AN EX-soldier who served alongside Prince Harry has backed the Poppy Appeal.

Today marks six months until Remembrance Sunday. The Royal British Legion has thanked the public for their support.

In the last five years, the charity's Poppy Appeal has raised £3.3m in Wiltshire alone.

Corporal Rachel Peart is one of thousands to have benefited from Poppy Appeal cash. After she was discharged from the army with a back injury the Royal British Legion helped secure her war pension.

Mum-of-two Rachel, 31, who works at MOD Lyneham and served on a Canadian training exercise with Prince Harry, said: “If I hadn’t have gone to the Legion I don’t know where I would have ended up. It was a real life-saver, and a complete breath of fresh air for me – they left no stone unturned.

“At one point the Army argued that my injury was due to a car crash but the Legion fought for me and my war pension was upheld. We came away with a positive result."

The Royal British Legion's Alistair Maxwell said: “When people put their hand in their pocket to donate, the money raised helps provide crucial support to the Armed Forces community throughout the year and not just during Remembrance-tide."

The Legion supports veterans and their families. For more, visit www.britishlegion.org.uk or call 0808 802 8080.