by Democrat reporter
HM Naval Base Clyde personnel gathered on Wednesday, October 29, when the first poppies of the 2025 Poppy Scotland Appeal went on sale.
Naval Base staff visiting the HMS Neptune Supermess for lunch stopped to make their donations and receive their poppies which will be available to buy in various locations across the site.
Captain Boyd, Captain of the Base, who was one of the first to buy a poppy for this year’s appeal said: “This event marks the beginning of a poignant period of Remembrance, offering people a chance to honour the fallen, reflect on their sacrifice, and support the ongoing work of Poppy Scotland.
“It’s deeply moving to see the One Clyde Community come together in support of Poppy Scotland. By wearing the poppy, we unite in Remembrance and renew our promise to stand by those who serve and have served.”
The red poppy has been a symbol of Remembrance since 1921 when Earl Haig noticed some French widows – inspired by Lt Col John McCrae’s iconic poem “In Flanders Fields” – selling silk poppies to raise funds for disabled ex-Servicemen.
Recognising the potential of these poppies to become both a symbol of Remembrance and also as a means to support the welfare of ex-Servicemen, he ordered nine million poppies which were sold on 11th November 1921. And so, The Poppy Appeal was born!
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s largest fundraising campaign and takes place annually in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday in November. Today there are over 176,000 Armed Forces veterans in Scotland and for nearly 100 years Poppy Scotland has raised millions of pounds to provide vital life-care for veterans.