1917 - 1999 "AND STILL THEY COME'' was the headline of an article in a World War II issue of a Canadian magazine. It was accompanied by a photograph of 11 young Bermudians newly arrived in Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force in July, 1943.

The author wrote "Judging from the continuous stream of boys who have come from this small island colony to join the Canadian Air Force and Navy -- to say nothing of those, also, who have joined the armed forces of Great Britain and the United States -- it would seem almost as if each succeeding generation of Bermudians as soon as it reaches the minimum age of acceptance loses no time in volunteering to take its part in the battle for freedom... We can only say they are a bright, cheerful lot, keen and self-reliant, who give promise of upholding the fine traditions of service and gallantry of their comrades who already have won fame for the name of Bermuda in the present conflict''.

One of them was Arthur Jenkins, better known to all of us as "Copper''. He died on June 15, 1999 at Bogangar, New South Wales, Australia, his home for the past 50 years.

Born at H.M.Dockyard, he had paid his last visit home to Bermuda in 1996 when he shared a reunion with several comrades from his original group of volunteers. Sadly, however, after returning to Australia, he sustained a major stroke that left him partially paralysed for the remainder of his life.

A member of the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps, he was called up at the outbreak of War, and early volunteered to serve overseas. He chose the air force and received basic training in Bermuda before going to Canada. There, most of his advanced training was completed at Mont Joli in Quebec.

One day, to his surprise, he found the name of Percy Roach (who subsequently won the DFC and lives in Paget) inscribed on the turret of the plane in which he was training. An amazing coincidence.

Completing his training as an air gunner, Copper was transferred to England in February, 1944 and attached to the 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force in Lincolnshire. He took part in 33 missions in Lancaster bombers and flew in support of the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Discharged in England in July, 1945 Copper returned to Canada to undertake the most important mission of his life.

In 1943 he had met Jean Healey at a church dance. They had fallen in love and on April 20, 1946 were married at Thornhill, Ontario. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1996. They had spent their honeymoon at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, and arranged to return there for their "fiftieth''. When the Hotel learned their story they generously gave them the same bridal suite and charged only the 1946 rates.

Copper was born at Dockyard, Bermuda on August 26, 1917, the youngest of the 12 children of George and Ellen Jenkins. His father had been sent to Bermuda from Devonshire in England to be in charge of the docks at Dockyard. Copper attended Dockyard School.

Immediately after the War he worked at several occupations in Bermuda, including taxi driving, at Kindly Air Force Base and, for a time, at Masters Limited.

On first moving to Australia, he engaged in farm work and truck driving before eventually settling in the motel business and managing rural properties for 27 years until he retired.

During his early years he showed considerable talent as a football player, and became a member of the formidable BVRC team of the War years. He played soccer until he was 52. He was a fine tennis player and golfer, and was a member of the Returned Service Club in Australia.

Copper's ashes completed their long journey home from Australia on Sunday afternoon, October 17. They were placed carefully in the family grave at St.

James Church, Somerset, a few miles from where he was born.

The venerable Archdeacon Dr. Arnold Hollis conducted a moving graveside service in the presence of Copper's wife of 53 years, Mrs. Jean Jenkins, and other members of his Bermuda family and friends. So ended peacefully the life of a World War II veteran and comrade, whose memory will never fade for those of us who served with him and knew him well.

Copper is survived by his wife, their daughters, Marion and Georgina, and grandchildren Ben, Breah, Biance and Kailas. Also, by two sisters, Gwen Felska of Bermuda and Blanche Weare of England.

He was a member of the BVRC Overseas Association and the Bermuda War Veterans Association.

Contributed by Tommy Aitchison Arthur Jenkins RELIGION REL