Pompey Pals memorial benches honouring 110th First World War anniversary on display ahead of move to France
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The benches honours the Portsmouth soldiers who lost their lives, as well as citizens killed in France
Beautiful memorial benches honouring Portsmouth soldiers who served in the First World War are on display ahead of being brought to France.
Two bespoke wooden benches honouring the Pompey Pals were put on display at Portsmouth War Memorial in Guildhall Square. The public can see them until September 11, then they will then be brought to France and erected in the village of Flers to mark 110 years since “Portsmouth’s Own” Battalions fought there during the Battle of the Somme.
Bob Beech, founder of the Pompey Pals charity, told The News: “This started as a conversation when we walked across the Somme about two years ago. It’s gone from there and it’s great to have this finally over the line. It means everything to have them on display at the site of the Somme offensive.”
The first memorial structure honours the 14th 15th and 16th Battalions of the Hampshire Regiment. Known as the “Pompey Pals”, these contingents were formed of local recruits from the streets, docks and offices of Portsmouth. They all served heroically during the devastating Somme offensive.
The second is dedicated to the people of Flers as a tribute to the villagers, honouring the immense sacrifices, hardships, and losses when their home was turned into a frontline battlefield. Both will be officially unveiled in France on September 12 on the historic battlefield of the Somme offensive.
The village was liberated September 15, 1916, during a battle that saw the first use of tanks in history. Soldiers from the 15th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment were in the vanguard of the fighting.
Chair of the Pompey Pals charity, Gareth Lewis, said: “There were more than 1,000 people who lost their lives across the three battalions. They absolutely deserve to be remembered, as do the people of Flers who also suffered.
“There is not enough done to recognise the losses of people from those villages. It’s important to recognise that when the First World War veterans were alive, they had deep connections with the villages where they fought. Part of this is to reconnect communities with those villages.”
Flers’ mayor, Pierrick Capelle, will conduct the memorial service once the benches reach France. Mr Beech added: “He is honoured to unveil them. They do a lot of remembrance at the Somme. We know they will always remember our guys.”