Times of the Islands Fall 2023

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
world. Political tensions which were spinovers after World
War I were among the contributing factors to this war.
It began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939,
and raged across the globe until 1945 when Japan surrendered
to the United States after atomic bombs were
dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By the end of World
War ll (1945), an estimated 60 to 80 million people had
died, including up to 55 million civilians, and numerous
cities in Europe and Asia were reduced to rubble. The
Turks & Caicos Islands found themselves engaged in this
war as a result of their colonial status with Great Britain.
At the age of 16 years and without the knowledge
or consent of his family, Bobby decided to enlist in the
army. When his grandmother found out, she and his uncle
Richard Ellis put a stop to it. But a determined Bobby later
reapplied and gained acceptance. His grandmother only
found out on the evening when he was expected to leave
for Grand Turk. It was too late for her to do anything.
Bobby was off to the serve his country in the army. Bobby
was accepted on January 2, 1943 as a Private rank. He
was sent off to Jamaica for four months of training by the
UK 8th Army Division. Bobby described how vigorous and
rough the training was. Their instructor was extremely
tough which made his time in Jamaica even more difficult.
Despite these challenges, he made it through and
received his first stripe.
He returned to the Turks & Caicos Islands and was
stationed at the army barrack south of the Kittina Hotel
in Grand Turk. There were two camps in the barracks
holding about 40 men from the TCI who had also enlisted
in the army and were preparing to go overseas for active
service. Bobby and the other recruits had to return to
camp by 10 PM every night when all lights were put out.
This was done to avoid the possibility of German submarines
lurking in the area firing on them.
Bobby quickly climbed the ranks to Acting Sergeant
and was placed in charge of a platoon. A part of his
duties required him to keep guard at the “Lookout Point”
which was located in the vicinity of the current Cable and
Wireless (now FLOW) building. Bobby was eager to go
abroad, but to his great disappointment the war ended
before that dream became a reality.
Post-Army life
After World War ll came to an end, Bobby had what he
referred to as a “stand down” after his three years of
After military training in Jamaica, Bobby returned to the Turks &
Caicos and was stationed at the army barrack in Grand Turk.
military service. Subsequently, he left the army in 1946
having achieved the rank of Two Striped Full Corporal.
Bobby now had a choice of whether to go into business
or pursue a career. In 1947 at age 21, Bobby was offered
a golden opportunity to go to Jamaica to pursue further
studies. He attended the Industrial Garage, an affiliate of
the University of the West Indies, where he was trained in
diesel engineering. As a part of his training, he also spent
time at the Webster Shipyard and Ice Factory. In 1949, he
was commissioned to return to Jamaica to collect and sail
home the new government vessel, the President Forth.
This ship was named after the first president of the TCI
who served from 1849–1852.
In 1949, he married his beautiful soulmate Anita Ariza
who predeceased him by six years. This union lasted for
67 years and produced four children, although he generally
boasted of being the father of nine children: Monica
(deceased), Joan (Dar), Annett (deceased), James (Jimbo),
Gracita (Gigi), Antonio (Tony), Oswald (Whoobie), Shirley,
and his adopted daughter Nekoda. James and Antonio
Times of the Islands Fall 2023 63