The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE family of John McPhee wants Bahamians to know that “a hero has passed.”

The 85-year-old veteran participated in the Second World War. His death over two weeks ago means only 13 members of the British Legion Bahamas Branch are still alive.

Mr McPhee signed up in 1942 and served in the Bahamas Battalion. He was a pillar of his community, his family said.

In an interview with The Tribune nearly four years ago he reminisced about serving in the war after training in Jamaican and Africa.

Fortunately for him and other Bahamian soldiers, the war ended before they could go into battle.

Sandena Neely, his grandniece, told The Tribune this week: “He would almost never miss a moment to let us know about his life as a veteran and we also cherished the fact that he took his role very seriously. He served in recent years as the chaplain of the British Legion and also as the flag bearer at official ceremonies like Remembrance Day. This year, even though he was ill, there were a number of persons who passed away and he carried on his role as vice-chairman even though he was ill which was a true testament to the fact that when you’re an old soldier you remain true to your calling.”

Mr McPhee’s wife, Nellie McPhee, was married to him for 62 years.

“They served as a beacon in this country for the institution of marriage and as a hallmark for members of our family as they displayed their love one to another through all the changing scenes of life, even to the very end,” Ms Neely said.

During an interview with this newspaper in late 2013, Mr McPhee recalled his time of service.

“They took us out of school because we had nothing to do and they put us on a sailing boat and sent us to camp,” Mr McPhee, who was raised in Exuma, said as he recalled the moment he dropped out of school to enlist in the British Army.

“Our parents didn’t know where we were so they came looking for us in the army. They wanted to take us back,” he said.

For Mr McPhee, whose prospects were furthering his education, or joining the army, the choice was easy.

“We could’ve gone to school and learned a trade but we didn’t accept that. We wanted adventure.”

With six other young men, he left Rolleville All-Age School in Exuma for New Providence “with no shoes and a little paper bag with pants and shirts in them.”

“In those days money was short,” he said in 2013. “We cut a car tyre, put a string between the toe and used that as a shoe.”

His funeral will be held at 11am on Saturday at Kemp Road Ministries.