On the flag inside the wreath to the left:}
Eton Manor
'V' {The letter 'V' three times: alphabet letter; fingers; Morse}
On the ribbon below the crowned monogram to the right:}
Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars
{Below the V:}
4th June 1940
We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.
{On the panel, lower down:}
Eton Manor will always remember with gratitude the youth of this district who served under the dauntless and triumphant leadership of Winston Churchill.
{Outside the central panel:
on the left - a flag inside a wreath
on the right - the insignia of the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars
The lowest element of this memorial ("Eton Manor will always....") projects from the wall and is somewhat reminiscent of a sarcophagus. We believe this to be (part of) the original memorial, while the other elements here are more recent. "this district" refers to Hackney Wick so the text strongly suggests that boys from this club joined the QOOH. But we cannot find any confirmation of a connection between the QOOH and the club. Without that we are left wondering why this memorial is here, rather than somewhere else, such as, well, Oxfordshire.
The quote is from a speech delivered by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons 4 June 1940. A Churchill quote would have been considered particularly appropriate given the strong connection between the Hussars and the Churchill family.
Site: Eton Manor old boys war memorial (3 memorials)
E20, Eastway, Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
In our photo the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars memorial is on the left. On the right, the lower middle plaque commemorates WW1, the other 3, WW2. War Memorials Online has useful photos.
War Memorials Online says: "The memorial was relocated as part of the Olympic Games development of the site and is now outside the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre" which is where we found it. But where was it before? We'd like to see photos of these various plaques in their original locations.
The BBC inform that Eton Manor Old Boys would meet at the war memorials annually on Remembrance Sunday to pay tribute to former members of the club who died during both world wars. During the Olympics the memorials were put into storage so the Remembrance Sunday gatherings took place at the Eton Manor Rugby Club, near Redbridge tube station. And after the games the memorials were restored so, presumably, the gatherings are taking place here again.
Games Monitor has photos of this memorial in 2006. The 'V' panel was almost exactly as now. The '4-plaque section' was almost the same as now but without the lower central plaque. Also it looks as if the supporting wall(s) were longer, possibly serving the more normal function of a wall as well. What the Games Monitor photos don't show is how the two panels related to each other.
See our page Eton Mission and Eton Manor Clubs for the history of the clubs.
The film 'What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?' ( London Trilogy, Films of St Etienne 2003-2007) shows this site and the memorials (not very clearly) before the Olympics arrived.
2023: Peter Wilson kindly wrote to confirm: "We continue to run a memorial service on Remembrance Sunday. Well supported. Each name is read out as they remain our absent friends. Many attending are former members of the Eton Manor Club."
