The Formation of the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston Branch of the British Legion

On the 3rd of April, 1924, the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston branch of the British Legion was formed at Castlecraigs, Ardrossan, now known as the Civic Centre.

The British Legion was founded as a voluntary organisation on 15^th May 1921 and brought together four national organisations of ex-servicemen and women who served in the First World War, with the purpose of caring for people who had suffered as a result of service, including not only ex-servicemen, but also their wives and children, widows and orphans and the parents of those who fell during the First World War.  Field Marshall Earl Haig served as its first President and Lance Bombardier Frederick Lister as its first National Chairman, both of whom were instrumental in its formation.

On Thursday 3^rd April 1924 a meeting was held at Castlecraigs, Ardrossan at 8pm for ex-service men and others interested in forming an Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston branch of the British Legion.  Captain James Robb of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (R.S.F.) presided.

Captain Robb introduced the main speaker, Mr Knott, chairman of the Girvan Branch of the British Legion and requested that prior to the start of the meeting, Mr Knott did the honour of decorating the oldest member of the newly formed branch with Ardrossan’s first badge of the British Legion.  Colour-Sergeant Thomas Hughes of Ardrossan, aged 85, had joined up in 1855 and served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers under three British Sovereigns – Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V.

Mr Knott then gave a long and interesting speech on the objectives of the British Legion and why it had come into being.  In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, thousands of young men “joined up” with the various branches of the military.  When the war ended on 11^th November 1918, the surviving ex-servicemen returned home and were de-mobilized. 

The Government had promised to do what they could for the ex-servicemen, but the men found themselves in the position where the only way to move forward was to do it themselves.  Although several social organisations had sprung up following the war which sufficiently met the needs of civilians who had been employed in war work, the needs of the returning veterans were vastly different.  They needed help transitioning to civilian life, finding employment, help with disabilities, and a place to meet socially where they could talk about their experiences with people who understood military life, and where necessary, financial help.

Mr Knott finished his speech by saying “the British Legion was the greatest pacifist organisation in the world because they knew from personal experience the utter futility of war.”  The office bearers and committee members were then elected.  The membership fee was set at 5 shillings.

The next meeting of the Ardrossan, Saltcoats & Stevenston branch of the British Legion took place on Thursday 17^th April at the Saltcoats Y.M.C.A. Institute.

On Saturday 4^th July 1925 the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston branch of the British Legion held their second fancy dress parade and carnival to raise funds to help ex-servicemen, the first having taken place in August 1924.  The streets were lined with large crowds of people as the parade made its way from Eglinton School, Ardrossan and marched down Glasgow Street, then along Princes Street, before making its way through Saltcoats to Stevenston, where it turned around and headed for the Saltcoats Braes.  

Several bands took part in the parade including the Whiteinch S.A. Prize Band, Ardrossan Orange Lodge Flute Band, Ardeer Factory Cadets’ Pipe Band, Ardrossan Burgh Pipe Band, the Glengarnock Orange Lodge Flute Band, West Kilbride Boys Brigade Pipe Band, and the Glasgow Corporation (Gas Department) Brass Band.  Music was also supplied by the Jazz Pierrots and the Countess Scarlet Orchestra.  There was an abundance of decorated lorries, some pulled by horses, featuring models and brands of the era.  Also in the parade, were lots of people dressed in fancy costume, walking, cycling and riding on horseback.

At the Braes in Saltcoats, the fancy dress competition took place, with Provost Isaac T. Fawcett and Captain James Little officiating as judges.  The best dressed lorry was won by the Countess Picture House, with Kerr Stevenston’s model of a sailing ship as runner up.  The prizes were donated by merchants in the Three Towns.

Afterwards the bands had tea at the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Vernon Street, Saltcoats.  In the evening a dance was held in the Masonic Lodge, Bradshaw Street, Saltcoats.  The event raised £217, 12s, 5½d.

The Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston branch of the British Legion established their headquarters in the former Saltcoats Liberal Club, Countess Street, Saltcoats.  On Saturday 17^th October 1925 their new club rooms consisting of two large huts sitting behind the houses on Manse Street, facing the entrance to the Manse (whose site is now occupied by Saltcoats Library) were officially opened by General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, M.P.  The huts contained a recreation room containing both a full-sized and a quarter-sized billiard table, reading room, committee room, kitchen, and toilets.  The large huts came from the Ammunition Filling Factory, Georgetown, Renfrewshire.  Ex-Bailie Price of Ardrossan installed the electrical wiring free of charge.  The tradesmen who outfitted the huts were all ex-servicemen.

Colour-Sergeant Thomas Hughes, the first person to receive the British Legion badge at Ardrossan died 21^st May 1928 at 62 Glasgow Street and is buried in Ardrossan cemetery.  On 29^th May 1971, on its 50^th anniversary, the British Legion became known as the ‘Royal British Legion’.