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Remembering the West Ham Pals killed in WW1

This Remembrance Sunday at 11am please remember the West Ham Pals killed in the first world war.

One of the reasons why the First World War was so traumatic an event to British society was that so many of the new infantry Battalions formed to fight in the trenches were the so called “Pals Battalions”. Where men could serve with local friends, neighbours or workers.

The West Ham Pals were officially called the 13th Battalion of the Essex Regiment.

Unofficially they were West Ham football team supporters who joined on mass with their mates and whose battle cry (and bayonet charge) was “Up the Irons”.

The Battalion fought in some of the worse battles in the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Cambrai during the War and suffered causalities with many killed, wounded or missing.

The impact of all these deaths and casualties in battle on the local community was therefore immense. About one quarter of the original battalion volunteers were killed and nearly half were returned to UK with severe injuries

The West Ham Pals website can be found here or on Facebook here

In 2009 Sir Trevor Brooking unveiled a plaque at the Boleyn ground to remember the West Ham Pals.

I always feel proud when the army march around the Boleyn ground at the home match before Remembrance Sunday like they did in the game against Villa. Just a shame a minority of Aston Villa fans couldn’t keep their mouths shut for the one minute silence.

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