F's Place: Military Lists of Ceylon

Status on a British Ceylonese Brigade

Glen Robert-Grant Hodgins

Political, Economic & Security Affairs Adviser

HM's Canadian High Commission for Sri Lanka

"Oliver Castle", Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka

Hon Members of the Durbar:

A few comments stemming from Christopher's latest gems of wisdom...

The CLI was not exclusively native. Many European members of the CCS were to be found amongst its members, mainly because most of them were based in Colombo (e.g.. Hubert Newnham). There were many others from other backgrounds such as Gwynne Griffith and John Gordon Fraser (a planting background name to reckon with if ever there was one). They happily served under more senior Ceylonese officers, including Tamils and Singhalese.

Yes, indeed. I should have clarified that my statement (ie., after the formation of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps and Ceylon Mounted Rifles the CLI became "_almost_ exclusively" Ceylonese) was meant to apply to the rank and file rather than the officer corps.

I don't have aggregate figures immediately at hand for the post-1900 period but prior to 1900 (ie., the formation of the CPRC/CMR) the all-ranks ratio of native Ceylonese (both Burghers and ethnic Asians) to Britons remained

about 3:1. For instance, in 1881, the year of formation of the CLIV, the following was ethnic breakdown of the corps...

(all ranks)

Britons: 229

Ceylonese Burghers: 479

Ceylonese Asians: 310

- ie., 779 Ceylonese and 229 Britons (ie., roughly 3:1)

This ratio roughly held until c. 1900 when most (but certianly not all) European O/Rs either transferred to another CVF unit or simply resigned all together; (like most demographic transitions this, of course, didn't happen overnight -- there was a transitional period).

Complete lists of the CLI (ie., including all O/Rs) for the inter-war period are hard to come by; but if one takes as more-or-less representative examples of the rank and file make up of the btln those OR's who participated in various rifle shooting matches, sports meets, other competitions and similar such events, (since the names of such participants were almost invariably printed in the local press and therefore still accessible to researchers), one would be hard-pressed to find a Briton's name amongst the ranks.

For instance consider the following example of participants in one such even in 1933 (chosen randomly by me from my notes)...

1933 Blake Shield Results:

Battalion Shot: Pte E.R. Wijesinghe, A Coy

Company Shots:

- HQ Wing: Cpl D.R. La Faber (Burgher)

- "A"Company Pte E.R. Wijesinghe (Singhalese)

- "C"Company Pte T.B. Amath (Muslim)

- "D"Company Sgt K.D.A. Abeysekeere (Singhalese)

- "E"Company Pte W.J. de Waas

Best Shots with Light Automatic Weapon:

- "A"Company Sgt J.B. Perera (Singhalese)

- "A"Company Pte R.E. Perera (Singhalese)

- "A"Company Cpl H.D. Zain Amath (Muslim/Malay)

- "A"Company Pte K.P. Charles ((Briton)

- "C"Company Pte E.H. Rezel (Muslim)

- "D"Company Pte T.D. John (most likely Estate Tamil)

- HQ Wing: Bugler T.K.S. Cassim (Muslim)

Best shot with Vickers Machine Gun: L/Cpl W.T.H. Mendis (Singhalese)

Of the 13 names given above, I would suggest that only Pte K.P. Charles is likely to be a Briton, [T.D. John is almost certainly a Christain (Anglican) Estate Tamil -- they almost all took surnames of John, William, (or Peter], giving a ratio of 13:1 of Ceylonese to Britons, (and P.K. Charles is just as likely as not to be another Estate

Tamil). This, of course, is just an unscientific sample -- but I think one has to admit that it does indicate a marked shift in the demographics of the CLI during its first half century of existence, (ie., say 1883-1933). It seems to me fair to suggest therefore that the rank and file had become *almost* exclusively Ceylonese vice British by WWI.

If one examines the officer complement, the shift is even more marked. In 1882, (ie., one year after the formation of Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers), the btln had 19 officers, made-up of 15 Britons and 4 Burghers (and NO Asian Ceylonese). In 1918 the CLI had 24 officers (ie., 9 Burghers; 7 Singhalese; 5 Britons -- or 16 Ceylonese "natives" and 9 Britons); and in 1936, 27 Ceylonese and 9 British officers.

