“Lest we forget” is the line quoted annually around Armistice Day to emphasise the importance of remembering troops who have died for their country in conflicts.

The Royal British Legion is nationally at the forefront of the commemorations and the Borehamwood branch is involved in promoting this message of remembrance.

The organisation has 545 members from the town and the surrounding areas and celebrated its 70th anniversary last month.

Since it opened in Shenley Road in 1938, it has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds through the Poppy Appeal, which gives financial help to former service men and women.

The group’s vice chairman, David Lowther, joined 25 years ago and says it is not just the elderly war veterans who benefit from the services.

He said: “While many think the old are the main recipients of these funds, presently an enormous amount is going to assist the young service personnel and their families who have been killed or injured during their service.

“When a member of the armed forces is discharged, he or she is given a pitt- ance to carry on with his or her life, with compensation being much less than a comparable civilian.

“This is where the Poppy Appeal steps in to help them re-build their lives.”

Last year, the group raised £21,000 through the sale of poppies and other merchandise such as key rings, magnets and brooches.

The legion provides wheelchairs, stair-lifts and loans, and helps find accommodation for troops in need.

Mr Lowther said: “My father lost his hearing in the Second World War when a shell exploded near him and, when he came back in 1946, he went to the legion.

“As he was having trouble finding work because of his loss of hearing the men there helped him get a pension. He was helped like many others are now.”

Chairman of the group, John Brown, started working with the legion in 1961 by initially helping to raise money for the Poppy Appeal. In 1967, he became a full member and in 1994 he became chairman of the Borehamwood and district branch. Mr Brown highlighted the importance of the legion to those involved in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said: “At this year’s parade there was a Borehamwood man who had just returned from Iraq on leave.

“There was a round of applause for him and people were thanking him for what he was doing.

“The service on Remembrance Day is to remember those who have died, but is for those who are suffering because of war and also for those who are out there now.

“The point is that there is a lot of publicity given when someone dies, but it seems that the injured are often forgotten.

“There could be a loss of limbs, sanity, livelihood and often a loss of hope — and the people who suffer this can be overlooked.

“The Government needs to try to do more for people in this situation and the state should be looking after them as much as possible.

“The legion helps as much as it can and that can only happen through others and the Poppy Appeal.”

To join Borehamwood’s Royal British Legion call 020 8386 2900.