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IN MEMORIAM

 

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Derek Breeze.

 

AAS Arborfield Intake 53B

 

Date of Death: 16th July 2016.

 

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The following notification was received by e-mail from Roger Traves (57A) A.O.B.A. Bereavement Secretary.

 

‘Very bad news again as I have to sadly announce the death of 2 ex Arborfield apprentices, one of them from my own 57 intake.

 

1. Derek Breeze 53B; AOBA 2668; DOD 16 July 2016.

Derek's widow Alma has agreed that Derek's death can be recorded on our website and in OBAN. Alma has requested no scroll but would like a letter inviting her to the next drumhead service. Derek has a brick on the memorial floor.

For Trevor Stubberfield 52A: A friend of Derek Breeze, Eric Rainford has asked me to make sure you have been made aware of Derek's death’.

Roger

AOBA Bereavement Secretary

 

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Derek remembered by ‘The Editor’.

Our paths first crossed at Arborfield, perhaps unknowingly, in September 1953 when Derek joined H.Q. Company with intake 53B.

It was to be many years later when Derek made contact once again.  He offered to contribute some of his memories and photographs to the ‘Arborfield & The September 49ers’ web site.

It was a very varied collection and covered life at Arborfield as an Apprentice, through his service with R.E.M.E. and on into retirement.  One section is devoted to his time at the ‘Maralinga Atomic Weapons Test Range’ in Australia which brings a lot of visitors to our site.  It includes several photos of his Arborfield 53B contemporaries, Tom Spurs and Harold Leppitt who were also there.

He also provided photos of the dedication service of the Army Apprentice National Memorial at Alrewas, Staffordshire, which he attended.

We shared e-mails with news over time until, on the 17th of June 2016, in the final communication from Derek, he revealed that he was nearing the end of his life, suffering from a terminal illness.  He had touched on it before but nevertheless it still came as a shock.

Even at that late stage he was concerned that the passing of his friends, Tom and Harold had gone unrecorded and he wanted to set that right.  Their names were read out in the Roll of Honour and Crosses of Remembrance were laid for them at the Drum Head Service at the 2016 A.O.B.A. Reunion.  It took place on Saturday the 16th of July, the day that Derek died.   Three comrades would be reunited.

Along with his contributions of memories, Derek was also one of a small band of private sponsors whose financial backing keeps this site available on the internet for anybody interested in the story of our Arborfield.

Derek is now safely back at H.Q. his final posting, and our thoughts are with Alma and their family during these dark times for them.  God Bless.

Trevor (52A) and Mavis.

 

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Epitaph on a Friend

 

An honest man here lies at rest,

 The friend of man, the friend of truth,

 The friend of age, and guide of youth:

 Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,

 Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;

 If there's another world, he lives in bliss;

 If there is none, he made the best of this.

 

Robert Burns.

 

 

 

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To view Derek’s memories, please Click in the Centre of the Wreath.

 

 

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15th July 2017.

Army Apprentice National Memorial,

at the

National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.

 

At the Drum Head Service, which was part of the

54th. Arborfield Old Boys Association Reunion,

a Cross of Remembrance was laid for

Derek Breeze, 53B.

 

 

 

 

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