In other words the officer make-up went from more than 3:1 (Britons to Ceylonese -- with no Asian Ceylonese) in 1881 to 1:3 (with a sizable number of Asian Ceylonese -- ie., Tamils and Singhalese). The ratio completely reversed.

I have appended the data upon which I based these figures at the end of this message for any one who wants to go through it more carefully.

Christopher also wrote...

The main purpose behind having European volunteers in

the colonies was to have a knowledgeable and trained group of people ready in case of anti-British outbreaks of the type seen in the Indian

mutiny. Some colonies even had compulsory service requirements for Europeans.

Their prime function was supposed to be internal security. In the case of Ceylon, the RN was supposed to be its protector from external attack.

Yes... but this brings up another interesting issue. I would agree unequivocally that this was the case in say 1881 -- but I've detected an (unstated?) assumption (particularly

after WWI; perhaps even as early as the Boer War) that such colonial troops could form a type of an "Imperial Strategic Reserve" upon which the UK could draw in a large-scale conflict. Certainly their stated main purpose was local defence -- but I think the WO planners might have had other ideas as well. They tended not to openly state them, however, so as not to upset local treasurers who were loath to pay (at least in peace time) for anything which smacked of "Imperial" (vice local) defence. But the basic veracity of Christopher's point is well-taken and still stands.

Very often someone who went to, or was transferred to another colony, would then join a volunteer unit in the new place.

Yes... good for the Empire and the subsequent colony -- but bad for the original colony, which paid for all the initial training of such volunteers.

Ironically it was exactly in this context that the Marxist

Member of the Ceylon Legislature I referred to in my earlier correspondence was arguing: he was complaining that the Ceylonese tax-payer was paying to train men who then went off and joined the Malayan or Indian auxiliary forces. The obvious counter-point I suppose, (but one which did not enter into that particular parliamentary debate, surprisingly) was that Ceylon must have also benefitted from receiving men initially trained in other colonies.

..., people actually joined, for largely social reasons. In the case of the planters, as another means to companionship and for contact with their fellows of like standing and that modern phenomenon, networking". Even Sir John Kotalawala, sometime Colonel in the CLI and later Hon. General in the Sri Lankan Army, admitted that he joined because he enjoyed riding.

Again... Yes, indeed. I've even come across references of chaps who claimed to have joined the volunteers simply to have access to the unit's library, for they were that desperate for good reading material way out in their isolated plantations.

I am afraid that the different ethnic communities in Ceylon were, and are as exclusive, perhaps even more so, than the British during the colonial regime. The system of caste, family cliques and nepotism seen in politics today, was as prevalent then as now. A young, isolated planter looking for friends and companionship would have felt quite out of place amongst them.

Alas.. absolutely correct; and as you say this observation still sadly holds very true today.

Some might well argue it is the root cause of the civil war which has wreaked havoc here for a generation. ;-(

For similar reasons there were precious few Kandyans, aristocrats or otherwise, in the CLI or any of the other volunteer units. Most of the Singhalese in the volunteers

came from the agrarian class/caste who had been educated along European lines. They were not really from the traditional aristocratic class but had been commercially successful during Dutch and British rule and had acquired land over a period of time or entered the professions.

Yes.. precious few; but still a few, nevertheless.

The Ratwattes and Mologodas are two obvious examples which spring to mind. The former although of the old Kandyan aristocracy were not even officers in the CLI. Coincidently there was just a book published on this phenomenon called "Nobodies to Somebodies" about the rise of the new middle-class in Ceylon under the British.

Although my family come from a planting background, on both sides, I have to say that the general opinion amongst the "native" elite as well as the "colonial administrators" was rather low - poorly educated drunkards for the most part. Remember that the vast majority of planters were not personally wealthy. Also many of those who did come from British aristocratic backgrounds were, more often than not, black sheep or near-do-wells.

