Captain Philipsen's funeral was held in Rotterdam on Monday 4th December, 1995. Attended by Lisette, his widow, his sons, Alan and Alexander, together with close friends and colleagues. At Arthur's request, his coffin carried his Guards uniform, with his cap and sword. Music requested by him, "The Grenadier's March", and "Over the Hills and Far Away", was played at the funeral service.

Arthur Philipsen's involvement with the Napoleonic Association had mainly been his roles as Lieutenant and later Captain of the Centre Company of the 3rd Btn. 1st Foot Guards, (NA), a responsibility which he valued most highly (and considered an honour!). What might not have been generally known, was his life long interest in military modelling. Arthur once told me that he had 3,000, painted model aircraft hanging from the ceiling, in the basement of his hotel in Rotterdam. Arthur also said, that he had many times attempted to loan them to a museum, but could not find anyone with the space and interest to take them.

Arthur's knowledge on the subject of military models and modelling was quite astounding. On one occasion, whilst standing in my garden at Broadstairs, a single seater 1939/45 military aircraft flew over. He immediately rattled off all the pertinent details (and it was a difficult one, I had been there, seen them, did not recognise it!).

Closer to our own period, Arthur had a considerable collection of Napoleonic figures, all painted by himself. Some hundreds of these may be seen in the Waterloo Museum at Broadstairs, including two magnificent, mounted military Bands (Arthur has kindly arranged the continued loan). Arthur has told me that "waiting in a hotel at night, for very long hours, provides much time for such a hobby."

We, (in the Guards) all knew that Arthur was a very ill man, and once or twice in 1995, I thought that we were going to lose him in battle and on reflection thought that might be the way he would wish to go.

How to say farewell to Arthur?

This poem by Graham and Caroline Ball may say it for us.

We called you 'Sir', we called you a Friend
We called you many things, when . . .
Throwing well laid plans astray
You would go your own sure way.
Whether marching for hours and hours
Or smoking your favourite cigars.
You did what we thought you couldn't do.
Even whilst fighting your own Waterloo.
So in years to come, when battle's through
We'll raise a glass and drink to you,
Who showed us with your courage and pride.
How to really live, while we're alive.

We shall all miss him.

Derek Saunders
(Captain and Lt. Colonel 3rd Btn. 1st Foot Guards (NA)