Bim Philpott does his part for forgotten soldiers
During his time as adjutant, Mr Philpott has played an active role in the community by doing his duties and visiting old war veterans and their widows.
The Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH) was established in 1927 by Charles Evenden, as a brotherhood of South African former front-line soldiers.
The main purpose of the organisation was to help soldiers in need, whether financially or physically, as well as to remember those who passed away in times of war and peace.
Doing his part for ex- service men, Bim Philpott has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to MOTH as an adjutant at the Monte Stanco Shell Hole.
“I became a MOTH at the Monte Stanco Shell Hole in 1992, but I had helped out at other MOTH shell holes since 1964,” he said.
“In the army, an adjutant handles issues such as correspondence, it is almost like a secretary,” he explained.
During his time as adjutant, Mr Philpott has played an active role in the community by doing his duties and visiting old war veterans and their widows.
“At one stage, I was visiting 21 World War II veterans. I am only visiting five at the moment, as the others have passed away.”
To become a member of Moth, one had to serve one’s country in either the police, navy, air force or the army and had to be exposed to some form of danger.
“I got my qualifications when I served the Northern Rhodesian police in the early 1960s at the Congo border. After my services were no longer required, I relocated to the United Kingdom and joined the Fleet Air Armed forces as a trainee pilot.”
However, after the services of cargo carriers were minimised, Mr Philpott returned to South Africa.
Now enjoying his retirement, Mr Philpott said he would act as adjutant for another year before stepping aside, but he would continue to be an active MOTH member.
“The shell hole has become my second home,” he concluded.