Yes, again. Although the movie is overall not very good, one can start to get a feel for the typical planter lifestyle by watching "Elephant Walk" (c.1954) with Elizabeth Taylor, Albert Finney (sp?) and Dana Andrews.

The visiting planters come across as perpetually drunk adolescents. Definitely not the sort you would want your daughter to marry ;-) the Burghers were a mixed community, mostly between Dutch and Singhalese, but the term was also applied in the

low-country to mixed communities descended from the Portuguese and British as well (e.g.. the Morgans). The numbers of pure-blood Dutch families could be counted using the fingers on both hands alone.

Yes.. and as a result there is still a great deal of debate about what exactly a Burgher *is*.

At least thrice a year one can count upon articles on the topic apppearing in the features section of the local press arguing one defintion or another. For my part I use the term "Burgher" to delimit those descended from the Dutch and "Eurasian" for the others. But any such typographical task is, I fully admit, open to errors and a certain degree of subjectivity. For instance, when does Burgher blood become watered down to such an extent that the off-springs are now Tamil or Singhalese? Or – as you point out -- what if one parent is pure Dutch Burgher and the other pure British? What's the kid? Like I said, a lot of subjectivity. In the end, I supposed it must be based upon something as basic (and subjective) as knowing which names have, traditionally, been considered "Burgher".

At any rate, I must dash. I see that a 40 foot container is being manouvered perilously close to my window.

Must be time to pack the sea shipment. :-)

Cheers,

Glen in Serendib (but not for long)

1882 CLI Officers

"A" Company

Capt John Patterson

Lt William Slade Boake

"B" Company

Capt James van Langenberg

Lt (vacant)

2Lt Frederick Dornhorst

"C" Company

Capt William Francis Courthope

Lt Alexander Thomson

2Lt Abraham Orlando Joseph

"D" Company

Capt Percy Cannington Oswald

Lt Richard Hillebrand Morgan

2Lt Adrian Charles Hope

"E" Company

Capt: (vacant)

Lt Edward C. Britton

2Lt Ralph Tatham

"F" Company (Railway Department -- Europeans)

Capt William Cantrell

Lt Charles Good

2Lt Francis Mahan Green

"G" Company(Railway Dept -- Burghers)

Capt Charles Peter Layard

Lt Frederick Charles Turner

2Lt (vacant)

"H" Company (Legal & Medical)

Capt Thomas Berwick

Lt Hector van Cuylenberg

2Lt (vacant)

1918 CLI Officers

BATTALION HEADQUARTERS:

CO: LtCol V. van Langenberg, VD (Burgher)

2I/C: Major B.W. Bawa (Burgher)

QM: Hon Lt B.M. Christoffelsx (Burgher)

Machine Gun Officer: Lt W. Sansoni (Burgher)

Transport Officer: Lt J.G. Vandersmagt (Burgher)

Bombing Officer: Lt P.S. Fernando (Singhalese)

Signalling Officer: Lt E.J. Jayaweera (Singhalese)

Assist Adj:t Capt C.A. Galpin (European/British)

- ie., 5 Burghers; 2 Singhalese; 1 Briton

Company & Platoon Officers:

"A" Company, (Colombo)

Company Commander: Capt & Hon Major H.R.H. van

Cuylenberg, VD (Burgher)

Company 2I/C: vacant

#1 Platoon: Lt W. Sansoni (Burgher)

#2 Platoon: Lt W. Sansoni (until relieved)

#3 Platoon: Lt E.L. Mack (Burgher)

#4 Platoon: Lt P.S. Fernando (Singhalese)

"B" Company, (Colombo)

Company Commander: Capt E.W. Jayewardena (Singhalese)

Company 2I/C: vacant

#5 Platoon: Lt W.A. Dep (Burgher)

#6 Platoon: Lt W.A. Dep (until relieved)

#7 Platoon: 2Lt P.M. Battle (European/British)

#8 Platoon: Lt D.R. Wijewardene (Singhalese)

"C" Company, (Colombo)

Company Commander: Capt H.E. Newnham (European/British)

Company 2I/C: vacant

#9 Platoon: Lt J.G. Vandersmagt (Burgher)

