A number of ex army and navy men who served in the 1914 –18 war formed an “Ivy Leaf” club at Wardley Colliery in 1919 and built a wooden premises near Wardley Colliery school. It later developed into the British Legion Club and Institute. In 1939 the club moved to Woodbine House, near the pit bridge, and again in 1956 it moved to Wardley Hall which had larger grounds and who’s property was easily accessible from the new housing estates of Ellen Wilkinson and Leam Lane. The Legion ran a social welfare programme for former members of the services and their families. It helped individuals and dependants if they were in need. The pit may have went on strike, laid idle, closed, miners and other workers may have suffered ill health, injured at work and many other reasons. As there was no welfare state until 1948 the British Legion Unity Relief Fund was one avenue of temporary help for those in distress. I decided to incorporate some of their records in this publication to acknowledge the work done by the fund and the volunteers whose efforts ran the organisation and brought some comfort to those in need of help. Also, I found the records a source of family history and hope that it will be of help to genealogists collecting information on their ancestors. 

In April 1921 the election of committee members took place at the Station Hotel, Pelaw. Appointed as officers were Chairman: Mr.T.A.Fenton, 6 Charlton’s Buildings, Felling. Vice Chairman & Treasurer:Mr.C.Conway, 4 Elmfield Terrace, Pelaw. Secretary: Mr.L.Green, 67 Waggonway St, Wardley Colliery. Committee members were: Mr,G.Johnson, 13 York Street Pelaw. Mr.Coffell, 23 The Avenue, Felling. Mr.George Eades, 31 Crowhall Lane, Felling. Mr.G.Slowther, 29 Third Street, Wardley Colliery. Mr.P.Spoors, 5 Brandling Terrace, Felling. Mr.W.Alexander, 27 Heworth Village. Mr.R.Cubil, 28 Ridley Street, Felling. Mr.J.Finley, Crowhall Lane, Felling.

April 27th 1921: At a meeting held at “Comrades of the Great War Club and Institute”, Felling, the Secretary was asked to write to H.Q. for funds to purchase writing materials, stamps, etc. On May 19th the branch was registered with Mr.Perkins, Clerk of Felling Council, and it was decided that each represented branch keeps records of its own distress cases. At the next meeting, held at the Station Hotel, Mr.C.Boyston, 39 Quarry Row, Felling, received the sum of £1.

Sept 14th 1921: Resignation of Mr.T.A.Fenton as Chairman.  It is suggested that the branch run a series of dances and whist drives in aid of funds and approach Mr.Gwilliams for the parish hall, Heworth. On Sept 29th Mr.C.Conway requests that the branch contact Mr.T.West, Miners Secretary, Follonsby Lodge DMA, for the miners hall to run dances for four months on a Friday or Monday night. Similar applications were later made to the vicar of Windy Nook and the DLI for use of the Drill Hall, Felling.

Mr.A.Blakey of 80 Hewitson Terrace, Felling, applied for a £25 grant to purchase a pony and flat cart for sale of fruit and veg & light haulage.

May 31st  1922: Moved by Mr.Noble (Pelaw) that Wardley delegates be co-opted onto the committee. The elected officers were- President: Mr.P.Spoors, 1 Brandling Terrace, Felling. Vice President: Mr.John Barnes, Woodbine House, Pelaw. Treasurer: Mr.G.Eades, 31 Crowhall Lane, Felling. Secretary: Mr.Llewellyn Green, 67 Waggonway Street, Wardley Colliery. Auditors: Mr.T.Gooding, 13 Wood Terrace, Pelaw. & Mr.Noble, 8 George Street, Pelaw. Committee members:  Mr.H. Carney, 34 Second Street, Wardley Colliery. Mr.Simpson, 6 Wallace Street, Felling. Mr.Coffell, 23 The Avenue, Felling. Mr.W.Wood, 10 Princess Street. Mr.D.Blakey, 80 Hewiton Terrace, Felling. Mr.J.Hunter, 1 Reservoir Street, Wardley Colliery. Mr.W.Alexanda, 27 Heworth Village. Mr.George Slowther, 29 Third Street, Wardley Colliery.

July 12^th 1922: An open air whist drive arranged for August 22^nd at Heworth Institute and 350 tickets obtained for event. Sept 14^th: It was moved by Mr.G.Eades that the best thanks of this committee be given to our secretary Mr.L.Green for the “able manner in which he tended his correspondence to H.Q. on our behalf”.

January 1923: Formation of a new branch “Pelaw and Wardley” and an account opened at Lloyds Bank, Pelaw branch.  Club office is at Pelaw Club.

