The Flanders Poppy
A Symbol of Remembrance
Papaver rhoeas is a member of the family Papaveracea. Commonly known as the Flanders poppy, corn poppy, field poppy or red poppy. The four-petaled flowering plants are vivid red in colour with a black spot at the base of the petal. It is a variable annual plant forming a long-lived seed bank, which means it can remain dormant, germinating when the soil has been disturbed.
The Flanders poppy has been associated with agriculture since early times. It is sometimes regarded as a successful weed whose annual life cycle fits into that of most cereals, able to flower and seed itself before the crop is harvested. Nowadays the seeds are used in bread dough and to decorate loaves and rolls. The petals are used to make syrups and drinks.
In Flanders Fields
The Flanders poppy grew profusely in the trenches and craters of the battlefields of the First World War. The artillery shells and subsequent fall out from shrapnel disturbed the earth exposing the seeds to the light they needed to germinate.
John McCrea, Military Doctor and Poet
John McCrae (30 November 1872 -28 January 1918) was a Canadian who enlisted to serve with the allies. Landing in Europe, McCrae was made medical officer as he had studied medicine on a scholarship at the University of Toronto.
As the Chaplin had been called away McCrea officiated at the funeral of a friend and former student, Lieutenant Alex Helmer who was killed during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, the first time the Germans used poison gas on a large scale. It is believed that later the same evening, McCrea penned the poem, 'In Flanders Fields', the first verse of which is;
In Flander's fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place: and in the sky
The Larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
The poem was one of the most popular amongst the soldiers in the battlefields and by the end of the war was well known across the world.
An American, Moina Michael (15 August 1869- 10 May 1944) took a leave of absence from her position as a professor at the University of Georgia when America entered the War. She moved to New York in order to volunteer at the training headquarters of the YMCA works. She later wrote in response to McCrae's poem, 'We Shall Keep the Faith':
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields were valour led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
The End of the War
On the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month 1918 the First World War came to an end.
In order to honour the troops and welcome them home, various parades and celebrations were planned around the country. London was set to host the Victory Parade on 19 July 1919. The Cenotaph was originally a temporary wood and plaster structure used to take the Salute in Whitehall during the parade. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) and a permanent replica was made from Portland stone and unveiled at the same site on 11 November 1920 and the first annual remembrance ceremony took place in 1921.
However, prior to this, Monia Michael began wearing a red poppy in memory of the sacrifices of war. She later led a successful campaign to have the poppy recognised by the American Legion as the official symbol of remembrance in April 1920.
The Royal British Legion
In 1921 a group of French widows, led by Madam E. Guerin, who had previously travelled to America and seen the poignant symbol adopted by Monia Michael, visited Earl Haig.
Douglas Haig, (19 June 1861- 29 January 1928) was Commander in Chief of the British Forces during the War. Along with Mr. T.F. Lister of The Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, he is attributed with amalgamating 4 ex servicemen's associations to create the British Legion. These were the Comrades of the Great War, the National Association of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers and the Officers Association. The French Widows brought with them some poppies they had made and suggested they were sold to raise funds to help the injured men. The idea was a success and the simple flanders poppy was chosen as the symbol of remembrance to the fallen. The British Legion recieved its Royal Charter in 1925
The aim of the Royal British Legion is to help those who served or are serving in the British Armed Forces and their dependants. Money is raised through donation and through the sale of poppies. The Royal British Legion poppy factory is located in Richmond, Surrey. They have been making poppies for the poppy appeal since 1922. A team of 50 people work all year in order to make 38 million remembrance poppies, 5 million remembrance petals, 900,000 crosses and 100,000 wreaths as well as wreathes for the Royal Family and the Government for the annual Remembrance service.
Sources:
- A History of the poppy of Remembrance. DiggerHistory.com
- Imperial War Museum.com
- The Royal British Legion.org
- The Royal British Legion Poppy Factory. wwwPoppyFactory.org
- R.H.S
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