An old solder was laid to rest a week ago at St. James Church yard, Somerset. Eighty-eight-year-old Egbert (Bert) Bascome was one of the last of a dwindling number of Bermuda Militia Artillery (BMA).men who served on the home front during the Second World War.

Those BMAs in their civilian life were distinguished for always displaying the best of the military discipline instilled in them for both toughness and gentility.

Much of those characteristics were second nature for Bert, being the scion of one of the first families on Somerset, the youngest child and only son of Dr. Robert Henry Bascome and his wife Arletta, deeply religious, Pentecostal adherents.

Theirs was an era when the number of black doctors in the country, medical and or dental could be counted on one's hand; and their offspring generally went into the professions or chose a trade. Bert became a skilled mason. He joined the construction division of Adderley Brothers, headed by former BMA non-commissioned officer Erskine Adderley, building and maintaining homes on the US Bases and all over the island.

And he, like others of his generation, could be counted on during their weekends and in their spare time giving freely of their time and skills helping family and friends build their own homes.

Bert had another distinguishing characteristic. It was his love for gardening, cultivating every piece of arable land he could find in the Bob's Valley area. He worked late into the night growing vegetables he freely gave away to neighbours and friends, including the nearby Ira Philip family, refusing absolutely any thought of payment. He was also a disciplined soccer player, being one of the original West End Rovers, making his contribution as an inside right to the reputation of Silver City.

He was also eulogised as being sociable and generous, "definitely old school". He was predeceased by his wife, the former Beatrice Bascome. He is survived by their three children, Dr. Glen Bascome, Paula Tucker and Deborah Bascome.

Among those paying tribute to Bert were his sisters, Rev. Hope Bascome, 97, and Rev. Miriam Dickenson, wife of Bishop Norris Dickenson.

Dr. Glen Bascome said the family was most comforted by the fact that the week before he passed, his sister Rev. Hope led him to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Dr. Glen called it a "thief on the cross experience".