IN 1921 a group of unemployed men with fresh memories of a bloody war got together to help raise funds for fellow ex-servicemen.

These forgotten heroes had returned home from "the war to end all wars" to a country where they found themselves out of work and with uncertain prospects.

They did something about it, grouping together to form a club to help out others in need and perpetuate the comradeship forged in the trenches.

Eighty years on and there are more than 10,000 Royal British Legion branches in towns and villages all over the country including Malvern, which was one of the founder branches.

Local Legion clubs are at the heart of the social side of the organisation, but it does much more, providing vital support to those who need it most.

John Kimberley, of Ashperton, near Ledbury, has been a member and tireless worker for the Legion for more than 20 years. In 1998 he was presented with the National Certificate of Appreciation, the organisation's highest award.

He said the prime object of the Legion was the welfare of the ex-servicemen, their widows and their dependents.

"A lot of people think it's just for First World War and Second World War people to talk about the war, but it's for all ex-servicemen and women," he said.

"When you consider we've had Korea, Malaya, The Gulf, Falklands and Northern Ireland, we're talking seven to eight million people still eligible for help from the Legion.

"It's not many years since we found a man in Canada who had fought in the Boer War so, bearing that in mind, together with all the modern day medicines, people are living a lot longer than they used to."

Fortunately the Poppy Day Appeal is still very strong and last year raised a record £20 million.

This enables the Legion to provide assistance such as providing training courses, arranging convalescent breaks in its own homes or giving out grants.

Tony Hartley-Woolley, the county field officer for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said they gave out about £60,000 worth of grants last year.

"We give out grants for everything, from the purchase of electric wheelchairs and scooters to homeless people who need help moving into new accommodation," he said.

"We gave out a grant recently to someone whose home was flooded in the winter floods and we helped him pay for new furniture and household goods. We've also helped people resettle and helped them with their war pension claims."

"It's not just about buying two cwt of coal. Now we're funding an extension for someone who has got a disabled child. But we also do things like home visits and fill in benefit forms. I'm doing one for someone who can't read and write - that's not uncommon," he said.

However, despite all their good work, Legion numbers are dwindling with time.

Sandy Lawrie, the county recruiting officer, said his job is not easy nowadays.

"We keep getting new members but as fast as we get them we seem to be losing them and it's difficult to get young people interested, especially if there's not a club. The smaller branches are really struggling," he said.

On a positive note he said he couldn't see the Legion ever finishing completely.

"There will always be people in the forces and always be people who need help and even if not ex-service people directly, we look after their relatives," he said.

"I get the impression that people think the Legion is full of old men sitting around talking about the war. Yes, you do get them, but there is a lot more work that gets carried out. We have to look to the future because there will always be people needing help," said Mr Lawrie.

For 50 years there has also been a women's section which was set up for the wives and daughters of Legion members.

Marjorie Mayo, President of the Barnards Green branch, said the section was set up because "they wanted to help their men".

"We're raising money all the time for the widows," she said.

"We keep going in Barnards Green, although our numbers are down to about 12 and the Malvern Link members are going to start coming to us," she said.