Category: The Somme

The 17th Pals’ Battalion Band, along with over two hundred Leyton Orient supporters and friends of the Club, travelled over to the battlefields of northern France in June,to pay their respects to the fallen of the Great War and in particular the players, staff and supporters of Clapton Orient who enlisted en masse into the 17th Bn Middlesex Regiment – The Footballers’ Battalion, during the Great War, particularly remembering William Jonas, George Scott and Richard McFadden who all made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.…

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Sunday 24th July was to be the final day of the tour, but it was to be another special day. Having checked out of the hotel, everyone  set off for Longueval and Delville Wood, a place that, like Thiepval, is always on the itinerary due to its Orient connections with William Jonas. Firstly a full wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Football League Memorial after which the band paraded the short distance to Delville Wood where a special time of words, prayer and song took place lead by the O’s…

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It was obvious that this special trip needed to be organised to the battlefields of northern France in 2016 commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. Four coaches and a convoy of cars with a total of over two hundred people including the 17th Pals’, who also had a pipe band which was organised by former Royal Marine Duncan MacKinnon added to their numbers, made their way over to the Somme departing the O’s on the morning of Thursday 21st July. Having docked in Calais, the coaches drove…

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The first of three special centenary Somme Tours saw over two hundred O’s supporters and friends of the Club make their way over to northern France during a very hot wekeend in July. Whilst Leyton Orient buglers, Norman Coe and Steve Jenkins travelled, regretfully on this occasion Bob Sargeant was unable to make the trip due to family commitments. Norman and Steve were joined by two experienced pipers; Korean veteran Eddie McHale and Jenny Barrow. What made this trip extra special was to have family members of William Jonas, Richard McFadden…

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Following on from the successful tour of 2008, it seemed natural that another visit to the battlefields of Northern France should take place, particularly before the overwhelming commemorations of the centenary of the Great War commenced in 2014.  Four coaches were commissioned to transport almost 200 Leyton Orient supporters and friends of the O’s over to France and as well as paying respects to the Clapton Orient lads lost on the Somme; William Jonas, Richard McFadden and George Scott, along with remembering the nations fallen, a very special event was…

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A special performance in Arras Town Square on the Friday evening by the O’s Buglers, the pipers, Duncan MacKinnon and Jenny Barrow, who performed traditional Scottish dances when not playing her pipes!

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Further to the ground-breaking and successful inaugural tour in 2006, it was felt that a return visit should take place, particularly  as there was a substantial demand following those that came on the first trip saying just how much they enjoyed it. We were fortunate to once again having the services of the Leyton Royal British Legion Pipers and the experience of Les Bailey, the standard bearer of Leyton RBL, to ensure the ceremonies were of a good standard and that the itinerary, whilst based on visits to the Orient…

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Further to the interest gained following Several Acts of Remembrance held on the pitch at a Leyton Orient home match on the Saturday nearest to Remembrance Sunday, along with the successful publication of Stephen Jenkins’ book They Took The Lead in 2005, which tells the remarkable true story of Clapton Orient’s major contribution to the 17th Bn Middlesex Regiment – The Footballers’ Battalion, in the Great War, Steve took it upon himself to liaise with Vic Brandon of the Leyton Branch Royal British Legion, about the logistics and possibility of…

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