Women war veterans get Legion flag back

WHYTE’S has withdrawn the Royal British Legion flag, right, scheduled to go under the hammer in its auction today.

A photograph of the 1920s standard in The Irish Timeslast weekend prompted a phone call to the fine art auctioneers from a member of the Legion to say that the Dún Laoghaire (formerly Kingstown) and District Women's Section, South County Dublin Branch was still in existence.

It is one of only two women’s sections in the Republic (the other is in Cork) and most of the members, veterans of World War II, are aged in their late 80s and 90s.

Apparently the flag had been inadvertently sold during a house clearance auction following the death of a Legion member some years ago.

Whyte’s has purchased the flag from the current owner – who had agreed to withdraw it from the auction –- and will present it to the Dún Laoghaire Women’s Section, who will have it preserved in the Royal British Legion’s HQ in Dublin.

It may also be on display at Islandbridge in Dublin next month when Queen Elizabeth visits the National War Memorial Gardens.

Whyte’s auction is at 1pm today in the Freemasons’ Hall, Molesworth Street, D2.

- MP