THE fiancée of a Kidderminster soldier killed in battle has urged residents to wear their poppies with pride to support military personnel and their families.

After L/Cpl Richard Brandon, 24, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, the Royal British Legion’s annual appeal supported Emma- Jayne Webster, 31 and her three children, including their daughter Kaitlin, to get their finances back on track.

The couple had been together five years and Kaitlin was just three years old at the time.

Miss Webster said: “I think people should support the poppy appeal because I feel it is a worthy cause.

“Obviously the people we’ve lost in action, or in any way to do with the military, they have all served our country. I think they do a very honourable job from what I experienced.”

L/Cpl Brandon died after his vehicle hit an improvised explosion device (IED) in Helmand Province four years ago.

Miss Webster added: “The impact was immense, especially on myself and the children – more so the children.

When you’ve been with someone for a long time you have plans for the future, like watching his daughter grow up.

“Richard was killed days before Kaitlin started her first day at nursery. It’s as if everything you’ve planned for the future is gone in seconds.

“The Royal British Legion helped me by finding out where I stood legally on things. Unlike a lot of people, we weren’t married – we were only engaged. When he passed, I was told I wasn’t entitled [to money and finances that Richard had said, before he died, myself and the children would be entitled to].

“It was the Legion who I approached and they helped me secure the children’s futures and get the money I needed.

“The poppy appeal was always of significance before but I think it’s a lot more important now because if people don’t put the money in there isn’t going to be the help and support there for other people like myself and my children.”

This year’s poppy appeal in Kidderminster was launched last month and organisers hope to raise £35,000.

The 2013 campaign will focus on supporting armed forces families.