MEMORIAL SERVICE

6^th FEBRUARY 2013

One of the members of Alpha Company at the Macadamia Base passed away very suddenly on the 31^st of January at the Tonga Hospital. He was admitted in the morning with an acute respiratory tract infection and passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at lunch time.

He will be buried on the 9^th of February in Port Elizabeth and we held a Memorial Service for him on the 6^th of February at the Base.

 

People gathered at the Memorial Service

It was a privilege for me to be there. It was an outpouring of grief for the loss of a comrade and a friend. It was also an expression of the love and camaraderie that is unique to soldiers. People who were previously strangers become brothers and sisters to each other when living, working and operating in difficult circumstances together. We become family to one another and share a deep bond together for the six months away from home on deployment. When one passes away we all feel the loss, we all grieve.

 

The Program Director leading the proceedings

There were many who spoke during the Service. We heard about a man who had grown up in difficult circumstances, who had been the victim of violent crimes in the past but every time had evaded death. Until now. His end was sudden but peaceful, nonetheless shocking because in a strange and almost perverted way it seemed out of character.

His best friend paying tribute

I was moved listening to how one of his colleagues told how the man would prepare himself for going out on patrol in areas where undocumented people cross the border illegally. He would always make sure he carried sweets in his pockets. Most undocumented women crossing the border illegally bring their young children with them. The experience of being apprehended and arrested is particularly traumatic for the children and so this man would always have sweets to offer the children to comfort them and to make the experience less traumatic.

Here I am speaking words of comfort and hope

His wish was to die in service of his country. That wish was granted. May he rest in peace and may his loved ones find comfort.

Chaplain Andrew Treu