In the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and its former colonies, an ex-service organisation is a voluntary organisation

Organization

An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...

 dedicated to the welfare of ex-service

Ex-service

Ex-service is a British term which refers to those who have served in the British Empire or Commonwealth Armed Forces. Earlier, the term ex-servicemen or Ex-servicewomen was used, but has been replaced with one having no gender connotations....

 personnel (veteran

Veteran

A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...

s). In addition to welfare services, they often participate in community projects and their 'local' or club is often a well-known meeting place or restaurant in a locality.

Membership is generally open to ex-service personnel, serving or retired members of the armed forces, police officers and sometimes to members of the public.

Organisations

• The Royal British Legion
  The Royal British Legion
  The Royal British Legion , sometimes referred to as simply The Legion, is the United Kingdom's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependants.-History:The British Legion was...
  
  
• Royal Air Forces Association
  Royal Air Forces Association
  The Royal Air Forces Association, more often known as RAF Association, or simply RAFA, is a UK based charitable organization which provides care and support to serving and retired members of the "Royal Air Forces" and their dependents.The organisation, which was formed in 1943, receives no funding...
  
  
• Royal Canadian Legion
  Royal Canadian Legion
  The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
  
  
• Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
  Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
  The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, often referred to as the Returned Services' Association but best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary welfare organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest ex-service organisations in the world.Wounded soldiers...
  
  
• Returned and Services League of Australia
  Returned and Services League of Australia
  The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
  
  

See also

• And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
  And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
  "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is a song written by Scottish-born Australian singer-songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971. The song describes war as futile and gruesome, while criticising those who seek to glorify it...
  
  
• VFW
  VFW
  VFW may refer to:*Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke*Veterans of Foreign Wars*Veterans of Future Wars*Video for Windows*VFW Parkway...