THE TRIBUNE
Friday, November 24, 2023, PAGE 1
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Friday, November 24, 2023, PAGE 3
British LegionBahamas Local Branch TODAY, the British Legion-Bahamas Branch, along with its Commonwealth World War Associate Branches, continue the main objectives of our Headquarters RBL (London) in the provision of financial monthly war grants to our now two (2) Bahamian Registered World War II Veterans (ages 95-98) and sixteen (16) World War II Widows of the fallen, whose ages range from 75-97. Names of the current WWII survivors registered with the British Legion-Bahamas Branch are: (1) Comrade Henry Kellman (95) Free-
port, Grand Bahama, Bahamas (RAF) and (2) Comrade Vernon Pinder (98) New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas (RAF) And finally; Registered under the care of the British Legion-Jamaica Branch: (3) Our remaining Bahamian female WWII survivor, Corporal Doreen Carmel Jones-Rickards (99), who served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (A.T.S.) During World War II and who currently resides with her daughter in Kingston, Jamaica. Widows registered under the care of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch:(4) There are currently sixteen (16) registered World War II Widows of the Fallen
being taken care of by the British LegionBahamas Branch. The legion ensures that these widows receive their widow’s grants from the Royal British Legion International. The ages of our registered widows range from 75-97 years old. The names of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch’ currently registered widows are as follows: Widow Adline Wallace - Nicholl’s Town, Andros, Bahamas Widow Almeria V. Pinder - Nassau, Bahamas Widow Althea Tinker - Nassau, Bahamas
Widow Barbara B. Farrington - Rock Sound, Eleuthera Widow Doreen Brown - Nassau, Bahamas Widow Emily Rhodriquez - Harts, Exuma, Bahamas - oldest registered Widow at 97. Widow Francis Mae Simmons Freeport, Grand Bahama Widow Francis Pinder - Sandy Point, Abaco, Bahamas Widow Genevieve Strachan - Nassau, Bahamas Widow Majorie Eloise Francis Nassau, Bahamas Widow Mary Taylor - Nassau, Bahamas Widow Mizpah Strachan - Nassau, Bahamas Widow Muriel Thompson - Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas Widow Nellie McPhee - Nassau, Bahamas Widow Thelma Saunders - Andros, Bahamas Widow Theresa Johnson - Nassau, Bahamas
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THE TRIBUNE
IN MEMORIAM
The Late
WILLIAM MAURICE THOMPSON, JR. (1923-1966)
ROYAL BRITISH NAVY, 1943-1945
The Late 1ST CLASS SEAMAN
ANTHONY PERICLES MAILLIS UNITED STATES NAVY, 1945-1946
Named after his father, William Maurice Thompson, Sr., William, (known by his middle name- “Maurice” ), was born in 1923 in Hope Town, Abaco, in the Bahamas. He was the fifth child and youngest of four (4) brothers who were known as “The fighting Thompsons” who served either in the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Royal British Navy during World War II. It was during World War II, “Maurice” was assigned to the North Atlantic Theatre. Theatre during WWII, was referred to a “specific geographical area” in which very important military operations occurred or were in progress to launch attacks on the enemy by sea. Marice was assigned on a Military Destroyer that was based in England, Scotland, and Iceland. He was then transferred to the Far East where he was posted successively to India, Burma, and then Ceylon. Maurice was “Honourably Discharged” from his naval duties when the War ended in 1945.
The Late Anthony Pericles Maillis, who volunteered and served in the United States Navy as a 1st Class Seaman, specifically, in the Pacific Theatre of the War. He sailed on the United States War Destroyer called the USS John A. Bole (DD755). This War Ship sailed in the Yellow Sea. It is on this Destroyer that 1st Class Seaman Anthony Maillis was able to assist with the liberation of the Korean Islands by the end of the War. It should be noted that the Pacific Theatre was that area of the Pacific Ocean, which included the Asian Countries, and was one of the major Theatres of heavy naval battle during WWII.
