A SAPPER who has been his Royal Engineer Association branch standard bearer for 15 years has been awarded a commendation.

A recommendation for Derek Griffiths to receive the REA South Wales honour was put forward by Monmouth branch chairman Gareth Joy. The citation describes Derek, who is also branch membership secretary, as “a sapper in the finest tradition”.

Derek served in the Regular Army with 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron RE and joined the REA Monmouth Branch on May 14, 2002, as a life member becoming branch standard bearer in 2008.

He has played a key role in representing the REA to the outside world at many civic, military, and other functions – as well as representing the branch at the funerals of sapper comrades.

Derek, who lives in Ross-on-Wye, has devoted much of his personal time to this role travelling widely to funerals and functions throughout Wales and England.

The recommendation added that as the standard bearer: “His turn out and bearing have always attracted favourable comment which reflects well on the branch as a whole.”

Despite his wife’s poor health, he continues to attend on a regular basis and plays an important role in the well-being of the branch.

He is also a volunteer worker on the Dean Forest Heritage Railway, putting his sappering skills to good use both as a plant operator and in the construction of railway infrastructure projects.

The recommendation says: “The committee consider that he is well deserving of recognition, for his outstanding commitment and loyalty to the Branch and the REA. A Sapper in the finest tradition.”

The REA was originally founded in 1912 under the name of The Royal Engineers Old Comrades Association, which was later changed to the Royal Engineers Association in 1952.