Poppy rage appears to be losing its poisonous edge, so maybe the message is sinking in
Nobody should be compelled to wear the controversial poppy symbol — a sentiment even echoed by the British Legion and the Imperial War Museum.
Changing meaning of the poppy
According to Laura Clouting, the First World War curator at the Imperial War Museum in London, the perception of the poppy has evolved over time.
“It has now come to symbolise the sacrifice and effort of the armed forces in more recent conflicts,”
Clouting explains in a video published on the museum’s website. However, she adds that as modern conflicts have grown more complex and morally uncertain, the poppy has become more divisive.
“The red poppy, unlike the white one used to promote peace, has been appropriated by far-right groups,”
she notes, adding that some critics associate it with Britain’s military actions, particularly in Northern Ireland.
Memory, history, and symbolism
For many who grew up in Northern Ireland, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, the legacy of war was part of everyday life. Children played with their fathers' and grandfathers' steel helmets, empty ammunition clips, and old flasks found around their homes.
On the streets of west Belfast — places like the Falls Road, Rockville Street, and McCrory Park — relics such as bayonets, spent .303 cartridges, and decommissioned grenades served as tangible links to relatives who had fought and died in the world wars.
Author’s summary
The symbolism of the poppy continues to evolve, reflecting both remembrance and controversy as Britain reckons with its historical and modern conflicts.