During the 1914-18 War, Servicemen had fought for a cause that they believed in, trusting that when they returned home, their country would reward them with justice. Lloyd George had spoken of homes fit for heroes, so they believed the slums would be demolished. Although the soldiers played their part, the politicians were not in a position to make good their promises. Britain in the early 1920s was not a land fit for heroes and a new battle had to be fought for homes and the right to work.

General Sir Douglas Haig (later Field Marshal Earl Haig) refused his earldom until he was satisfied that adequate provision had been made for the men and officers who had served with him during the Great War. He was particularly concerned with those without private means, who were totally incapacitated by their wounds, had no way of earning a living and had insufficient pension to survive on. The circumstances of World War 1, and the peculiarities of the unemployment benefit scheme, meant that ex-officers could be even more destitute than their men.

After the War had ended, there were riots by 4,000 British troops in Calais and a march on by 3,000 soldiers. The move to solve the problems of the ex-Servicemen started to gain momentum. Against this background of dissatisfaction and unrest, the British Legion was formed by of uniting the four national organisations of ex-Servicemen, which existed as a result of the Great War. The title 'British Legion' was first mentioned in May 1921 and was formally adopted on 1 July that year; Earl Haig was its first President. A special employment committee was set up and employers were encouraged to take on at least 5% of disabled men; the Legion also fought to get pensions revised. By 1925, The British Legion had formed 2,500 branches and had 145,000 members.

The poppy emblem was initiated by an American nurse Moina Michael (1870-1944) A YWCA executive and educator who conceived the idea of wearing an artificial poppy in 1918 as a tribute to US veterans and to raise funds for disabled veterans; becoming known as "Flander's Field Poppy Day" as a memorial to the War Dead.

On 11 November 1921, the first British Poppy Day was held in Britain on the 3rd anniversary of the end of the Great War; the appeal raised £106,000.

In 1939, Britain went to war again but the new generation of Servicemen were not prepared to tolerate poor treatment. The Legion's big concern was whether their annual appeal would cater for the wounded of 2 World Wars; however, the funds from Poppy Day continued to rise and by 1945, the year's collection exceeded £1 million. The work of the Legion ensured that the Servicemen of WWII arrived home to a better reception than their fathers. In particular, demobilisation was far more organised, pensions were improved and employers were compelled to accept a quota of disabled ex-Servicemen. The returning Servicemen from WWII received a fair deal as well as honour and this included employment - these rights were a measure of the Legion's Success.

Her Majesty The Queen granted the 'British Legion' its 'Royal' prefix on its 50th Anniversary in 1971. In 1981, full membership was extended to serving members of Her Majesty's Forces. The Falklands War, the Gulf War and Operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia have ensured that The Royal British Legion has a continued welfare task, in addition to caring for survivors of the 2 World Wars. The Legion continues to carry out the objects for which it was created by endeavouring to:

• Promote the relief of need and promote the education of ordinary members, their spouses, their children and their dependants.
• Relieve need and preserve/protect the mental/emotional health of the women and children left by those who have fallen in the service of the country.
• Relieve suffering, hardship and distress to spouses and dependants of those serving in the Navy, Army and Air Forces, caused by absence on duty.
• Promote and support schemes for the resettlement, rehabilitation, retraining and sheltered employment of members, spouses children and dependants.