The journey continues: a Harley-Davidson memorial

H.O.G.^® member Cliff Verrall pays tribute to his grandparents and the Hertfordshire Regiment with a custom Sportster^®

There are many reasons for customising your Harley-Davidson^®. Perhaps you want to alter its performance in some way, change the positioning to suit your style, give it a fresh spray of colour or even take on extreme modifications that transform it to a piece of art on wheels. For British H.O.G.^® member Cliff Verrall, the motivation for changing up his Sportster^® was incredibly personal.

The build took six years of planning and hard work, resulting in touching tribute to his grandparents. It now stands as a rolling memorial to his family and the regiment his grandfather served in.

“I wanted to do something in memorial of my nan and grandad and the Hertfordshire Regiment,” says Cliff. “I knew there was a memorial for the Hertfordshire Regiment in Ver-sur-Mer in France. So, I decided to customise my 21-year-old Harley-Davidson Sportster with the help of Harley-Davidson Reading.”

The tank and helmet feature the Hertfordshire crest, while his grandfather’s service number is engraved on both the tank and the air filter, alongside his name. The oil tank bears the inscription “Gold Beach” where his grandfather served, and the rear fender displays the logos of the No. 9 Beach Group, Hertfordshire Guards, and the word “Love”. The front fender carries the No. 9 Beach Group logo and the word “King”. A small geranium, his grandfather’s favourite flower, is painted on one of the panels, and nan’s name, Irene, is embroidered on the seat back.

In a twist of fate, the motorcycle was completed on 6 June 2024 – the 80th anniversary of D-Day. “It must have been in the stars,” reflects Cliff.

Later that same year, Cliff travelled to Normandy with his wife and mother to visit the memorial of the Hertfordshire Regiment in Ver-sur-Mer, making sure to get a picture of the Harley and memorial together. For Cliff, it was a deeply emotional day filled with reflection and pride.

The journey didn’t end there though, as Cliff has continued to pay tribute with his custom Sportster. “I have escorted the Standing with Giants from Blenheim Palace to Portsmouth… Thinking of all my grandad’s friends and school mates that didn’t survive on Gold Beach, unlike my grandad, who did – he was one of the lucky ones.”

Each Harley is unique, carrying more than just it’s rider – it holds memories and expresses personality. If you’re thinking of customising your ride, check out our tips for getting started here.