Ref: Information obtained from Family and the “Out Island Boy Publication: 2016”
Ref.: Information was presented to the British LegionBahamas Branch by the Maillis Family.
The Late
LIEUTENANT RICHARD CHESTER THOMPSON (1921-2012)
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 1942–1946 Chester Thompson was born in Hope Town, Abaco, in 1921. He spent his early years in Abaco and in Nassau. Chester, along with three of his brothers, were dubbed “The Fighting Thompsons” by Sir Etienne Dupuch when they volunteered to join the war effort in the early 1940s. Chester joined the Royal Navy in 1942, first serving on a minelayer, then on HMS Beverley, one of the many escort ships assigned to convoys dodging U-boats (German submarines), across the Atlantic, in what was known as “The Battle of the Atlantic.” In 1943, Chester was commissioned, and at age 23, he commanded Landing Craft Tank 527, which took part in the Normandy invasion, delivering cargo of armoured vehicles, and delivering supplies to Normandy’s “Gold” beach. At the end of the War, Chester attended the University of Toronto, where he met and married his wife of sixty-three years, Joan. On graduation, he returned to the Bahamas and began a career in real estate. Chester was the proud father of three (3) daughters and eleven (11) grandchildren. In 2012, he died in Nassau at age 91.
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British Legion Bahamas Branch presents first poppy to Governor General
Friday, November 24, 2023, PAGE 5
Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Cynthia A Pratt, received the British Legion-Bahamas Branch in a courtesy call at the Office of the Governor General on Friday, October 6, 2023, where they presented her with the first Poppy for the upcoming Remembrance Day Poppy Season. Pictured from left: Charles Hepburn Jr. Esq., Senior Executive Volunteer Officer; Adina D. Munroe-Charlow, Chairperson/Treasurer/ Welfare Officer; Her Excellency Cynthia Pratt; Franklyn Brown Esq., Senior Executive Volunteer Officer; and Marvin Pinder Esq., Senior Executive Volunteer Officer.
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Bahamians who served in both the Royal British Navy and the United States Navy during World War II
REF: The above list was taken from the Wall of Remembrance located at the Bahamas Veterans’ Cemetery Infant View Road-Nassau, Bahamas IN addition to the above names we have son of our Bahamian soil, the Late Anthony P. Maillis, who volunteered and served in the U.S. Navy, specifically, in the Pacific Theatre of the War. He sailed on the United States Ship called the USS John A. Bole (DD755) as a 1st Class Seaman. This War Ship sailed in the Yellow Sea. It is on this War Ship that Seaman Anthony Maillis was able to assist with the liberation of the Korean Islands by the end of the War. It should be noted that the Pacific Theatre was that area of the Pacific Ocean, which included the Asian Countries, and was one of the major Theatres of heavy naval battle during WWII. Definition of Listed Terms: WRENS-Women’s Royal Naval Service-formed in 1917 (WW1) and reactivated in 1939 (WW2) USMC-United States Marine Corps. RCN-Royal Canadian Navy USAF-United States Air Force USN-United States Navy
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Friday, November 24, 2023, PAGE 7
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (LONDON) CELEBRATES 102 YEARS AS A NON-PROFIT
T
his year, the British Legion-Bahamas branch, including all other Commonwealth British Legion branches, celebrate, along with our international headquarters, the Royal British Legion (London), 102 years of existence as a non-profit organisation serving all World War II veterans. Throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean, it was on 15th May, 1921, 102 years ago, the Royal British Legion (London) was incorporated as a non-profit organisation as a result of the merging of four veteran associations that were already established three years after the Great War ended in 1918. • The main objectives of the Royal British Legion upon its incorporation, were: (1) To financially provide for all war emergency service workers, including soldiers, who were wounded during the Great War (2) To provide companionship to all soldiers who had no families and homes to go to after the Great War ended (3) To remember all war emergency service workers, including soldiers, who lost their lives defending our freedom and who protected the way of life during that time.
WIDOW Nellie McPhee.
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THE TRIBUNE WWII Veteran Vernon Pinder being taken into Christ Church Cathedral by Willis Charlow, British Legion - Bahamas Branch.
