War veterans will mark 90 years of their Royal British Legion branch with a memorial service and celebrations.

Members of the Malden and Coombe branch of the legion will gather for a midday service at the War Memorial in New Malden High Street on Friday, August 12, 90 years to the day after the group was founded.

Major Ron Morris has been involved with the branch, which now has 30 members, since it was formed and has worked his way up through the ranks as secretary, chairman and is now president.

He said: “It’s so important people remember the organisation because the British Legion spends over £1m a week on programmes looking after ex members of the forces.”

Major Morris served in Greece, Germany, Hong Kong and Malaysia with the East Surrey regiment, which later became the Queens regiment, for 37 years between 1944 and 1981.

He said: “The highlight was my time in Malaysia I think. I was there for three years. I had some good times in Berlin too, I was there for four years in two separate tours.”

The 84-year-old has lived in New Malden since 1928 and has two grandchildren and three sons, two of which have followed in his footsteps doing short terms in the arm The British Legion, which supports soldiers and their dependants, formed on May 15, 1921 and as a founding branch Malden and Coombe followed soon after.

The charity, which has 380,000 members, is the nation’s custodian of remembrance and runs the annual Poppy Appeal, which the Malden and Coombe branched, raised £30,000 for last year.