Former Detective Inspector Milton Marsh has just turned 100-years-old. He was involved in some very high-profile cases inBermuda, but was also subject to racism both within the Police force and the community. Here he talks of his memories to Lifestyle reporter Jessie Moniz.

After having spent a career with the Bermuda Police force working against a current of racism and discrimination, it was particularly satisfying for MiltonMarsh to be recognised by the community – not just for his 100th birthday, but also for his career achievements.

"I felt gratified," he told The RoyalGazette in an interview shortly after his birthday celebrations.

To mark his birthday he had a visit fromPremier Ewart Brown, he was recognised in a service at the Bermuda Cathedral and he was also presented by the Bermuda Police with 'The Baton of Honour' – a cedar billy club.

Mr. Marsh came up from St. Kitts with his wife Gwendolyn in 1930 at the age of 21. He went to work at the Co-operative Society, a grocery store on Boaz Island.

In St. Kitts he had a government job and had worked in the postal department, the treasury and other branches of St. Kitts government. "It was very hostile to West-Indians when I arrived," Mr. Marsh said. "We had a hard time.

They called us 'jigger-foot'. My father was a former policeman. He had some contacts here."He had a job in Dockyard at the time, so it was more or less through him that I got the job in Dockyard."

He started with the Bermuda Police department in June 1941 when he was assigned to work in Somerset. "If you were coloured, promotion was very slow," he said. "Coloured people only got promotions when they were about ready to retire."

And he said that lighter skinned black officers were treated better than dark skinned black officers.There was a great deal of protest from the Somerset community when it was announced that a West-Indian officer was being posted there.

"People were in an uproar when I joined," he said. "I was severely beaten in Somerset, because I was from St. Kitts. We knew who did it. Some of them went to prison for it."Prior to the beating there seemed to be a general meeting in Somerset for people of all society objecting to my position as a Police officer."He said that one person arrested for the beating turned out to be a prominent member of the community.

Mr. Marsh still has a scar on his forehead from the beating.He received a number of written commendations for work he did solving arson cases, and break-ins, but the case he is most proud of is breaking the "the Lightbourne Case".Between 1958 and 1959 several young women were attacked and murdered including DorothyPearce.

One woman Florence Flood, of Cobbs Hill,Warwick managed to fight off her attacker when he broke into her house, and he ran away.

The case was finally broken in 1959 when a young English secretary Dorothy Barbara Rawlinson was murdered at Southlands Beach in September of that year.Mr. Marsh arrested a 19-year-old Spring Hill, Warwick boy, Wendell Willis Lightbourne. Lightbourne was well known to the former officer as the previous year, he had arrested Lightbourne for a crime which he was given 10 lashes. (See separate story on gt for more about the Lightbourne case.)

Despite his hard work, Scotland Yard was called in to investigate. They were also used to look into the murder of Dorothy Pearce but were unsuccessful in solving that."The Lightbourne case was probably the most important case I worked on," said Mr. Marsh.

"I'm glad we were able to solve it. We solved that through informants."Lightbourne tried to destroy evidence by throwing his clothing overboard. "Scotland Yard were looking for clues, but they didn't find any clues."All Scotland Yard did was interview Lightbourne. There was one particular witness who did not want to give evidence because he had a problem with the Police."He had complained about certain officers treating him harshly, so he wouldn't tell them anything.

But I knew his boss. His boss softened him up. I interviewed him, and he told me exactly what happened."When Scotland Yard arrived in Bermuda to work on Dorothy Rawlinson's murder, Mr. Marsh had already arrested Lightbourne."The guy that they sent from Scotland Yard told the Bermuda Police force not to send black people to interview suspects," he said. "So I was taken off the job.

Scotland Yard didn't have to do anything when they came here. They just interviewed him, and went into my statements.

He confessed to Scotland Yard."Lightbourne was charged with attempting to murder Mrs. Flood and murdering Dorothy Rawlinson.Mr. Marsh said he did not believe that the other murders related to the Rawlinson case, and they remain unsolved. He said that at that time Police detection was still in its infancy."It was not as advanced as it is today," he said. "Things change, but nothing is new actually.

It is just that young people put a different spin on things."The Lightbourne case went on against the backdrop of the theatre boycotts.Mr. Marsh said he worked overtime during this period, and he was acutely aware of the racial discrimination going on in his own workplace.

"At the Police Club, they used to have dances for white Police officers only," he said. "I was at Prospect at the time. This senior officer came down and put a flyer over my desk announcing that a dance was coming off at such and such a time. So I told him 'well, I'm coming to the dance with my wife'."The officer informed the Commissioner of Police,R.Henderson, who called a meeting.

"He started the meeting off by threatening everyone," said Mr. Marsh. "He said 'I know why you can't find out about these boycotts of the theatres'."The Commissioner was implying that black Police officers were working with the boycotters. "

He said 'If anyone is found guilty they will be fired'. "I stood up and said there was discrimination within the Police force. Without black and white Police officers working together, you can't have any harmony."He promised to have another meeting, but the meeting never happened. But in any case they had the dance, and for the first time white and black couples danced together."My wife and I went and danced. I believe in equal treatment for everyone.

Every man should be treated fairly."Mr. Marsh became frustrated that he was never given proper credit for his accomplishment while white officers were praised publicly. He was so disappointed at one stage, that he argued with a senior officer. "

He was giving credit to all of these expatriates ahead of me," said Mr. Marsh. "I told a reporter about my frustrations. Then the officer came in and said he wouldn't work with me anymore"He put me out of his office.

He had me transferred. But the person over him, recognised my ability and said, 'I'll take him'. So I went to work with him."According to Mr. Marsh, another area of discrimination within the Police force was in training.

Although other officers were given time-off and financial support to upgrade their skills in England, black Police officers in Bermuda were not. So Mr. Marsh paid for his own training in England. He got an attachment to the Police force inLiverpool, England, and also visited Scotland Yard."That is when my eyes were opened," said Mr. Marsh. Unfortunately, he found that in England the same "discourtesies" were paid to black people.

But nevertheless, he gained a lot from the experience."When I came back, I did a whole lot of reading. I put my local experience into it," he said. "There is no better person to get information than a local Policeman.

He knows the people. Scotland Yard can't come here and pick someone up without having someone to give them information."He received a long service award in November, 1963, and retired from the Police the following year with an exemplary service record.He went to work for the Castle Harbour Hotel in the security department.He said he doesn't miss being a Police officer or even being young.

He has managed to stay so healthy for so long by eating well. "My wife Gwendolyn was a diabetic," he said.

"On account of her I use to restrain myself with certain foods."He has a daughter and a son, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.