IN MEMORIAM

George CASSELLS

7 September 1934 to 11 June 1956

AAS Arborfield Intake 49B

“George was shot and killed whilst serving in Cyprus during the EOKA Crisis. He is survived by his twin brother, John.”

Remember me when I’ve gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land,

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more, day by day,

When you tell me of the future that you planned.

Only remember me, you understand

It will be too late to counsel or to pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve,

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

[With grateful thanks to Max WARWICK for providing this information, and to Trevor STUBBERFIELD for the verse]

Gordon Bonner (49B) wrote on 15 November 2007:

“I was in Cyprus last week, and on the 5^th November I went to Wayne’s Keep Cemetery, Nicosia, to see George on behalf of John Cassells. I laid a wreath for and on behalf of the AOBA and the Class of 49B, the September 49ers. I spent about 30 minutes there. I recited the Remembrance Poem and after a minute’s silence, the Lord’s Prayer. I found the visit to be very moving as I remembered the young man from the days of our shared Arborfield experience from nearly 60 years ago.”

A tribute to George Cassells, placed by The British Cyprus Memorial Trust, is available from HERE.

A Poppy Wreath Laying Ceremony took place at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire to remember those members of Intake 49B, including George Cassells, who have sadly been recalled to H.Q.

To read the report, CLICK on the WREATH.