Sir Trevor Brooking unveils plaque

 

• Sir Trevor Brooking unveiled the plaque before the West Brom game

• Memorial unveiled outside Club Store

• Joint-Chairman David Gold and soldiers from the West Ham pals also present

 

Gone but never forgotten.

Supporters convened outside the Club Store as Sir Trevor Brooking unveiled a plaque in memory of the Pals of the West Ham Batallion at London Stadium last week .

Brooking joined members from the 13th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, better known as the West Ham Pals and Joint-Chairman David Gold for a special ceremony before the West Brom game on 11 February.

The installation and unveiling of this new memorial – paid for by West Ham United and kindly produced by funeral directors HL Hawes & Son of East London and Essex – underlines the traditional close connections to the local area like no other.

The plaque provides once again a place where the volunteers to the West Ham Battalion can be properly Remembered.

Sir Trevor has a close relationship with the West Ham Pals after he unveiled a similar plaque outside the Boleyn Ground back in 2009 and knows the importance it has to everyone connected with the Club.

Brooking said: “It was a great idea by the Club to have a similar plaque to the one we had at the Boleyn Ground. At that stage we were approaching 100 years and reflecting on a brutal war where tens of thousands of lives were lost.

“We are into a generation now where we could easily forget the sacrifices that were made during that war so it is important that people do remember the events which took place and to have the plaque outside the club store is very important.

“The West Ham Pals was the first start-up of people joining the Army and a lot of the Eastenders went there. It was good to see representatives from the Army and a lot of them are West Ham fans.

“It is great that we have been able to keep the link going at London Stadium and the plaque will ensure that we never forget.”

Joint-Chairman David Gold was also honoured to be part of the unveiling and says it is vital that the Club maintain a strong connection with the local regiment and never forget the soldiers who lost their lives.

Mr Gold said: “I was honoured to be involved in the unveiling. There is a great connection between the Batallion and West Ham and it is important we never forget the events which took place during the First World War.

“It was a terrible period in our history and it is important that we remember and honour the people who lost their lives. I am proud to be part of the ceremony and proud that West Ham have been part of it.”