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Ret anted from “ Town and Country Nems *’ /or August 14 , 1931 
, *j . '* Jr - : . r / •-iy, j • :•; . •. 1 •' 
THE BRITISH LEGION POPPY FACTORY 
~> . 
\jt As an instance of successful enter- 
* prise under what many would consider 
insuperable difficulties, the work of the 
British Legion Poppy Factory Limited, 
of Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey, 
is worthy of unstinted admiration and 
whole-hearted support. This great busi¬ 
ness which was founded by The Disabled 
Society and is registered under the War 
Charities Act, 1916 , does truly charitable, 
work, from whatever aspect one considers 
its functions. At the same time it is a 
sound business proposition, run on the 
most up-to-date lines. This is all the 
more remarkable, when it is realised that 
none but disabled men are employed. 
Indeed, it is believed to be the only factory 
in the world where everybody, including 
the manager, is war-disabled. 
Although it started in an exceedingly 
By WILLIAM HARVEY 
Some of the Disabled Men’s Flats. 
The Bowling Green. 
the poppy demand in itself being in¬ 
sufficient to provide continuous work for 
the number of men it is desired to main¬ 
tain on the pay-roll, and who are paid 
at piece-work rates. Artificial flowers 
for table decorations ; bouquets ; button¬ 
holes badges and rosettes are now made r 
in a most artistic and efficient manner. S 
■ ... _ J* i 
Although considerable progress in this 
direction can be recorded, there is plenty 
of room for keener support from the 
public, who are reminded that tfte more 
work given to the factory the. greater 
is the number of men that can be employ¬ 
ed—and the “ waiting list ” of disabled 
men is a long one 1 Fortunately, the 
sale of badges and rosettes increases, 
thanks to the generous support of British 
Legion Branches, horse show and foot¬ 
ball match organisers, and others who 
have use for such articles. 
' * ' -• ' - t A /tilt ■ . a- • = . 1 A • » 
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modest way, with only five employees, 
who worked in a small workshop in the 
Old Kent Road, this marvellous, under¬ 
taking now employs 271 disabled men, 
including Mr. C-. W. Howe (late Devon 
Regt.), secretary and manager of works 
and housing estate, in its present up- 
to-date factory. The latter is now entirely 
self-contained, even to the extent of doing 
its own printing, and so far has it pro¬ 
gressed that not only the petals of the 
poppies, but the centres, boxes, chenille 
and seeds, which w r ere formerly purchased, 
are now manufactured in the factory. 
/ It is a great pity that our Colonies do not 
place their orders with this factory for 
their poppy centres ! 
In addition to making the poppies, 
which are sold on the annual “ Poppy 
Day,” the British Legion Poppy Factory 
has branched out into other activities, 
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