the sadness of those who had died, alongside a message to future generations not to forget them. Its opening lines are still familiar to many of us today:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row.
The poem would go on to inspire two women on opposite sides of the Atlantic to turn the humble red flower into an international symbol of remembrance.
Anna Guérin: The woman who brought the poppy to Britain
Although many people associate the Remembrance Poppy with the Royal British Legion, its introduction to Britain was largely thanks to a French woman named Anna Guérin, sometimes known as the Poppy Lady or Madame Guérin. Inspired by the symbolism of the poppy and the suffering caused by the First World War, Anna became determined to raise money for those whose lives had been devastated by the conflict.
She organised the production of artificial fabric poppies in France, providing opportunities for women and others affected by the war to make them. The money raised was intended to help children orphaned by the conflict and communities struggling to rebuild. Anna recognised that the poppy could become much more than a flower. It could be a way for people to remember the fallen while also helping those left behind.
She began campaigning for the poppy to be adopted as a symbol of remembrance by countries that had fought alongside France.
The first poppies arrive in Britain in 1921
In 1921, Anna Guérin travelled to Britain to meet Field Marshal Earl Haig, the President of the newly established British Legion. She persuaded him that the artificial red poppy would be an appropriate emblem for remembrance and, importantly, an effective way of raising funds to support former servicemen. The idea was accepted.
The first British Poppy Appeal took place in November 1921, with the artificial poppies being manufactured in France and sent to Britain. Around nine million poppies were ordered for the appeal, and they proved enormously popular. The first appeal raised approximately £106,000, a remarkable amount of money at the time, helping former servicemen who were struggling with the consequences of the war.
A tradition that would become part of British life had begun.
The first British Poppy Factory Established in 1922
The popularity of the first appeal created a new challenge. The British Legion wanted to produce its own poppies in Britain rather than rely on supplies from France. This also presented an opportunity to help another group of people who had been affected by the war: disabled and wounded former servicemen. In 1922, Major George Howson established the first Poppy Factory in London. His idea was simple but incredibly important. Men who had returned from the war with injuries and disabilities could be employed making poppies, giving them an opportunity to earn a living and regain independence.
The factory eventually moved to Richmond, Surrey, where it became an important part of the continuing Poppy Appeal. It is a particularly moving part of the story that the very symbol created to remember those lost in war also helped provide employment for those who survived.
