The Poppy Umbrella: Inspired by “In Flanders Fields”
The unique umbrella known as The Poppy Umbrella was inspired by the image of poppies growing on the Flanders battlefield from John McCrae's poem “In Flanders Fields”.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row...
The Poppy Umbrella was the idea of retired Lieutenant-Colonel Graham Parker, O.B.E., who was inspired to create it as a vivid reminder of Remembrance all year round. Sales of this practical and eye-catching umbrella also now help to generate funds for Service-related charities.
Where the Poppy Umbrella Began
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On 11th November 1995 Graham was in Ypres to take part in the annual Armistice Day ceremonies. For several years he had been associated with Remembrance events in Ypres (now called by its Flemish name of Ieper) and he had instigated The 11th November Armistice Day Poppy Parade.
In advance of the main parade of bands, standard bearers and soldiers, Graham marched off at the head of The Poppy Parade. Several hundred people, marching in ranks of four, set off from St. George's Memorial Church to make their way through the streets of Ieper to the morning ceremony at The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing.
A Sudden Shower of Rain
Just as The Poppy Parade set off there was a sudden heavy rainstorm. On reaching the market square and the Cloth Hall Graham could see crowds of visitors and local people lining the road to the Menin Gate. The downpour resulted in umbrellas of all colours suddenly appearing along the route.
Remembering the Battles of 1915
That year the Armistice Day Service was commemorating the 80th anniversary of the battles of 1915 in the Ypres Salient.
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Arriving at the Menin Gate for the ceremony Graham’s thoughts turned to May 1915 and a soldiers’ cemetery close to Ypres called Essex Farm cemetery. This is believed to be the location where the powerful image of poppies growing among the soldiers’ graves was portrayed in the poem “In Flanders Fields”.
It is believed that the Canadian Army doctor, Major John McCrae, wrote the poem on 2nd May 1915 after he had buried his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer during The Second Battle of Ypres. Lieutenant Helmer's grave was subsequently lost and he is commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing (Panel 10).
In Flanders Fields PoemThe Poppy Umbrella
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The images of poppies on the old Flanders battlefield and the umbrellas lining the route on that wet Armistice Day were Graham’s inspiration at that moment for The Poppy Umbrella.
Graham's daughter, Joanna, created the design of the single red poppy on the umbrella cover.
Launch of The Poppy Umbrella
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In May 1998 The Poppy Umbrella was launched at the Chelsea Flower Show. The very first Poppy Umbrella was presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent by a pensioner from the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Over the next few days of the Chelsea Flower Show over 2,000 Poppy Umbrellas were sold to the public. All proceeds were passed to the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Rembrella Ltd.
Having completed 32 years’ Regular Army Service Graham remained on the British Army Staff in Belgium for a further 12 years. On his retirement from the British Army in 1995 Graham founded Rembrella Ltd. as the trading company for The Poppy Umbrella.
Graham is a respected historian and battlefield guide, specializing in the study of The Western Front 1914-1918. Graham's uncle was killed in action during the last week of the Battle of the Somme in November 1916. Two of his wife's uncles are buried in France. His cousin was reported missing in action off the coast of Italy in 1943.
See our page about us and our involvement with Remembrance and the First World War over the last thirty years at:
Rembrella Ltd. at www.rembrella.co.uk
Order your Poppy Umbrella OnlineRelated Topics
Armistice Day Commemorations in Ypres
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See our page about the various Armistice Day commemoration events which take place every year in Ypres, Belgium.
11th November Annual Armistice Day Commemoration in Ypres
Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres
Find out more about the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, where over 52,000 names are inscribed to those British and Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave in the Ypres Salient battlefields.
Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres
Acknowledgements
Photograph of Essex Farm cemetery: (IWM neg. no. 100418) by kind permission of the Imperial War Museum, Department of Photographs