OBITUARIES

OBITUARIES

PORT ALFRED

Lgr Roy Somers.

PIETERMARITZBURG

Lgr N Brymer.

Obituary: Legionnaire Hamilton Dean Arnold

After a brave, hard-fought battle with cancer, Hamilton Dean Arnold known to his family and friends as Pa, Ballie Deano or simply Dean, passed away on 26 October 2021 aged 77. He leaves behind his children, sons-in-law and daughter-in-law, Heather and Helgaard Muller, Wendy and Peter Mortimer, Ken and Maxine Arnold - not forgetting his grandchildren Matthew and Jenna Mortimer. Dean also leaves behind his brother Johnny, sisters Joey Pieterse, Marie James, Freda Booysen and Stephanie Podmore.

Dean was born on 3 October 1944 in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal. After schooling Dean completed his apprenticeship with the Natal Witness as a typesetter. Various careers saw Dean working at Cannon & Findlay furniture store, City Locksmiths and then, in May 2008, he joined The War Memorial Homes (1939-1945) Trust, as a Superintendent overseeing all maintenance and administration duties for the cottages for ex-serviceman connected to the South African Legion in Pietermaritzburg. His beloved wife Lorna then joined him as secretary to the South African Legion, Pietermaritzburg Branch, which included some of the work for the War Memorial Homes (1939-1945) Trust, owners of the buildings that Dean cared for so ably.

Dean was very instrumental in arranging many annual Delville Wood and Remembrance Day Civic Parades on behalf of the Msunduzi Municipality, also arranging Poppy Collections on behalf of the Legion, jobs which he undertook with enthusiasm and military precision. It was this enthusiasm that saw the Legion Branch grow from strength to strength. His famous St Charles Old Boy’s Catering fund raising become legendary until the dreaded Covid pandemic hit upon us. Dean was the founder member of “The Office” a popular watering hole where many a few beers were consumed.

Dean was Vice-Chairman of the Pietermaritzburg Branch of the South African Legion, a member of the Allen Wilson MOTH Shellhole, and was twice Master of Skelmersdale Lodge No.1729. In more recent years Dean become a Director of The Pietermaritzburg Ex-Servicemen’s Housing Company NPC. Dean was a well-known character in Pietermaritzburg and had an impeccable memory for people’s names and will be sadly missed by all his very many friends, colleagues and associates. He is now with his beloved wife Lorna, who also sadly succumbed to cancer a few years back.

“WE WILL REMBEMBER HIM”

SOUTH AFRICAN LEGION

Springbok is the Journal of the South African Legion, ISSN number 2221-9854. It is compiled by Lgr Charles Ross. Body text was set in Calibri 11 and headers, Calibri 12 pt.

SOUTH AFRICAN LEGION STRUCTURE

Patron in Chief: President of the Republic of South Africa

Past Presidents for Life:

• Lgr Chris PC de B Venter. • Lgr Jurie Van der Merwe. • Lgr Brian Klopper.

Honorary Life Vice Presidents:

• Lgr Jurie van der Merwe. • Lgr Arthur Blake. • Lgr Bazil Kriel. • Lgr Rick Andriès. • Lgr Quentin Gibson.

National President: Lgr Brian Smith. National V/President: Lgr Shaun Booth. National Treasurer: Lgr Johan Johnson. National Secretary: Lgr Riana Venter van Zyl. National Comms and Liaison: Lgr Debra De Billot. National Wellbeing and Relief: Lgr Rick Andrìes. National Ceremonial/Conduct: Lgr Peter Smit. National Fundraising: Vacant.

SOUTH AFRICAN LEGION,

PO Box 1936, Houghton, 2041 Tel: 010 595 4222 reception@salegion.org

Branches:

• Alexandria • Atteridgeville • Benoni • Bloemfontein • Brakpan • Cape Town • Central Wits • Durban • East London • England • Europe • Grahamstown

Regional Chairmen:

• Eastern Cape: Lgr Basil

Dukas. • Free State: Lgr Deon

Bester. • Gauteng: Vacant. • Kwa-Zulu Natal: Lgr Steve

Leahy. • UK & Europe: Lgr Cameron

Kinnear • Kagiso-West Rand • Kimberley • King Williams Town • Kroonstad • Lower South Coast • North Coast • Pietermaritzburg • Port Alfred • Port Elizabeth • Pretoria • Scotland • Soweto • Strand