This year’s Poppy Appeal has been launched across Suffolk with poignant ceremonies in some of the larger towns.

At Ipswich the appeal was launched on the steps of the Cornhill by mayor Glen Chisholm.

Members of the Royal British Legion and today’s armed forces were on parade as a particularly poignant Poppy Appeal was launched in the town.

It is only a month since the centenary of the Battle of Loos in northern France – the largest single battle of 1915, in which the Suffolk Regiment had a significant role.

It was during the Battle of Loos that two Victoria Crosses were awarded to Ipswich soldiers – Sgt Arthur Saunders of the Suffolk Regiment and Private Samuel Harvey of the York and Lancashire Regiment.

This year there is no Poppy Appeal shop in Ipswich because both main shopping centres are being rebuilt.

Members of the Royal British Legion are able to use a room at the Town Hall as a base and will be selling poppies and other fund-raising items around the town over the next three weeks.

The Royal British Legion was also out in force in Felixstowe where the town’s Poppy Appeal was launched by deputy mayor Jan Garfield.

Remembrance Sunday is on November 8 and in Ipswich there will be Armistice Day ceremonies with local schoolchildren on November 11.

There are also further opportunities for people to find out more about the 1,482 names of Ipswich-born casualties recorded on the town’s Cenotaph in Christchurch Park.

An exhibition about the actions of some Ipswich people in the conflict will continue at the Town Hall until Remembrance Weekend, and on Remembrance Sunday itself there will be another chance to see some of the research that has been carried out on the names when folders of information are on display at Christchurch Mansion following the service in the park.