The ARMY APPRENTICE ... remember with pride
Photo - Armed Forces Memorial at NMA Alrewas Staffs
Association Pages
How it got started
Over the last few years a number of the Army Apprentice Associations have independently been considering the possibility of a memorial to the Army Apprentice Scheme.
During 2008, the Beachley Old Boys' Association started their own Memorial project, with David Chapman (60A) at the helm. During the summer of 2009 at the Arborfield Association AGM, Maurice 'Mo' Hope proposed that the Association should consider a memorial to the Army Apprentice and they subsequently formed a Memorial Committee. Gordon Bonner (49B) was tasked to investigate the possibility of all the known Ex-Apprentice Associations collaborating on a project to have a single national memorial located at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Subsequently, a Memorial Steering Committee was formed with representatives from the four associations of Chepstow, Arborfield, Harrogate and Carlisle, to firstly look at the possibility of the project and should there be agreement, to plan and implement the activity to make it happen.
Following the initial meeting of the four Association’s nominees, it was decided that a joint project was an excellent idea and that by pooling ideas and funds, a more appropriate memorial could be designed and established at the NMA, Alrewas.
The Army Apprentice National Memorial is dedicated to all the army apprentices who served their country and in memory of those who gave their lives for it.
Former apprentices or their families, were able to sponsor commemorative granite tablets, to be incorporated into the floor area of the memorial during construction. All spaces have now been taken up.
Choice of design & time scale
The AANM Trustees finalized the most appropriate design and liased with the National Memorial Arboretum concerning construction and the dedication. Through the fund raising program the memorial has been constructed. A Constitution is in place and Charity status has been granted.
At our second meeting in December 2009, an excellent provisional design was selected, together with a supplier who has a wealth of experience and a very competitive quote. We had the approval of the Trustees of the National Memorial Arboretum and the Associations for this. The AANM Trustees are now working hard to complete fundraising in order to achieve our aim to maintain a lasting memorial to the Army Apprentice now the memorial is built and dedicated. Please help us achieve our target. Details are on our DONATION APPEAL pages
The Appeal is aiming to raise the required funds to meet all the final costs of the Memorial and the ongoing maintainance costs.
A senior ex apprentice agrees to be Patron of the Charity
Maj Gen Gerry Berragan CB (48B Arborfield) was Director General of the RAOC, the Col. Commandant of the RLC and Chairman of the RAOC Charitable Trust.
His strong support and words of wisdom have been much appreciated.
It's now erected and we need further funds to maintain it.
We need the goodwill and financial support of all ex Apprentices who undertook an Army Apprenticeship at one or more of the various Army Schools, Colleges, or trade training Establishments.
Each year over 300,000 thousand visitors attend the National Memorial Arboretum
and the Army Apprentice soldier of yester-year now has a fitting place to be remembered with pride - and not forgotten.
Founding Trustees
Chairman - Major David C. Chapman (Chepstow 60A) also BOBA Rep.
Vice-Chairman - Keith Thrower (Arborfield 60C)
Hon. Secretary - Major Gordon G. Bonner (Arborfield 49B)
Hon. Treasurer - Major Mike J. Davis MBE (Arborfield 60B)
Webmaster - Max Warwick (Arborfield 49B)
NMA Liaison Officer- Johnny McGahan (Harrogate 59A) also AOHA Rep.
AOBA Representative - Maurice 'Mo' Hope (Arborfield 59B)
HOBA Representative - David 'Ted' Cooper (Carlisle 61C)
Member - Colin Weir (Chepstow 55A)
L to R (Sitting) -Patron Maj Gen Gerry Berragan, Maj David Chapman, Maj Gordon Bonner,
(Standing) Maj Mike Davis, Max Warwick, Colin Prior, David Cooper, Maurice Hope and Keith Thrower at the BOBA Building, Beachley Barracks, Chepstow, May 2010. (Johnny McGahan was unable to attend)
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