Let's avoid making the humble poppy a far-right symbol

Let's Avoid Making the Humble Poppy a Far-Right Symbol

Perhaps I have been living under a rock, but neither I nor my friends knew that the symbolic poppy has been appropriated by the far right. Neil Mackay highlights this in his article, “The poppy has been hijacked by the far right – this is why I won’t wear it” (November 6).

Personal Family Wartime Stories

My recently deceased father survived the Normandy landings. His own father was severely injured at Passchendaele by shellfire. After being evacuated to the Netley receiving hospital on Southampton Water, he refused surgeons' attempts to amputate his legs. Despite his injuries, he fought again in Passchendaele, enduring all weather conditions while wearing his kilt.

When he died, he still carried shrapnel dangerously close to his spine and had a hole in his buttock large enough for a fist to enter.

Neil Mackay: “Why I can't risk wearing a poppy this year.”

My mother’s boyfriend was lost with all hands when HMS Kite was torpedoed in 1944—an event that affected her deeply throughout her life.

Legacy and Respect for Sacrifice

Such unwavering dedication and courage belong to those who fought to defend our democracy and country. My father instilled in us support for the Earl Haig Fund and the importance of wearing the poppy as a reminder to “Lest we forget.” Each year, I recall him standing at attention, tears in his eyes during the minute’s silence on the eleventh day of the eleventh hour of the eleventh month.

Author’s Summary

The poppy symbolizes profound sacrifice and should unite rather than be claimed by any political extreme.

The Herald — 2025-11-07