In response to the poem In Flanders Field by John McCrae, Moina Michael started selling silk poppies in 1918 to raise funds for ex-servicemen.[1] The "Disabled Society" was started in 1920 for disabled ex-servicemen and to raise funds for it Anna Guérin organised the production and sale of silk poppies.[1] In 1921 Guérin persuaded Haig to adopt the poppy as the symbol of the Royal British Legion, however demand exceeded supply. In 1922 George Howson pledged that the disabled society could provide the poppies, which under the name of "The Poppy Factory" they continue to do.
On 1 January 1994 the words on the central black button were changed from "Haig Fund" to "Poppy Appeal".[1]