Minutes of the Manx Discharged and Demobilised Sailors' and Soldiers' Association, subsequently the Manx Legion with affiliation to the British Legion

Date(s): August 1919-February 1938

Scope & Content: Contains minutes of meetings of Executive Committee, AGMs and some branch meetings of the Association. Loose leaf and pasted-in enclosures include a letter from Leigh Goldie-Taubman of the Nunnery thanking Chairman D T Bean for a badge of membership, presented as a gift dring an 'At Home' at the Nunnery. The President writes that his words of thanks at the time 'were somewhat faltering ... as they had come on the spur of the moment, and I felt rather tongue-tied from the very fact of being so touched by the gift' (16 February 1922); also a reprinted article from the Isle of Man Examiner of 14 December 1928 'The Manx Legion. Tenth Anniversary of War Survivors' Organisation. Another Year's Noble Work Achieved'.

Administration / Biographical History: The Association was formed in June 1918 (as stated in a 1920 newspaper article, 'The D.S. & S. Association. What it Does, and What it Could Do') with the second AGM of the Association being held at Douglas Headquarters on 20 October 1919. By this time membership was near 1,000 with members receiving advice about pensions and gratuities, recommendations for employment and resettlement, support for families of the fallen and training for disabled ex-servicemen as well as a means of social interaction and recreation and representation on relevant island committees and schemes. Gradually Branch clubs were established to complement the first area branch in Douglas. In 1922 consideration was given to affiliating with the British Legion. On 22 April of that year two British Legion representatives addressed the monthly Executive Committee meeting setting out the implication of affiliation. A minute of a 30 October 1922 meeting reads 'Resolved that a recommendation of affiliation be laid before an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members to be called on 11 November 1922'. That particular meeting is not recorded. In 1928 the Association was operating under the title 'The Manx Legion' and not fully affiliated with the British Legion, Chairman McEvoy stating 'The queston of our affiliation to the British Legion has received attention and we look forward to the time, which may not be far distant, when we will be more closely attached to our brother ex-servicemen on the mainland. Meanwhile we are in close co-operation with them, and we participate in all the schemes which are available to ex-servicemen (reprint of lsle of Man Examiner article, 14 December 1928). In July 1929 the Executive Council was addressed by the Chairman of the North West Area and the Organising Secretary of the British Legion who together appealed to members of the Manx Legion to become affiliated. A subcommittee was appointed in March 1930 to consider the matters of name, assets and financial responsibilities in the event of affiliation and duly reported back the following month, recommending the new name should be The British Legion (Manx District). An Extraordinary General Meeting of members (unminuted) was called for 21 May 1930 to deal with this matter at which it is probable that affiliation was agreed.
The Association was served by a Chairman, Secretary and Executive Committee with established objects and a constitution. Early Honorary Presidents were J Leigh Goldie-Taubman (1919-1928), his brother Major Goldie-Taubman (1928-1937) and Major Taubman (from November 1937).

Language: English

Extent: 1 volume

Physical description: manuscript

Item name: minute book

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FONDS

ID number: MS 11563

Record class: Associational

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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