Leyton Orient: Remembering The Footballers Who Took The Lead In The Great War - Part Two

22/10/2024  -  4.41

Stephen Jenkins

My interest in the contribution of Clapton Orient players to the Footballers’ Battalion in the Great War has led to me being involved in a number of activities and events that commemorate and remember their service and sacrifice.

The O’s Somme Memorial Fund

Peter Kitchen and I, along with Theresa Burns, launched the O’s Somme Memorial Fund in August, 2009, specifically with a view to raise the finance for a memorial on the Somme to honour the service and sacrifice of all those from Clapton Orient Football Club, and this was achieved in just eighteen months, when the O’s Somme Memorial was unveiled in the village of Flers on 10th July, 2011 – the very first memorial commemorating an English football club on the Somme - which is very apt, taking into account Clapton Orient was the first English club to enlist en-masse. 

The OSMF has continued to actively promote the O's World War One story and in addition to Peter Kitchen who is Patron, and myself as Chairman, Malcolm McCarthy MBE has since joined the committee as Secretary and Treasurer, along with Alex Hup, who is an experienced and charismatic battlefield guide, to further develop the organisation’s on-going work.

The O's Somme Memorial Committee, Left-to-Right - Malcolm McCarthy MBE, Peter Kitchen, Stephen Jenkins and Alex Hup. Source: Author's Collection

It was an extremely proud day for the OSMF, when on 24th October, 2021, a second memorial was unveiled, this time at the National Memorial Arboretum – the very first memorial to commemorate a football club at this iconic location, and is based on the one that was unveiled in Flers, ten years beforehand.

Leyton Orient Memorial - National Memorial Arboretum. Source: Author's Collection

The 17th Pals’ Battalion Band – Commemorating the O’s, at Home and Abroad

The 17th Pals’ Battalion Band is extremely proud to commemorate all those that served in the 17th Middlesex, and the band particularly remembers with honour the forty-one players, staff and supporters of Clapton Orient that enlisted. It is a unique band in both what and who it represents, as well as what it achieves in terms of publicity for Leyton Orient Football Club and the O’s proud history.

The 17th Pals’ was formed in 2015, and has toured the Somme on a number of occasions and also Ypres, in 2017, 2021 and 2024, during which the band was honoured to parade from the main square to the world-famous Menin Gate and taking part in the Last Post Ceremony, that takes place each evening at 8.00pm local time. 

The 17th Pals' Battalion Band Parading Up To The Menin Gate. Source: Author's Collection

Back in the UK, the band participates in number of high-profile events, with the highlight of the domestic calendar always being a performance at the O’s.

They Took The Lead

First published in 2005, with a subsequent centenary edition produced in 2024, and comprising of over two hundred and sixty pages, my book, They Took The Lead, tells the amazing proud story of Clapton Orient’s major contribution to the Footballers’ Battalion in the Great War, as well as how the O’s service in the Great War is now being remembered.

Centenary Edition of They Took The Lead. Source: Author's Collection

The Greater Game

OSMF committee members Peter Kitchen, and I, were very proud to be co-producers of The Greater Game, a stage play written by Michael Head, which told the story of Clapton Orient’s involvement in the Great War and was based on my book, They Took The Lead. 

The play was successfully performed in London in 2016 and 2018 and was a professional production, which was endorsed and supported by the Royal British Legion, as well as the football authorities. 

The Greater Game Poster - 2018. Source: Author's Collection

O’s Somme Badge

A special enamel badge has been produced with all net proceeds going to the O’s Somme Memorial Fund. The elements on the badge all relate to the Orient’s World War One story. 

O's Somme Badge. Author's Collection

Lest We Forget

Notes:

They Took The Lead sells for £14.99 plus postage and packing and can be purchased from the Leyton Orient shop - https://shop.leytonorient.com/products/they-took-look-the-lead and also via the website - www.theytookthelead.com 

The 17th Pals’ Battalion Band is always on the lookout for new members, particularly buglers, consequently, should you be interested please contact Stephen Jenkins at  stevejenkins1881@btinternet.com 

The O’s Somme Badge sells for £5.50 plus postage and packing and can be purchased from Leyton Orient Supporters’ Club on a match day or by contacting Stephen Jenkins at stevejenkins1881@btinternet.com  

Biography

Stephen Jenkins was born in Walthamstow and has supported Leyton Orient since 1969. He is currently Deputy Chairman of Leyton Orient Supporters Club and is Chairman of the O’s Somme Memorial Fund. Along with the numerous successful projects undertaken by the O’s Somme Memorial Fund committee, Stephen was also thrilled to reunite the families of the three Orient lads killed on the Somme, of which he is so proud.