#10 Platoon: Lt J.G. Vandersmagt (until relieved)

#11 Platoon: Lt E.G.P. Jayatilleke (Singhalese)

#12 Platoon: Lt E.L. Jayaweera (Singhalese)

"D" Company, (Outstations)

Company Commander: Capt A. de C. Carson (European/British)

Company 2I/C: Capt F. van Rooyen (Matale District) (Burgher)

#13 Platoon:

-Capt A.C.B. Jonklass (Hambantota District) (Burgher)

- Lt D.E. Jayatileke (Ratnapura District) (Singhalese)

- Lt F.A. Wickremaratne, (Matara District) (Singhalese)

#14 Platoon: Lt S.G. Sansoni (Chilaw District) (Burgher)

#15 Platoon:

- Lt R.F. Morgan (Nurawa Eliya District) (European/British)

- Lt C.P. Hall (Badulla District) (European/British)

#16 Platoon: Lt P.W. van Langenberg, (Kandy District) (Burgher)

- ie., 9 Burghers; 7 Singhalese; 5 Britons

Total for Senior NCO and Officer complement of CLI in 1918:

- 16 Ceylonese and 5 Britons

1936 CLI Officers (aggregates)

HQ:

Singhalese: 2

Tamils: 1

Burghers: 4

Britons: 2

"A" Company

Singhalese: 1

Tamils: 1

Burghers: 1

Britons: 2

"B" Company

Singhalese: --

Tamils: 1

Burghers: 3

Britons: 1

"C" Company

Singhalese: --

Tamils: 3

Burghers: 1

Britons: 1

"D" Company

Singhalese: 2

Tamils: 2

Burghers: --

Britons: --

"E" Company

Singhalese: --

Tamils: 3

Burghers: --

Britons: 1

"F" Company

Singhalese: --

Tamils: 1

Burghers: 1

Britons: 2

TOTAL: 27 Ceylonese and 9 Britons (3:1)

British Armed Forces – Genealogical Queries

by E-Mail from the late Wendy Winter Garcia in Spain Date: 11.June.2002

Dear All

I noticed some queries from people whose ancestors had been in the British armed forces stationed in Ceylon during colonial times. Whilst surfing through the Net I found the following which may be of interest. It would appear that regiments keep records of births, deaths, marriages and other information about of armed forces personnel so if there are queries the persons involved could find out quite a lot from if they know the regiment etc is involved and would be able to find out where its HQ oir archives are is from the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall S. W. 1 or the Admiralty, Admiralty House, Theobalds Road, W.C.1, London.

The Ceylon newspaper archives (especially our "family paper" the "Observer" and Lake House) has a wealth of information. Anne had a look at them latter and found so much information about the voyages of the "Vitoria" (of which my great great grandfather was part owner) and the infamous libel action against him that she was unable to get copies.

It would be worthwhile if someone could trawl the "Observer" and other old newspaper archives for items of genealogical interest.

I had a booklet from Reader’s Digest which gave details of where to do genealogical searches but I no longer have this.

I was looking for websites about Ceylon under British rule, I just typed "Ceylon" on the Net and turned up one of the Underwoods (see below) connected to the Winters in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment (Robin Hood and his Merry Men)! Regards, Wendy

The 95^th Regiment in Ceylon, c. 1838-47

Transcribed from The Regimental Annual of The Sherwood Foresters, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment 1914 [edit. Colonel H. C. Wylly, C. B].

Some few years ago the writer made an attempt to obtain some details about the life of the 95^th - now our 2^nd Battalion - in Ceylon, during the nine years they were quartered in that island from 1838 to 1847, but the attempt was only partially successful. Two applications were made to the local staff to try to get them to induce one of their clerks to take a financial interest in looking through old order books and returns for that period, but without avail; and an appeal was then made to the editor of the oldest of the Ceylon papers, with the result which is here set down - but that editor, it may be mentioned, attached a higher financial value to his gleanings than, we fear, will our readers! The few notes obtained are now published, not in any hope that they are of much regimental interest, but purely for the reason that possibly they may be of some small value to the regimental historian of the future.

