Jackie Macadam traces the history of the sale of Remembrance poppies on their 100th anniversary.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders’ Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders’ Fields.

THE poem left, In Flanders Fields, was written by Lt Col John McCrae, a Canadian army doctor, working as a field hospital surgeon.

It was written in 1915 after the funeral and burial of a friend who was killed during the Second Battle of Ypres.

The poem touched many people across the world, and became incredibly popular. McCrae died from pneumonia in 1918.

Some years after the end of the war, Earl Haig spotted some French widows selling red silk poppies to raise funds to help disabled ex-servicemen. The poppy had seemed indestructible to the soldiers, growing even among the churned-up earth and horror of the trenches and on No-Man’s land.

In November 1921, nine million silk poppies were sold, having been ordered by Haig to sell and support ex-servicemen.

One hundred years later and the poppy is still a symbol of Remembrance. It has spawned many iterations – purple poppies to remember animal victims of conflicts; white peace poppies, and has even led to poppy-envy when there seems to be one poppy for most people and fancy poppies with leaves and multiple petals for those liable to be seen on television.

“When I wear my poppy, I have a variety of emotions from pride in the service of many, humbled by the sacrifice of those who have gone before and hopeful of a time when as nations we can live in peace together. These feelings all tie back to my faith, and I know both the Poppy and my faith will remain with me,” says Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland an eight-year RAF veteran.

“My very first connection with Poppyscotland was as a young Scout of the 25th (Fife) Markinch Scout Group when we would take part in the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal, and I can always remember standing at the Markinch War Memorial before attending the Remembrance Sunday service until I joined the RAF. As a serviceman the Poppy Appeal was always a big part of what we do and who we support every November no matter what camp I was serving on I’d be involved in the local Poppy Appeal,” he says.

It’s a job that means more than he can put in to words to him.

“Every day I am humbled to do the job that I do, in many ways it is as if I am serving again, but this time in a different type of uniform. To be one of the guardians of our nation’s symbol of Remembrance is a duty I do not take on lightly – every day I am inspired by those who want to help those men and woman who have over the years taken the King or Queen’s shilling. Those that we help all year round are those very people that left home at a young age, just as I did, full of hopes and dreams that their service will help keep our nation safe, but through service or health challenges they now need our support and the thought that if I do my job to the best of my ability and I can inspire my team to be inspired in the same way as others inspire me, we can then make a difference to those who need our support.

“Duty, sacrifice, service are all powerful words that exemplify those we support, and these words drive me on daily to make a difference to their lives.”

A family man, and a church elder, Gordon has recently become a grandad, for the first (September) and second (November) time!

“I was ordained as a ruling elder at Markinch Parish Church in 1999 but over the years due to my work commitments I have taken a couple of periods of sabbatical from these duties. However, my faith is very strong and is a big part of who I am and it is certainly a major part of directing my moral compass and my desire to help those in need. One of the principles I live my life by is the motto of Legion Scotland – Service not Self!”

After his time with the RAF, Gordon became a fundraising consultant. That’s when he came into contact with Poppyscotland again, and the position that led to being offered his current post.

“As a consultant I provided fundraising services to Poppyscotland from 1999 through to 2016 when I was offered my current role as Head of Fundraising and Learning. However, when I was a consultant, I started volunteering at the Edinburgh Field of Remembrance and between 2011 and 2015 I was ever present, planting the Remembrance symbols in Princes Street Gardens at the Scott Monument, reading some of the tributes and speaking to the public and this further strengthened my love for this national institution that supports the armed forces community in Scotland.

The time of the global pandemic has been challenging for charities, and Gordon felt it keenly.

“Last year during the Covid-19 pandemic I had one of the most challenging messages to deliver to all our communities in Scotland and that was to stay at home and pay your respects to the Fallen, not at your local war memorial, but on your doorstep, as we needed to ensure that we were as a community playing our part in the fight against Covid. This was an emotional message to deliver – who am I to tell the Korean veteran or the sailor who was in the Falklands or the soldier who had walked the streets of Northern Ireland to stay at home?

One hundred years later and the poppy is still a symbol of Remembrance.

I know it was the right thing to do, but in many ways, this highlighted how privileged I am to do what I do.”

The work of Poppyscotland, and the part played by the Lady Haig Poppy Factory, plays a vital role, even today, for ex-servicemen.

Gordon is earnest when he says: “It is simply life changing to those that we support. Everyone is different, and each beneficiary has their own unique set of challenges that they need support in overcoming and that is where my colleagues in our welfare services team come into their own. By providing support, guidance and help tailored to their individual needs. From the many beneficiaries that I have spoken to the overarching feeling towards what we do is one of gratitude, not just to the staff who helped them directly, but to the volunteers and the donors who give their time and money to ensure we can support them. One of the most pleasing parts of my job is to say thank you on their behalf and I cannot stress enough the importance of those two little words. THANK YOU!”