This Sunday we remember the fallen of two World Wars and other subsequent conflicts.
For my part I will particularly remember the sacrifice my 19 year old great uncle who was killed on a Lancaster bombing raid over Nazi Germany. He died after completing 30 bombing raids and volunteering for extra missions due to flight crew shortages. His death occurred on what was supposed to be his final extra mission in late March 1945, just mere weeks from the end of the war.
I still treasure his Flight Engineer’s log book, medals, photographs and a war time collection of letters to his family back home in East London. I have also visited his war grave in Germany. One of the single most moving and poignant experiences of my entire life.
Many of you probably also have family and friends that you think of on Remembrance Sunday. Including those who may have fallen in more recent or current conflicts such as Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Iraq or Afganistan.
On the eve of this Remembrance Sunday, I would like to tell the story of a lost Hammers Hero, Arthur Stallard. Arthur was spotted as a highly promising young striker with Chatham Town . He signed for the Hammers in April 1913, supposedly to replace the great Hammers goal scoring idol Syd Puddefoot, who was the subject of a pending transfer to Sunderland. Subsequently, the proposed deal fell through and Puddefoot remained with the club and forged a brief, but very successful forward line partnership with Arthur.
Stallard made his Hammers debut, deputising for the injured Puddefoot, against Millwall on 14 April 1913, scoring the winner in a 3-2 Boleyn victory. Such was Arthur’s goal scoring ability that he was to claim the number 9 jersey as his own and Puddefoot moved to inside right to accommodate him. Stallard proved a sensation as he grabbed an impressive 7 goals in the final 11 matches of the 1914/15 season. It seemed that the Hammers had unearthed another deadly marksman to rank alongside the likes of Harry Stapley, George Hilsdon, Danny Shea and the great Puddefoot himself.
However, the horrors of the western front were to rob the Hammers of their new legend in the making. Stallard joined up to do his duty, but as if to underline his great potential for posterity he was to go on and score a further 17 goals in 23 war time fixtures. A great goal to game ratio by anyone’s standards.
Those who later remembered him said that Arthur Stallard was an exceptional young talent, who could have gone on to play for England. But it was not be, as Arthur was killed in France on 30 November 1917, a mere 7 months after scoring what was to be his final goal for the Hammers.
On Sunday wear your poppy with pride, observe the minutes silence and remember the fallen.
As you do so please also spare a thought for Arthur Stallard and the ultimate sacrifice of a lost Hammers hero.
SJ Chandos.
Good post Chandos,a great read,Got my poppy's this week, lost my grandfather about 12 years ago,will never forget the stories of Burma,have he's Burma star.
Well said SJ. My family lost several members during the Great War, and my father was badly injured during the second world War, and was never fully fit again. Sadly the carnage continues and our lads & lassies are still being killed & maimed in service of our country. A poppy or two, and a few minutes silence is a very small gesture, but one which makes a big difference.
Sad to hear that Scally! Yes there were a LOT of casualties during the 1st and 2nd World Wars but we never really heard about it! The families dealt with their grief and carried on with their lives the best they could!
Although with todays media advances, it is very easy to publisize to death and serious injury of every single soldier, which makes for some very sad viewing and reading!
The poppy think is great!
Are Manu and Bolton STILL refusing to display the poppy on their shirt?
Matt
Didn't know about Manure & Bolton refusing to display poppies. That makes me very angry, but I guess the freedom for them to be arseholes is part of what our forefathers fought for, and our current servicemen & women are still fighting for.
That won't stop me exercising my right to tell them exactly what I think of that however!
Sorry my mistake! It's ManU and Liverpool!
Here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article…
Thanks Matt. Time to go looking for some websites!
A well written and timely post, SJ. By coincidence, I've recently been researching my grandfather's record as a bomb aimer on a Lancaster (97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron, and also coincidentally, I now live in Malaysia).
I heartily recommend everyone read the West Ham Pals website at http://westhampals.blogspot.com which is trying to detail the service of the men of the 13th Btn Essex Regt who are being commemorated at the Boleyn Ground tomorrow.
And if you can be at the ground before 11am, please try.
And to all the men and women currently serving who read this site, we thank you and honour you.
Thoughtful post SJ. Whenever I pass a poppy seller they always seem to be older people, some obviously having served in WWII. I hope the younger generations will take their place when they are gone but the number of poppy wearers seems to dwindle each year.