Explained: Why I wear my red poppy
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As a 16-year-old, David Taylor joined the Army following in the footsteps of his grandfather who had served during World War I.
He served for 30 years and is now president of the Inverness branch of Royal British Legion Scotland which supports serving and former members of the Armed forces.
Mr Taylor (78) reflects on the importance of wearing his red poppy with pride in our series:
I joined the Black Watch in 1962 as a boy soldier. I was 16 years old, Mr Taylor writes.
My grandfather, Thomas Taylor, served during World War I with the 4th Battalion of the Black Watch and fought in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in northern France in 1914.
He was gassed in 1916 and invalided out. He had poor eyesight for the rest of his life.
He survived but must have witnessed some horrific scenes.
He worked in a jute mill in Dundee and the owner's son, who also served with the 4th Battalion, was killed in action.
I signed up at the local recruiting office in Dundee and did my training at Stirling Castle.
I was in the Black Watch for 22 years and achieved the rank of warrant officer.
I was posted all over the world including Germany, Cyprus Hong Kong and Belize and did four or five tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
I left the Black Watch in 1985 and for the final seven years of my Army career was a garrison sergeant major in Germany.
After leaving the Army in 1992 after 30 years' service, I settled in Inverness and got a civilian job with the MOD.
I was lucky I got a job. There were guys who left after 22 years or 30 years service who couldn't handle it. The suicide rate is quite high.
The Royal British Legion is there to support service people and ex-service personnel.
When I put on my poppy, I think of all my mates I served with. I think about the Black Watch regiment.
But more importantly, I think about my grandfather and how horrendous it must have been for him and his comrades.
I knew his friends in Dundee who had survived World War I and it changed their lives forever without a doubt.
The poppy is not there to glorify war. It is there to show you remember.
My message to people is to try to support the Royal British Legion by wearing your poppy and to wear it with pride.
