“At the moment, I can’t see anyone being around in 10 or 12 years to run the Petersfield British Legion.”

This is the fear of the Commander Clive Lewis RN (retired) who is the current chairman of the Petersfield branch of the Royal British Legion.

He said: “We have around 45 members at the moment, but only around 15 or 16 are active ones.

“At 76 I am one of the youngest and fittest, and we would dearly like more younger former servicemen to join.

“So we are appealing for any living locally who aren’t aware of the Petersfield branch to come along.”

The lack of new recruits, is partially due to the shrinkage of the armed forces, so there are fewer former Servicemen around to join the legion.

And more are leaving the forces after serving eight or nine years, rather than the full 25, to go on to work elsewhere.

There they make friends with their new work mates.

Cmdr Lewis said: “They often don’t bother joining the legion, there’s no need.

“And as they served for a relatively short time, joining the legion isn’t an obvious step.

“And they are younger, and prefer other ways of relaxing, it’s a nationwide problem, not just a Petersfield issue.”

There are also concerns that, due the lack of legion members, the annual Poppy Day Appeal in Petersfield, and even the Remembrance Day parade may founder.

Cmdr Lewis said: “We are running out of people to collect for the Poppy Appeal, and if there isn’t a legion, days such as Armed Forces Day among others, might not be organised.”

But legion membership isn’t restricted, anyone can join, says Petersfield branch secretary David Lloyd.

He said: “It seems not many people know there is a Petersfield branch, and that membership is also open to those who do not have a Services background.

“The legion is as important as it ever was, we support veterans and their families in many ways, mainly through Poppy Appeal donations, but also through personal welfare visits.”

The branch meets in the Red Lion pub in College Street, Petersfield, on the second Wednesday of the month.

Cmdr Lewis said: “We hear talks and see films related to the armed forces, we organise trips.

“For example, we have been to the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium, and we are going to Berlin.

“We also arrange trips to places like the Explosion Museum in Gosport, or Tangmere airfield museum near Chichester – and enjoy the occasional drink.”

For more information, contact David Lloyd on 01730 260030.