The Melton Mowbray Branch was formed on the 17th June 1921 and is the oldest branch in Leicestershire and just a short period from the Legion being formed nationally. When the Branch was founded, the members used to meet in the Oddfellows Hall in Melton and various venues within the town. At a meeting of the Legion members in October 1945 it was proposed to erect a permanent War Memorial and the Headquarters of the Legion in Melton.

On the 30th of November 1945 a committee was elected i.e.. Messer’s Blakemore. Brewitt, Brooks and Tims with the following being co-opted on to the committee Mrs. Burns-Hartopp, Mrs. Clarke Mrs. Williams, Lord Daresbury Colonel Coleman Captain Higson and Messer's Bramell,Clarke, Dyson, Flint, Gates, Heawood and Peters. This committee launched an appeal to raise £5,000 to buy Keswick House from Cecil E. Ladbury. The War Memorial Committee appointed A.P. Marsh, W.E.H. Garner,H.V. Dyson and A. Blakemore in May 1946 as Trustees to administer this Charitable Trust of the property which formed part of the endowment of the charity called The British Legion and as such held on charitable trust. Keswick House was handed over to the British Legion Branch for the day to day administration. Various extensions have been made to the property over the years, the building that is the Melton Royal British Legion Headquarters stands on the site of Keswick House and is a Town War Memorial. Should the Melton Legion Branch cease to exist, Keswick House would be given to the Melton Mowbray Town Estate.

NEW STANDARD FOR MELTON BRITISH LEGION BRANCH (Extracts from the Melton Times Dated 11th November 1927)

Armistice Day on Sunday the 6th of November 1927 had more than the usual interest by reason of the fact that H.R.H. The Prince of Wales was in Melton Mowbray for the commemoration and was to take a prominent part in them. The crowds and parade were favoured by good weather for the occasion which began when H.R.H. arrived from Craven Lodge accompanied by Major-General John Vaughan and were greeted by a royal salute. The Prince then inspected the parade stopping to chat to a number of ex-service men, having a long chat with Mr. E.A. Goodacre of the 1st Leicesters who had lost his left leg and had his right leg shattered in the war, the Prince inquired as to where and when he was wounded, having expressed the hope that he would soon find employment.

Having completed his inspection, the Prince of Wales fell in at the head of the parade with General Vaughan to march to St. Mary’s Parish Church where extra seating had to be provided for the 1500 plus who attended. The service was of a short duration which included the dedication of a Standard for the Melton Branch of the British Legion by the Rev. J. Llewelyn Davies R.D.. After the service the parade formed up in Burton Street where the Prince of Wales formally presented the Standard to the branch and said he had great pleasure in presenting the Standard into the safe keeping of the Melton Branch. At a call of General Vaughan enthusiastic cheers were given for the Prince before leaving.

The above standard is now laid up in Sage Cross Methodist Church in Melton and should anyone wish to view this standard we would suggest a Tuesday morning as you would be able to have a cup of tea or a coffee in the church. The church is only about two or three minutes walk from the Keswick House which is the Legion Club and Branch Headquarters in Thorpe End. We believe that this British Legion Standard was the first to be presented by the Prince of Wales to a British Legion Branch in the County and may even have been the first in the Country as a whole the latter point we have so far been unable to verify.

The Melton Branch still organises and attends the Melton Town Armistice Day Parade to St. Mary’s Parish Church for the service of Remembrance and to the Town War Memorial in Egerton Park Memorial Gardens. The Legion Branch also holds their evening Remembrance Service each Armistice Day at Sage Cross Methodist Church at 6pm to allow anyone who was unable to attend the morning service to be present at our service of Remembrance. This service is very much like a gathering of old friends who have come to Remember the friends we once knew and to reminisce afterwards over a cup of tea or to move onto the legion club only about 200 yards away. Visitors are always welcome.