The regimental records state that the Regiment embarked for Ceylon on October 13^th, 1838, but the earliest mention of the 95^th in any Ceylon publication is found in the "Ceylon Government Calendar" for 1839 as having been ordered to Ceylon from Newry, while the arrival of the Regiment is notified in the same as March 4^th, 1840, on board the "Jupiter", Captain R. Fulton. In that year we find the name "J. F. Dennis," at one time the Father of the Regiment, as the junior Lieutenant.

The Calendar for 1841 gives a number of domestic occurrences:

"May 28th, at Colombo, the Lady of F. Feneran, Esq., Paymaster 95^th Regiment, of a daughter."

Feneran had then been Paymaster for some four years, having been promoted from Quartermaster, an appointment he had held since the raising of the Regiment, which he had been one of the first to join.

"April 6th, at Colombo, W. H. Underwood, Esq., 95^th Regiment, to Flora, third daughter of the late Capt. J. D. Bagenall, Ceylon Rifle Regiment."

"Sept. 3rd, at Colombo, F. H. Clarke, Esq., H. M. 95^th Regiment, to Eliza Jane, daughter of W. A. Rogers of that corps."

"Nov. 16^th, at Galle, W. A. Rogers, Esq., Lt. and Adjt. 95^th Regiment, to Maria Josina Catherina, only daughter of F. Ostheyden, Ceylon Rifle Regiment."

These two last rather cryptic announcements seem to us to call for some explanation. There appear at that time to have been in the 95^th three men of the name of Rogers - all of subaltern rank: "W. A.," who was the Adjutant, "W. H.," who was the Quartermaster, and "C.," who was the junior Ensign. We suggest, in justice to the hero of the "domestic occurrence" dated November 16^th, either that that Rogers was married there for the second time, or that Clarke - who, by the way, was the junior assistant-surgeon in the Regiment and served with it many years - married a daughter of W. H. Rogers.

In this year Surgeon Ewing and wife came out from Calcutta and Madras on February 2^nd in the "Colombo", Captain D. Mackellan; Captain Champion went home in the "Isabella" on January 16^th, as did Lieut. Smythe in the "Ferguson" on February 11^th; while on April 1^st Lieut. Heyland sailed to Trincomallee in H. M. Troopship "Rattlesnake" - presumably to join the detachment there.

During part of this year Lieut. W. Venour, of the 95^th, was Acting A. D. C. to the Governor.

Among the events of 1842 we find that on September 23^rd there arrived from Cork and Mauritius on the "Euphrates" 2 officers and 62 men, 95^th Regiment, and on December 17^th there arrived per barque "Sumatra" from London and Madeira Captain and Mrs. Champion.

On March 24^th Lieut. Pratt proceeded home in the "Thomas Coutts" with 5 sergeants, 3 corporals, 3 privates, 2 women, and 5 children of the Regiment; and these were followed on July 3^rd in the Persia by 2 sergeants and 1 woman.

On October 2^nd, in a barque bearing the appropriate name of "Derby", there left Colombo for Trincomallee Capt. St. Leger Alcock, Lieuts. Master and Dennis, Ensign Chapman, Asst. Surgeon and Mrs. Clarke, 6 sergeants, 4 corporals, 2 drummers, 140 privates, 10 women, and 17 children.

Capt. and Mrs. Brooks, 95^th Regiment, went home on March 22^nd. In this year Colonel "Jimmy" Campbell, K. H., of the 95^th, was commandant at Kandy, where Capt. W. Fisher and Lieut. Heyland appear to have "pooled" the onerous duties of staff officer.

In 1843 the Regiment received another small draft, the Persia on September 6^th bringing out Lieut. Hon. E. S. Plunkett, Dr. Gordon, Ensign Carew, and Quartermaster Holt - the latter succeeding Rogers - 29 men, 2 women, and 5 children; but in the preceding February the Regiment had lost 11 privates, who went home in the Sumatra, so that the year's net gains were not large. In this year the domestic occurrences were not numerous.

