The Comrades of The Great War were formed in 1917 as an association to represent the rights of ex-service men and women who had served or had been discharged from service during World War I. Comrades of The Great War was one of the original four ex-service associations that amalgamated on Sunday 15 May 1921 to form The British Legion.[1]
The organisation was founded by John Joseph Woodward who was also secretary and Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby as a right-wing alternative to the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers (NFDSS) and the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers. In particular, the NFDSS had put a candidate up against Derby's son in the 1917 Liverpool Abercromby by-election.[1] Historian Niall Barr has stated that the movement was intended to "form a buttress against Bolshevism": its leader, Conservative Party MP Wilfrid Ashley was also secretary of the Anti-Socialist Union.[2]
References
- ^ Ian Frederick William Beckett, The Great War, 1914-1918, p.572
- ^ Barnett, Marcus; Broder, David (12 November 2018). "Comrades at War". Jacobin. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
External links
- British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club - Comrades of the Great War Badges
- Badge Exhibition at the Royal British Legion in North Staffordshire's On-Line Museum
- Badge
- Badge
- Unity Badges of the Founding Associations
- History of the association in Bures, Suffolk
Clubs
- Comrades of the Great War Club, Coulsdon Club History - 27 June 1919
- Comrades [of the Great War] Club, Godmanchester History 1920 - 1929
- Ballyclare Comrades Football Club