Veteran says poppy appeal 'carried' him after war

Allen Parton said seeing people wearing poppies feels like a "powerful message"

A veteran has said the Royal British Legion "carried him" after he left the military.

Allen Parton uses a wheelchair after sustaining a head injury during the Gulf War and said the charity helped improve his quality of life by providing one 30 years ago.

He joined service men and women, veterans and families gathered by HMS Warrior to mark the start of the poppy appeal at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

The appeal officially launches across the UK on Saturday and runs until Remembrance Sunday.

Serving men and women gathered to launch the poppy appeal, which starts on Saturday, at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

The BBC has previously spoken to Mr Parton about the impact his service dog, Endal, as well as Endal's predecessor of the same name.

As well as having the support of a service dog, Mr Parton says funding from the Royal British Legion (RBL) helped him and his family when it came to housing and essentials after the war.

He explained: "My wheelchair broke and I rang up the hospital service to see if I could get a new one and rightly or wrongly they said there was no money in the pot for new wheelchairs.

"I literally rung the British Legion up that afternoon and four weeks later I was sat on a fitted wheelchair.

"The quality of life I've had with it and it's lasted me 30 years. Every day I got into my wheelchair, I was reminded that the British Legion was with me and one of the reasons I have the poppies on my wheelchair is to remind people that I've been carried by the British Legion and the poppy appeal."

The launch saw Royal Navy personnel dock Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to delilver the poppies for 2024

This year's focus for the Royal British Legion is drawing attention not just to physical disabilities but also mental scars left behind as a result of service.

Poppy appeal manager Claire Smith said: "Due to the unique challenges of mental health, it's very complex and it varies from person to person, so the RBL is here to support the families and that person."

The poppy appeal runs until Remembrance Sunday

Until 10 November, people are encouraged to donate and wear a poppy, something which Mr Parton feels sends a "powerful message".

He added: "I learnt that when the guns go quiet on the battlefield, the battle with disability, trauma and bereavement just begin, it doesn't end.

"I look at people wearing poppies proudly and I know from first hand experience where that funding goes.

"The message that I get is people care and from where I sit in the wheelchair, that's a powerful message to receive around this time."