08/10/2025
A Brief Early History of The Bourne Royal British Legion
On the 8th of July 1921 The Bourne British Legion formed.
Chairman: - G A Phillips
Treasurer: - W Morris
Secretary: - H W Hubble
After a long endeavour, in August 1921, the Bourne Branch of The British Legion, formerly the Comrades, succeeded in obtaining a site for a hut which they secured for the purposes of their headquarters. The land belonged to local resident Mrs. Spears and was on loan for 5 years. By September, they had acquired a hut, which had been used in the Great War as a billeting hut for the troops, before setting off to France. Members were grateful to local residents for their donations. The hut was erected by members, in their spare time. Several of the men were expert bricklayers and it was these, who laid the foundations, hopeful that they would finish the work, before winter set in, so they could start on the interior.
In October, members organized a dance, which took place in the Parish Hall, on Armistice night. The profit of the dance went towards “The Hut Fund”.
Over the coming years the members organized many of these events to raise money. A strong women’s section had developed and it was mainly these ladies that did the organization.
In 1928 The Club secured the lease on the land until 1949 and by 1936 it had accrued £20.000 in the building fund. This was enough money to build a new brick headquarters and in March 1936, a planning application was sent to the council.
It is assumed that before this venture took place, it might in the best interests of the members, to purchase the land out right, before placing an expensive building on it. The land was believed to have been purchased by the club somewhere between 1938/39. When WW2 broke out and any building plans were probably left on hold. It’s been on hold ever since and that billeting hut has survived throughout.
It was the women’s section that ran the branch through the war years and beyond, organizing events and being responsible for the day to day running of the club. Sadly after many years of dedication and hard work, the women’s section had dwindled to just a few and eventually disbanded in the mid fifties. The Standard of The Women’s Section was laid up at St Thomas’ on The Bourne at this time.
Over the years the branch survived various troubles and turmoil’s. It nearly came to the point of closing in the mid 90’s, but just like those old days, members rallied together and pulled the club around and to this day still have a building hut fund.
In 1965 The Branch laid up the old standard and dedicated a new one and now, 47 years later, that new Standard has come to its final resting place along side its old comrades.
It has lately been discovered that it the Bourne Royal British Legion is the 8th to be formed in Great Britain (and probably the world),
Peter Morrison
Branch secretary
All the information was compiled by Allan Durrant and Peter Morrison with the intention writing a history.
