Arborfield Old Boys Association

AOBA

Arborfield Life

The Army Apprentice National Memorial

Dedication Day:  Alrewas, Staffordshire, 7th September 2011

The final word

Dedication day dawned breezy, cloudy, but dry, which was of great relief to the Trustees, as the previous few days

had seen high winds and heavy rain; there had been a genuine anxiety that the celebration of  two years of hard work

in the planning and construction of the memorial would be compromised.

What was really heart-warming to the Trustees was unexpectedly large numbers of ex-boys who arrived to bear

witness to the unveiling and dedication at the memorial. The Trustees believed from the very beginning the planned

memorial would not only be a fitting tribute to “The Army Apprentice”, but would also be an elegant structure in it’s own

right that others would wish to emulate.  

This view was endorsed by the spontaneous audible gasp and applause given by the congregation when

Major General G.B. Berragan CB unveiled the monolith and it’s stunning beauty was revealed.

Prior to the dedication day, I had requested Anthony Church (TeeCee), Arborfield 55A, the author of the centre circle

poem, to compose a few verses about the memorial itself. I have extracted and condensed a few lines from that poem

into what I believe are appropriate for the final word on dedication day.

This circle of stone tells of ‘Boy’s Schools’, now flown into history’s yellowing pages,

Yet a building alone, whether timber or stone, is just an inanimate part Of a fine learning place;

it was the youngsters who gave it heart and embraced the real soul.

But in the beginning, ere the losing and winning that all in a martial life know,

a solid foundation was laid by instruction in how to live life,  to grow

into maturity, to learn of truth, loyalty, and, above all, of honour, fair play.

Lessons that turned those boys into men, to whom there’s a debt we can never repay.

7th September 2011.

Report of the service by Major( retired) Gordon G. Bonner,

        Honorary Secretary of the Memorial Committee.