 May 31^st 1923: It is moved by Mr.L.Green that Mr.Freeman of 52 Heworth Avenue gets 15s for 4 children and wife for 2 weeks. Husband in hospital. Mr.Nicholson, 27 Reservoir Street gets 10s. Mr.Bought, 60 Reservoir Street 10s, Mr.Moir, 13 Waggonway St 15s (3 children), Mr.Newton, 5 Second Street 10s. Mr.Blakey, 67 Waggonway Street 10s.

Sept 2nd 1926                                                   
T.Carlow, 14 Second St. 5s.                           
D.Burns, 19 The Square.   5s                            
Tho. Foster 93 Wagonway St  5s                       
H.Byfield, 4 Second St.  5s                               
T.Summers, Waggonway St  5s
G.Lockhart, The Crescent.  5s                          
T.Usher, 45 Third St.  5s
J.Adamson, 39 Third St.  10s                            
E.Patterson, Waggonway St. 10J.
Trotter Senior.  5s

August 14th 1927: Application for loan for piggery business of £25. states “Will provide a benefit. There being no other business of its kind in this There is also a keen demand and a ready market for pigs locally”

Oct 30^th 1927: Application for loan for boot repairing business in Wardley, Bill Quay and district. Moved by Mr.J.Trotter, strong recommendation for approval to H.Q. who in our opinion should do well among the mining population for whom he gave generous assistance during the miners crises in 1926 on behalf of miners children and those who were not in a position to pay for repairs etc.

April 7^th 1928: We grant Thomas Foster 10s to assist him in pecuniary need. We grant Robert Brown 10s to assist him in getting food for the family until he receives his first pay.

Feb 27^th 1931: Committee members elected, James Hardy, H.Byfield, L.Green, W.H.Taylor, J.Buck, James Gardener. Groceries (branch provided food vouchers) to be obtained from the CWS Wardley, Felling Shore, & Simpson at Station Road, Bill Quay.

April 3^rd 1931 (Good Friday) : Grants to Mr.T.Stevenson, 43 Waggonway Street  6s. Mr.G.C.Cummings, Waggonway Street  9s.  Mr.W.Dickenson, 81 Waggonway Street  5s.  Mr.J.Thompaon, 32 Waggonway Street  7/6p.  Mr.H.G.Richardson, 42 First Street  8s. Case of John Robinson Moir of 56 Reservoir Street on Aug 3^rd granted 10s.

Sept 1st 1931:  Miss Rowlands, 3 Joel Terrace, Bill Quay. Payment for ambulance to take her to Royal Infirmary for operation to knee and also for assistance during her illness. Mr. Thomas Summerson, The Cottage, North Follonsby, granted 10s. Mr.G.Ed.Holman of 3 Reservoir Street, 15s for two weeks at 7/6 per week until he receives his first compensation.

Jan 3^rd 1932: Small business loan to buy cart horse to Mr.T.Homess  for the purpose of coal hawking from Pelaw Main Staithes. Mr.William Gilbertson, 7 Railway Cottages, Wardley, we grant 7/6d. Mr.Joseph Richardson, 59 Third Street  7/6p.

Dec 17^th 1932: William Dinning, 84 Waggonway Street  14s. William Purdy, 65 Waggonway St.  10s

Henry Byfield, 9 White Mare Pool  10/6p.  George Ed.Holman, 3 Reservoir Street  10s.

May 22^nd 1933: Meeting held in British Legion Club, Wardley Colliery. Benevolent committee elected were Chairman: Mr.J.T.Simpson, 34 Reservoir Street. Secretary: Mr.L.Green, 67 Waggonway Street.

Treasurer: Mr.Jas Hardy, 33 Third Street. Mr.Jas. Gardner, 42 Reservoir Street. Mr.John Ball, 32 First Street.  Co-opted members elected:  Mr.R.W.Smith (County Councillor) 1 West Crescent and Mrs.Smith of same address.

Sept 4^th 1933: Grants of 7/6p awarded to Mr.G.E.Holman, 3 Reservoir Street. Mr.J.Ball, 32 First Street. Mr.R.Brown, 12 Reservoir Street. Mr.D.Ball, 28 Waggonway Street. Mr.W.F.Prime, 23 Third Street. Mr.E.Parkinson, 31 Third Street. Mr.W.Dinning, 84 Waggonway Street. Mr.F.Foster, 39 Third Street. Mr.J.Bell, 37 Third Street. Mr.F.Hodgson, 9 Third Street. Mr.H.Carney, 5 Reservoir Steet. Mr.W.Dickenson, 81 Waggonway Street. Mr.J.Bolam, 89 Waggonway Street. Mr.J.Thompson, 32 Waggonway Street. Mr.W.Old, 13 Second Street. Mr.C.H.Garvey, 51 Reservoir Street. Mr.T.Dixon, 39 Reservoir Street.Mr.J.Robinson, 31 Reservoir Street. Mr.W.Randall, 19 Reservoir Street. Mr.H.Millar, 6 Second Street.    Mr.P.Adamson a grant of 10s.