Steve Jenkins writes...
A PERMANENT memorial to the service and sacrifice made by the players, staff and supporters of Clapton Orient Football Club was unveiled at the weekend in the village of Flers, in the Somme region of northern France. This historic event was the highlight of this year's O's Somme trip, with almost 200 Orient supporters making the journey in four coaches, accompanied by other O's fans who made the trip over independently.
Standing two metres high, the memorial is situated in a prominent position on a grass mound to one side of the church of St Martin and near to the road. Made of solid granite, it is mid grey in colour with the wording picked out in silver. Incorporated in the design are the crests of the Middlesex Regiment and Leyton Orient Football Club as well as the logo of the O's Somme Memorial Fund. Also included are the words of the letter sent back to the Orient from the front by Richard McFadden where he gives an eye witness account of the death of his best friend and fellow O's team mate William Jonas.
The memorial was funded by voluntary contributions, and donations from O's supporters as well as friends of the club. Sales of the very popular O's Somme badge as well as the Somme tie all helped to ensure that Leyton Orient Football Club is now the first Football League side to have a permanent memorial on the Somme, acknowledging the service and sacrifice made by the players, staff and supporters of Clapton Orient Football Club during the Great War.
Two striking features of the memorial are a pair of contemporary football boots and a football, the design of which is of the type as used by the Eighth Battalion Royal East Surrey Regiment, commanded by WP 'Billie' Nevill, when he led his troops and kicked the ball over towards the German lines using it as a distraction, to allay the fears of his company on July 1 1916 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Captain Nevill was killed as he stepped up to take the first kick.
As in previous years the trip was organised by Steve Jenkins and Les Bailey of the Leyton Branch of the Royal British Legion. As well as the unveiling of the memorial, wreath laying ceremonies were held at the resting places of William Jonas, George Scott and Richard McFadden as well as Sid Wheelhouse, the captain of Grimsby Town who played for the O's whilst waiting to go to France - all killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Other memorials visited included; Vimy Ridge where the 17th Middlesex saw action, the Football League's memorial to the 1st and 2nd Footballers' Battalions in Longueval, Delville Wood where some of the fiercest fighting took place and where William Jonas gave up his life, as well as Beaumont Hamel and the Newfoundland Memorial Park.
The village of Flers had been eagerly awaiting the great day of the unveiling, and so it was on Sunday that four coaches of Leyton Orient supporters arrived complete with pipe band and the Leyton Orient Bugle Team.
Details of the unveiling ceremony and memorial service
The start of the ceremony was signalled by the parade of the pipe band up towards the memorial where it then halted. Official welcomes were made both in French as well as English by the Mayor's First Assessor and then Pierrick Capelle on behalf of Patrick Bertrand, the Mayor of Flers when the O's memorial project first started.
O's club chaplain Rev. Alan Comfort led the service assisted by Father Nicolas Jouy, the curate of Amiens, and the address was given by Barry Bright, the Vice Chairman of the Football Association. Steve Jenkins then gave an historical talk as to how and why Clapton Orient Football Club so eagerly joined up to fight for King and Country, after which he invited both David Dodd and Peter Kitchen to unveil the memorial which was covered by the French Tricolor and two union flags that were kindly loaned by John Foster in tribute to his son, former O's matchday steward Robert Foster who was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan whilst serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.
During the Act of Remembrance, doves were released to symbolise peace and a poem was read by a young girl of the village. Steve Jenkins then gave a blast on a WW1 whistle after which Pipe Major Eddie McHale played a lament. This was followed by the playing of Last Post after which Reveille was sounded to signify the end of the two minutes silence. Following the Lords' Prayer, wreaths were laid at the base of the memorial after which the famous football hymn Abide With Me was sung.
Father Nicolas Jouy blessed the memorial with holy water and the service concluded with the singing of the French and English National Anthems and then the blessing which was said in both French and English.
Following the ceremony a reception was held in the village hall where speeches and gifts were exchanged. After which everyone boarded the coaches for the journey home, glancing out of the windows as they passed the O's memorial which by now was bedecked with many tributes including that of the Three Lions on the plaque plaque presented by Barry Bright to the village of Flers. A hectic, indeed tiring weekend but also a very proud one, and for those who travelled to witness the events one that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
