SSAFA Fife

25/10/2026

SSAFA Fife Branch attending opening of Field of Remembrance Kirkcaldy.

Kirkcaldy RBLS opened their first ever Field of Remembrance on Saturday 24th October 2026, next to the Kirkcaldy War Memorial.
The Garden of Remembrance was formally opened by Robert Balfour, Lord Lieutenant of Fife, SSAFA Fife Branch President, and guests at the ceremony included Melanie Ward, MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Julie MacDougall MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, councillors and representatives from a number of local organisations, including SSAFA the Armed Forces charity. (pictured)

The garden has been organised by the Kirkcaldy branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland and it also marks the 100th anniversary of the poppy in Scotland - the doors to Lady Haig’s poppy factory in Edinburgh opened in 1926.

Mr Robert Balfour said: “Each cross placed here represents a name on the War Memorial, a relative, colleague, friend or ancestor. It may also remember someone anonymously who gave their life on our behalf. There is no one here whose family didn’t lose someone in World War 1 or World War II. We will remember them.”

Armistice Day will mark the 108th anniversary of the end of The Great War, 110 years since the the Battle of the Somme, the 105th year since the birth of the Royal British Legion Scotland and the 101st anniversary of the opening of the Kirkcaldy War Memorial.

22/10/2026

Free Wills Month
October is Free Wills Month and through SSAFA's Free Wills Services, you can write or update a simple will online over the phone or by visiting a solicitor.
Having a will in place helps ensure your wishes are respected and that the people and causes you care about are remembered in the way you choose.
Many people who use these services choose to leave a gift to SSAFA, but there is no obligation to do so. Any gift, large or small, can help SSAFA support the Armed Forces community.

Find out More:
http://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/other-ways-to-give/ gifts- in- wills/free-will-services

19/10/2026

You don't have to face it alone
Domestic abuse can affect anyone, including people within the Armed Forces community. If you or someone is experiencing domestic abuse and needs support, SSAFA's Forcesline is here to listen and Help.
Because no one should ever battle alone.

Forcesline: 0800 260 6780

Find out more: http://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/forcesline

19/10/2026

16/10/2026

October-Black History Month
This Black History Month, we're taking time to recognise and celebrate the contributions, achievements, and experiences of Black people across the Armed Forces community.
From those who have served throughout our history to those who have served today, we're proud of the diverse community that makes up our Armed Forces.

14/10/2026

Visit our SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity Christmas Shop, and help us to support our Armed Forces community.

07/10/2026

National Cadets week.
We're marking the first ever National Cadets week by sharing the love and thank you for our local cadets, cadet instructors and volunteers.
We're so proud to work together to celebrate and champion our armed forces community.

CADETS IN THE COMMUNITY 🌱💙
Being an RAF Air Cadet is about so much more than what happens on squadron nights.
Across the country, our cadets are getting stuck in, supporting local communities, volunteering at events, raising money for good causes, taking part in Remembrance parades and lending a helping hand wherever they can.
It’s a chance to give something back, meet new people and make a real difference, while developing confidence, teamwork, leadership and skills for life along the way.

30/09/2026

23/09/2026

Over the weekend of 20/21 September 2026, services and commemorations took place across the UK for the 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The Battle of Britain was a major air campaign fought largely over southern England in the summer and autumn of 1940. After the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and the Fall of France, Germany planned to gain air superiority in preparation for an invasion of Great Britain. The pilots of RAF Fighter Command, flying iconic aircraft including the Hurricane and Spitfire, were supported by a vast network of ground crew during the battle. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe was defeated by Fighter Command, forcing Adolf Hi**er to abandon his invasion plans. Having been defeated in daylight, the Luftwaffe turned its attention to the Blitz night campaign which lasted until May 1941.
Nearly 3,000 men of the RAF took part in the Battle of Britain – those who Winston Churchill called ‘The Few’. While most of the pilots were British, Fighter Command was an international force. Men came from all over the Commonwealth and occupied Europe – from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Belgium, France, Poland and Czechoslovakia. There were even some pilots from the neutral United States and Ireland.
The British developed an air defence network that would give them a critical advantage in the Battle of Britain. This brought together technology such as radar, ground defences and fighter aircraft into a unified system of defence.
Many people in addition to Churchill’s ‘Few’ worked to defend Britain. Ground crew – including riggers, fitters, armourers, and repair and maintenance engineers – looked after the aircraft. Factory workers helped keep aircraft production up. The Observer Corps tracked incoming raids – its tens of thousands of volunteers ensured that the 1,000 observation posts were continuously manned. Anti-aircraft gunners, searchlight operators and barrage balloon crews all played vital roles in Britain’s defence. Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) served as radar operators and worked as plotters, tracking raids in the group and sector operations rooms.
During the height of the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill made his famous quote " Never was so much owed by so many to so few".
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Pictures; RAF Memorial window, Scottish National War Memorial (by permission)
Getty images, Air crew looking to the skies, Operations Room, RAF Uxbridge.

22/09/2026

Commemorative anniversary weekend, Operation market garden, Arnheim, 'A bridge too far'