MARY Anthony, the last known surviving non-combative war veteran in the southern legion, has died.
A funeral with a military presence is carded for her at 10 am on November 30 at Our Lady of the Assumption RC Church, St Mary's Village, South Oropouche.
This will be followed by burial at Apex Cemetery, Fyzabad. Anthony's body will be taken to the cenotaph at Fyzabad, where she spent her last Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day and Memorial Day earlier this month, to lay a wreath for fallen soldiers.
She did this religiously for over seven decades since the war ended, bringing an end to her service as an order clerk at the British Military Hospital, which was located behind the Colonial Hospital, now known as Port of Spain General Hospital.
She rose to the rank of corporal and was in line for promotion to sergeant when the war ended.
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The widow of soldier Carlton Anthony, she bore him four children – Stephanie Anthony-Laing, Jennifer Mc Nish, Grace Anthony, and Eldred Anthony.
Anthony was treated somewhat as a legend in her community.
He daughter Grace is also something of a celebrity, as she was the first woman pilot at BWIA (now Caribbean Airlines).
A funeral procession with uniformed members of the TT Cadet and Defence Force will lead the hearse to her final resting place, her son Eldred Anthony told the Newsday.
He said Anthony had in an ambulance while in transit from the Siparia District Health facility to the San Fernando General Hospital on November 26.
He said she was not feeling well and had experienced problems breathing. She had been hurriedly taken to the Siparia facility where she was given emergency treatment and was on her way to San Fernando when she died. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Eldred remembered his mother as a woman who was devoted to excellence, fiercely protective of her children and one who always challenged herself to excel.
He recalled as an adult, she joined him and one of their sisters in writing and passing then GCE O’Levels exams, now CSEC, because she was denied the opportunity as a child.
He said Anthony always wanted to excel, and went on to become a caterer with the National School Feeding Programme, snagging the Caterer of the Year award on one occasion.
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As commanding officer of the Sixth Infantry Battalion, the Cadet Battalion in the St Patrick and Victoria Districts, Major Randal Luces said it was an honour and pleasure to have met and interacted with “a real live veteran” at Memorial Day, 2023 and 2024.
“It was almost as if Mrs Anthony waited for one last parade before she transitioned to the next realm. She served well and I suppose she is serving in a greater capacity now.”
Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe who also joined Mary in laying wreaths on Remembrance Day, November 10, said Fyzabad would be poorer without her.
“She was a kind and humble human being, always ready to engage anyone. She left an indelible mark on her community. May her travels be light and may her soul rest in eternal peace.”
