The Somme 2016

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 south and just outside the Somme region to St Souplet, the resting place of Clapton Orient defender and utility player George Scott. As on previous trips a full wreath-laying ceremony took place complete with the playing of a lament by the pipers, followed by ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ by the buglers. Following the ceremony everyone made their way to Arras to once again book in at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in the centre of the town opposite the station.

The following day was given as a ‘free day’ with the option of an excursion to Peronne via the village of Authuille.

It was heart-warming to note that the vast majority of those in the group was to come on the excursion. Having left the hotel, the first point of call was to stop in Authuille to lay a wreath at the village church in honour of the 16th Highland Light Infantry. The 16th HLI was comprised mainly of members of the Glasgow Battalion of the Boys’ Brigade. A previous visit was made here in 2008 but this time the band was present, so it was an honour for the 17th Pals’ to be able to parade along the main street to and from the church. Brent Greenwood gave a detailed and moving account of what action was seen and indeed casualties were sustained by the 16th during the battle.

At the conclusion of the wreath-laying ceremony, which once again included a lament, ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ the coaches set off for the town of Peronne.

No ceremonies or wreath-laying took place in Peronne, so it was a chance for everyone to relax and to visit ‘The Historial’ should they wish. After lunch everyone boarded the coaches and set off back to Arras in good time to enable the band to prepare to perform in the Town Square at 19:30.

This was the first time the 17th Pals’ had done anything like this away from their own territory, however, they needn’t to worry as most of those in the travelling group made their way into La Place des Heroes to support the band. Hoards of tourists also made their way over and watched with enthusiasm and intrigue, joining in when ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’ and ‘Its’ A Long Way To Tipperary’ was being sung by the band (with side and bass drum accompaniment!). So well was the band received that the mayor arranged for one of the bars to bring over several trays of iced cold beers at the end of the performance.

The following day, the Saturday was a massive day for the band as it had been arranged by Steve Jenkins, who had been involved in protracted discussions with the Royal British Legion at national level, for the 17th Pals’ to perform at the Thiepval Memorial, at part of the Legion’s official Somme Commemorations. However, prior to this, the coaches set off for the small village of Couin and the British Cemetery where Clapton Orient legend inside-left Richard McFadden and Grimsby Town Captain Sid Wheelhouse are buried, Sid Wheelhouse played for the O’s on loan whilst he was waiting to

come over to France with the 17th Middlesex.

Richard McFadden was a special man, not only in terms of his football ability being a prolific goal-score, but also the fact that he saved lived on many occasions. Before the war it is documented that he dragged a man from a burning building, and then when he had come to London to play for Clapton Orient, firstly he jumped into the River Lea to rescue two young boys who were drowning, and then a week of so later pulling an infant from a burning building in Clapton Park.

The Mayor of Hackney got to hear of these brave deeds and presented McFadden with a medal for his bravery. His life-saving heroics carried on when he was in the front-line where he would often go out into No Mans Land to rescue wounded comrades. For his heroism he was awarded the Military Medal. Unfortunately he was severely wounded whilst leading a line of troops long a trench and subsequently died the following day. Sid Wheelhouse was also a highly respected person and it was a sad day when he succumbed to gas-inhalation after having thought he would survive. The gravitas of the wreath-laying ceremonies for these two fine men did not go unnoticed and the 17th Pals’ did the occasion proud, ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ was played with emotion and that was evident for all to see and hear. Upon completion, it was almost with regret that everyone boarded the coaches and made their way to the Thiepval Memorial.

Courtesy of Malcolm Shykles

The official video footage is included as is footage of the entire trip by the 17th Pals’ official photographer Malcolm Shykles. Much of Malcolm’s work can be found on YouTube.

Having played themselves to near exhaustion the band along with the rest of the party, boarded the coaches and headed to Albert and ‘The Three Pigeons’ where lunch was taken including more ice cold beers!

Mid afternoon saw everyone depart for the short drive to Ovillers-la-Boiselle and Lochnagar Crater. This is a site that is always popular and despite no wreath-laying ceremony, it was important to include it on the trip due to its historical connections with the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

It was only a stop of around forty-five minutes before everyone boarded the coaches and set off to another iconic location – the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel. With everyone having had a chance walk around the park, the band had an opportunity to form up immediately underneath the impressive Caribou memorial and play a short repertoire which was very well received. Once the band had finished playing it was time for everyone to once again return to Arras for the evening – this time to enjoy a well deserved time of relaxation.

The next day, 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.

Everyone got on to the coaches and set off for the final destination of the tour which no more than five miles away – the village of Flers, where a full parade and wreath-laying took place at the O’s Somme Memorial. The area immediately outside the front of the church of St Martin where the memorial is sited was packed and it was very hard to get everyone in the band into position, in addition it was very hot, so much so that bugler Ian Lepley feinted and had to rest a while before resuming his place in the band. The whole village appeared to have turned out and the importance of the occasion was never in doubt.

Following a couple of hours enjoying the refreshments provided by the villagers, ‘Retreat’ was sounded and everyone boarded the coaches to return to Calais and ‘Blighty’.