Volunteers needed for annual Poppy Appeal in Belgium

October 8, 2026

This year’s Belgian Poppy Appeal in Belgium will be launched in Antwerp on 17 October.

The appeal will take place from 10am-4pm on the Meir in Antwerp, near the statue De Hand.

Three Belgian branches, Antwerp, Brussels and Ypres, are coming together to join forces for this year’s Poppy Appeal launch.

The annual event is held in honour of those who lost their lives on active service from the beginning of WW1 to the present day.

Volunteers are needed to man the stands and stand/walk with poppy boxes throughout the day.

Anyone who can spare an hour to help man the poppy box stand between 10am-4pm, should contact:

Antwerp.Secretary@rbl.community

Sid Wilkins,Chairman of the Royal British Legion, Antwerp Branch, said, “We would welcome our friends from Brussels, if you can spare an hour or two to sell poppies and support the Poppy Appeal we would appreciate it.We remember all those who have served, and who lost their lives on active service, from the beginning of the First World War to the present day.”

A Royal British Legion spokesman said, “An hour or two is all we ask – but people are welcome for as long as they like.”

The branches will sell poppy items to the general public throughout the day and, in the afternoon, they will be joined by the Red Hackle Pipes and Drums and their Highland dancers. The branch standards will attend and lay a wreath.

In addition to the poppy appeal, this year there will also be a commemoration,starting at 11am, at the V1 Bombs memorial at the location of the first V bomb that fell on Antwerp.

The German V-1 and V-2 bomb campaign against Antwerp killed approximately 3,000 to 4,500 people in the city and surrounding areas. On December 16, 1944, a V-2 rocket struck the busy Cinema Rex on De Keyserlei, killing 567 people (including 271 civilians and 296 Allied soldiers).

. http://www.britishlegion.org.uk