Phillip Hermanus Erasmus, from Lentegeur, turned 99 on Friday August 31. Mr Erasmus, who served in the army between 1940 and 1945, joined when he was 22 years old and was based in Port Elizabeth. As a youngster, he had worked as a plumber from the age of about 14 and had a knack for fixing things around the house, he told Plainsman. He also played the guitar, banjo and flute.