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IN MEMORIAM
David L CROWSON 21st June 1934 to 3rd January 2011 AAS
Arborfield Intake 49B
Announcements posted on the September 49ers Web
site Dave Crowson was called onto the celestial parade ground
at 0700 hours yesterday 3rd January 2011. I will if you wish, pass you
details of the funeral arrangements when I have the information. His departure was not unexpected, as he had been
in full time nursing care for over two years with emphysema. He bore his
illness with courage and fortitude, and always found it highly amusing that
the wills woodbines he used to smoke, came from the factory site upon which
his nursing home was built. Max Warwick, Pete Henry and I maintained contact
by phone, e-mail and visits as and when we could. TC's poem which contains
the line, "always young, laughing full of fun" certainly was an
accurate description of how we found him during visits even though bedridden
and dependent on oxygen. He was Art weapons and retired as an ASM. It was in
this rank that in the twilight of his career , with special permission from
CREME, that he held the appointment of RSM to a Gunner Regiment for six
months until a suitable candidate for
the post was found. A very unusual appointment and a clear demonstration of
his Military qualities. He was a typical ex-boy and a good egg. Gordon BONNER (49B) __________________________________________________ Gentlemen, David's funeral is to take place as
follows: Friday 14 January at 3pm at the South Bristol
Crematorium, Bridgewater Road, Bedminster Down, BS13 7AS. Please publish the
details on the AOBA and Sept49'ers website. Gordon BONNER (49B) __________________________________________________ Gentlemen, Yesterday four Sept49er's, Max Warwick,
Pete Henry, Jeff Cook and myself attended the funeral of our friend and
colleague David Crowson, at the South Bristol crematorium. In the way that
these occasions can, it was a lovely warm celebration of David's life, and
Sharon, David's daughter, told us that she had learnt an awful lot about her
father during our visit. First, with the permission of the family, on behalf
of the Sept49er's, I read out an eulogy during the committal service which
was very well received. Afterwards at the reception, we briefed the whole
family on the Army Apprentice National Memorial, pointing out that David's
name is to be found on a Comtab, thus the memorial, when dedicated on the 7th
September would be a good place to visit. On behalf of the AOBA we presented
Sharon with the AANM information pack, a full transcript of the text to be
inscribed on the memorial monolith, including TeeCee's poem, a copy of the
selected reading to be used during the memorial dedication service and a copy
of the eulogy. In addition Pete and Max presented a set of digital copies of
photographs taken of David during his apprentice training, several of which
were new to Sharon. Finally, Jeff Cook , on behalf of the AOBA, presented to
Sharon the family memorial scroll. Gordon BONNER(49B) ___________________________________________________ The anecdote about Dave becoming an RSM in such
circumstances typifies the way that so many ex Brats demonstrated their
flexibility, ability and versatility throughout their lives. Dave was
certainly another feather in the cap of intake 49b! So many of our ilk have
been exemplars and it simply makes one proud to be associated with such
blokes. His life was another demonstration of the effectiveness of the
Arborfield experience. Again, his quiet courage, humour and dignity in
extremis exemplified the stoicism and steadfastness that also seems to be
prevalent amongst those of our ilk that have faced a debilitating illness. Rest in Peace Dave Crowson, we are proud to have
shared a background with you. Greg
PECK (53B) _____________________________________________________ By e-mail. David served a total of 25 years and 345 days
including Boys Service. Theatres he served in included Libya, East Africa,
Aden, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, B.A,O,R, and 5 home postings. His last
posting before discharge in August 1975 was as an ASM of the Fording Trials
Branch, R.E.M.E. at Instow, Bideford, Devon, where he was involved with
development work and its management. Although he was in my trade group (Armourer) in
‘C’ Company I remember so little about him, even though we worked together
most days at Arborfield AAS. He was always in control of himself, quiet and
dependable but good fun. Max WARWICK (49B)
Arborfield Old Boys Association The September 49’ers David L Crowson
This is the truth the poet sings, That a Sorrow’s Crown of Sorrow is remembering happier things. Alfred, Lord Tennyson Sixty-one
years ago, on the 9th September 1949, one hundred and thirty five boys passed
through the Arborfield Army
Apprentices School’s famous gates for the first time, to begin a three-year
apprenticeship. Many
of those boys came from an underprivileged and chaotic background. However
the ethos that controlled and directed the activities of a system that turned
boys into skilled soldier-tradesmen had at the heart of its intellectual
model the Christian principles of “Character and Loyalty” and the military
virtues of “ Discipline, Steadfastness and Devotion to Duty. These
are not just words; we believed in them and lived by them. The shared
experience of education, training and comradeship also gave to birth to
something quite unique. We became a “Band of Brothers” the Sept49’ers. Proof
of that bond is demonstrated here today by the presence of Peter Henry, Max
Warwick, Jeff Cook and myself not only to celebrate David’s life, but to
ensure standards are fully maintained, when David marches onto the celestial parade ground as
a soldier should. David’s
departure was not unexpected, as he had been in full time nursing care for
over two years. He bore his illness with courage and fortitude. He always
found it highly amusing and very droll that the Wills Woodbines he used to
smoke came from the factory site upon which his nursing home was built. Max
Warwick and I maintained contact by phone, e-mail, and visits as and when we
could. There
is a poem inscribed onto the Army Apprentice National Memorial that contains
the line” always young, laughing full of fun”. It certainly was an accurate
description of how we found him during visits even though bedridden and
dependent on oxygen. David
had a successful career, in that he became a Weapons Artificer and rose to
the rank of Warrant officer Class One. In the twilight of his career, with
special permission from the MOD, he held the appointment of Regimental
Sergeant Major to a Royal Artillery Regiment for six months until a suitable
candidate was found. A very unusual appointment and a clear demonstration of
his military qualities. Our
“ Brother” David was a typical ex-boy and a good egg. The Eulogy above
was delivered by Gordon Bonner 49B
By kind permission of Tony
Church 55A
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