Silk Remembrance Poppy laid in 1921 by Field Marshal Haig
The Green Howards Museum, Richmond, North Yorkshire
Nowadays, it is virtually impossible to separate acts of remembrance for World War One from the image of the poppy. This connection was made early on by the Canadian doctor John McCrae in his now famous poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915. This poem was to inspire an American university lecturer, Moina Michael, to create and sell the first remembrance poppies, made from silk. It was Frenchwoman Anna Guerin who brought them to England.
This poppy was laid by Field Marshal Haig, who commanded the British Expeditionary Force from late 1915 on the Western Front. He laid this poppy on the Cenotaph in London during the remembrance service held in 1921. It was one of 9 million silk poppies ordered that year by the newly formed British Legion after Anna Guerin met with Haig and persuaded him to adopt the poppies as a emblem for the organisation. You can also watch a video created by The Green Howards Museum about this poppy on their YouTube channel.
The idea behind the poppy
Michael had volunteered during the war, taking leave of absence from the University of Georgia to assist in the New York headquarters for the training centre for the Young Women’s Christian Association, working with those who would be going overseas. After the war, she returned to teaching and, whilst working with a group of disabled veterans, conceived the idea to sell poppies in order to raise money to help others left disabled by the war.
Talking Points
Did it surprise you to learn that remembrance poppies have been around since 1921?
Why do you think the original makers decided to use silk to make these poppies?
Look carefully at the design of the poppy. How have the makers tried to accurately capture the details of a poppy? Have a look at other images of red corn poppies to help you decide.
Why do you think the poppy has captured imaginations and continued as a symbol of remembrance for so long?
What other acts of remembrance are you familiar with?
In the Classroom
You can watch a video about about this poppy, created by The Green Howards Museum on their YouTube channel.
Hands on History
Visit The Green Howards Museum to find out more about 300 years of conflict, told across 35,000 artefacts. School groups can also take part in a range of workshops at the museum, including ‘A War of Words: writing and conflict’ and ‘Remembrance: All Faiths and None’.
You can borrow World War One handling boxes across North Yorkshire, including from:
Scarborough Museums and Galleries,
The Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes.
Scarborough Museums and Galleries also offers a creative workshop on this theme.
Museum Location
More objects from the First World War