KINGSTON, Jamaica — Ninety-two-year-old Peter Xavier Williams, affectionately known as “Poppy Man,” stands as a living monument to Jamaica’s military history and unwavering national service. His remarkable journey, which began in 1933 in St. Mary, spans nearly a century of profound social transformation and personal dedication.
Williams’ early life was marked by the hardships of World War II, where he experienced food rationing, blackouts, and the constant fear of aerial attacks after losing his father at age seven. At 13, he came under the guardianship of national hero Sir Alexander Bustamante, whose influence would shape his future. Williams still preserves letters and photographs from this formative period, including images he captured at Bustamante’s funeral.
His military fascination ignited during public parades on Queen Victoria’s birthday, where he observed boy scouts and cadets marching in precision. “I saw these boys dressed in sharp uniforms and began emulating their march,” Williams recalled. This childhood admiration led to his enlistment in the Jamaica Local Force in 1952 under British command, where he endured rigorous training he describes as “between life and death.”
Williams’ distinguished 28-year career witnessed Jamaica’s transition from federation to independence and the establishment of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). His versatile service included roles as medical orderly, drummer, bugler, and postmaster handling sensitive correspondence across the British Caribbean. He notably trained the JDF’s first female soldiers in communications in 1965 and served as chief photographer, with his extensive documentation now archived at the National Library.
During the state of emergency, Williams managed correspondence for detained political figures at Up Park Camp, emphasizing the distinction between detention and imprisonment. After retiring from the JDF in 1976, he seamlessly transitioned to civilian life as security manager for the Telephone Company of Jamaica.
His exceptional service earned numerous honors, including the Independence Medal (1962), the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service (2008), and features in the JDF’s 60th-anniversary publication. Today, as the JDF’s oldest living soldier, Williams appoints himself its “ambassador” and remains active as chairman of the Jamaica Legion’s Northeast District.
Remarkably, Williams retains permission to wear his original 1952 uniform and continues to deliver exhortations at Remembrance Day ceremonies nationwide. He attributes his longevity to discipline and faith, recalling a transformative moment during a violent storm near Palisadoes when he dedicated his life to higher power.
Despite his age, Williams maintains independence without walking aids, carrying only an umbrella for practicality. His philosophy encapsulates his approach to life: “Yesterday is dead, tomorrow does not exist. Today is here, use it.” Peter Xavier Williams endures not merely as a historical figure but as an active embodiment of service, sacrifice, and national pride.