WORLD War II Veteran joins the 2023 Remembrance Day parade in his antique car driven by Mr Freeman Deveaux, owner and president of the Bahamas Antique Auto Association.
BRITISH Legion - Bahamas branch chairperson Adina Munroe-Charlow and a grandson, flag carrier Edward Rodney Neymour. FAMILY and friends of Comrade Vernon Pinder take a photograph after Cenotaph ceremony on November 12.
YOUNG BRITISH AFGHANISTAN WAR HEROES ARE GUESTS OF THE BRITISH LEGION-BAHAMAS BRANCH 2023 REMEMBRANCE DAY MASS AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
MARINE Matthew Dams (L) and Major Warren Davies, VR (R).
MAJOR Warren Davies (L), chairperson, Adina Munroe-Charlow (centre) and Marine Matthew Dams at the Cenotaph on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
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COMRADE VERNON PINDER, World War II veteran and Royal British Legion - Bahamas branch chairperson Adina Munroe-Charlow laying a wreath, above, on behalf of the branch before returning to the branch group at the Cenotaph on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
VERNON Pinder and his son Jeffery being escorted to a seat inside Christ Church Cathedral by Kevin Hanna, a board member of the British Legion - Bahamas branch.
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COMRADE VERNON PINDER, a 98-year-old World War II veteran.
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REMEMBRANCE DAY MARCH & MASS
THE BRITISH LEGION-BAHAMAS BRANCH 2023 REMEMBRANCE DAY MARCH & MASS WAS HELD ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12.
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REMEMBRANCE DAY MARCH & MASS
THE BRITISH LEGION-BAHAMAS BRANCH 2023 REMEMBRANCE DAY MARCH & MASS WAS HELD ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12.
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Friday, November 24, 2023, PAGE 11
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WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY
AT THE BAHAMAS VETERANS CEMETERY HELD ON SATURDAY, 11TH NOV, 2023
ABOVE and below, members of the families of veterans at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Bahamas Veterans Ceremony.
THE EXECUTIVE Committee of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch: FRONT ROW: Left (Kevin Hanna), Adina Munroe-Charlow (Chairperson), and Father Andrew Toppin (1st Vice Chairman/Chaplain), BACK ROW: Left (Valentino Griffin-Sherman), Franklyn Brown (Center), Right (Charles Hepburn, Jr.), and Marvin Pinder.
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The poppy celebrates 102 years of existence
THIS year also marks the 102nd birthday of the poppy. It was 102 years ago, that the Royal British Legion’s then president, the late Earl Haig, announced the introduction of the poppy as a symbol representing the blood shed by thousands of soldiers, (including our Bahamian soldiers), who died during the Great War of 1914-1918. The Bahamas sent 700 men to fight in WW1. He announced that on the 11th day of every November, which was formerly known as Armistice Day, would now be known as “Remembrance Day;” a “Poppy Day” to raise funds for the care of surviving war veterans. Since that very first Remembrance Day, in 1921, eight (8) million poppies
were purchased and worn in surport of this worthy cause. Today, as chairman of the British Legion - Bahamas Branch, I encourage our Bahamas to purchase and wear a poppy in remembrance of the sacrifice that was made for world peace and freedom, a very vital historical role played by our forgotten Bahamian war heroes. The Bahamas Branch of the British Legion continues the traditional poppy fundraising drive, to care for our surviving elderly Bahamian war veterans and widows here on the island of New Providence as well as those residing on the islands of Freeport, Grand Bahama, Nicholls’ Town, Andros, and Harts, Exuma.
IT was 102 years ago, that the Royal British Legion’s then president, the late Earl Haig, announced the introduction of the poppy as a symbol representing the blood shed by thousands of soldiers.
THE BRITISH Legion-Bahamas Branch takes it an honour in the caring of its registered WWII Veterans and Widows in distribution of groceries and ensuring that they receive their monthly War grants.
WIDOW receives her monthly grant and groceries and a daughter collects on behalf of her mother, a Widow.
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