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Poppy Appeal wall: Veterans stories shared on installation

PA Media 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, is given a poppy by Maya Renard, aged 6PA Media
The red wall of poppies shares the stories of veterans who have been helped by the Royal British Legion

A wall of poppies featuring the stories of those who served in the armed forces has been unveiled in London.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its annual poppy appeal with the installation in central London.

The poppy became a symbol of remembrance for those killed in World War One and is now often worn as a tribute to those still serving.

D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 98, was among those who shared their experience of the armed forces on the wall.

Mr Morgan was a code and cipher operator during World War Two and became the youngest RAF sergeant to land on Gold Beach in Normandy. Due to the sensitive equipment he operated, for the first three days after D-Day, June 6, 1944, Mr Morgan was moored on ship a few hundred yards off the beach.

The red wall covered in paper flower tributes, dedicated to military personnel and their families, was unveiled in Hay's Galleria on Thursday.

PA Media Army Veteran Clive Jones, Afghanistan Veteran Anthony Cooper, and 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard MorganPA Media
The stories of army veteran Clive Jones, Afghanistan veteran Anthony Cooper and 98-year-old D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan are shared on the wall

Veterans who have been helped by the charity are featured on the wall and the public is being invited to pick the paper flowers from the installation to reveal their stories.

Clive Jones, another contributor, said it was wonderful and he was "very proud to be here".

The former Welsh Guardsman who was blinded in an unprovoked assault 21 years ago said: "Adjusting to civilian lifestyle really wasn't easy and the Royal British Legion has been there for me and my family since the start."

Wearing a poppy is a "mark of respect and pride" said the veteran, adding that: "I think it's very important that you wear the poppy and donate where you can."

PA Media 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard MorganPA Media
D-Day veteran Mr Morgan shows a picture of him in the RAF

Imogen, 11, whose father is in the Army said the RBL had introduced her to other children in a similar situation through a charity-funded choir.

"We can all relate to each other and it's easier for us to understand because when we say, 'my dad is going to have to go away for six months' someone else would be like 'it's going to be okay because we can go through it together because my dad has to go away as well so we can both be here for each other'", she said.

Her mother Rachel said the children were "incredibly resilient", adding: "It's difficult but to be honest it's something that's just become a part of our lives."

PA Media (L-R) Afghanistan Veteran Sally Renard with her daughters Daisy and Maya, Army Veteran Clive Jones, Afghanistan Veteran Anthony Cooper, 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, military child Imogen Nicol, and military widow Chantelle WynnPA Media
The public is invited to pick a poppy from the wall to uncover the story of someone who has helped the charity

Fundraising lead at the RBL, Andy Taylor-White said asking people to wear a poppy was "very relevant right now", adding that: "We're supporting people with cost of living grants but also veterans who are in need of welfare and support.

Supporting the charity was a way of showing respect to "veterans before who have given the ultimate sacrifice" as well as serving members, he added.

Remembrance Day - marking the day World War One ended in 1918 - is on 11 November.

A strike by Network Rail workers has been re-arranged to avoid clashing with the Royal British Legion's London Poppy Day appeal on 3 November.