"On 22nd March, at Jaffna" (where is Jaffna?), "the Lady of Capt. Champion, 95^th Regiment, of a daughter.

"Major Walter was now commanding at Trincomallee; Capt. Fisher was staff officer at Colombo; Heyland, now a captain, was employed under the Commissioner of Roads, and Lieut. J. Randle Ford was Acting-Adjutant."

1844 was rather an unusually "domestic" year. Thus we read:

"On Feb. 7^th, at Nuwara Eliya, the wife of Sergt. J. Foley, 95^th Regiment, of a daughter. " (This was probably the Foley who afterwards became Quartermaster-Sergeant - see "Annual" for 1909, p.15).

"On April 9^th, at Kandy, the Lady of W. Holt, Esq., 95^th Regiment, of a daughter";

"At Trincomallee, on 6^th Oct., the Lady of Captain Heyland, 95^th Regiment, of a son." (Our readers will note and appreciate in these democratic days the distinction between "wife" and "lady": there is no mention, we notice, of the subaltern's "poor thing"!)

"Aug. 8^th, at Trincomallee, John Thornhill, Sergt. 95^th Regiment, to Ellen, daughter of Sergt. Daly. "

"Nov. 10^th, at Trincomallee, H. O. C. Master, Esq., 95^th Regiment, to Eliza Harriett, eldest daughter of J. Higgs, Esq., R. N."

"Dec. 6^th, at Kandy, died Corporal William Burton, H. M. 95^th Regiment."

Among the arrivals and departures of this year we find that Lieut. Taylor, Ensigns Eddington and Maxwell landed from Cork on September 9^th; that Captain Maxwell went home on May 3^rd; Ford, having got his company, on April 22^nd from Galle and Lieut. Cobbe on December 10^th.

In 1845 Captain Heyland seems to have rejoined headquarters on March 26^th from Trincomallee with Lieuts. Master and Taylor, Asst. Surgeon Galland, 7 sergeants, 130 rank and file, 14 women, and 27 children, belonging to the 95^th, 90^th, and 18^th Regiments. The British Sovereign arrived on July 29^th with Lieut. Minchin, 19 men, 1 woman, and 1 child. (One wonders of what use these small drafts were for replacing ordinary casualties on foreign service, although, of course, there was no T. E. wastage such as we find to-day). Major Alcock went home on May 26^th.

Three "Ladies" of the Regiment presented their Lords with children this year, and Captain Rogers lost a boy, as did also Colour-Sergeant James Johnson of the 95^th.

In 1846 Bt. Major and Lieut. Raines - father and son - came out from home on December 22^nd, and Captain E. Thompson (? was this the father of Lt.-Col. C. E. Thompson) went home on March 15^th with 4 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 29 privates of the Regiment. Capt. Rogers followed on June 11^th. The only domestic event recorded this year is the marriage on April 1^st - one wonders whether the bride or the bridegroom selected this date - at Kandy, of Lieut. Hon. E. S. Plunkett, 95^th Regiment, to Caroline Mary, third daughter of the late G. Templer, Esq.

About Plunkett the Ceylon Literary Register of a considerably later date reminds its readers that "Fred, poor fellow, once had a series of charges preferred against him, which led to his being tried by a court-martial for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman: the greatest of these charges was 'calling for a glass of wine in an hotel and leaving the house without paying for the liquor.' It is needless to say that he was honourably acquitted, and that he afterwards did good service in the Crimea and in India. Peace be to the ashes of old Fred Plunkett." ("Fred" must have been something of a pet name, his initials being "E. S.")

In 1847 Ensign Minchin (there were two officers of this name in the 95^th) arrived on November 19^th with a draft of "73 men, women, and children" - the numbers are not given separately. On January 11^th Capt. Dennis, Lieut. Hon. E. S. Plunkett, Ensigns Maxwell and Sargent, 127 rank and file, 10 women, and 25 children left for Trincomallee; on the 19^th of the same month 24 men, 5 women, and 7 children went home, and the "Tigris" took home on May 18^th, 25 men, 7 women, and 17 children belonging to the 15^th and 95^th Regiments; while in March the advanced party sailed for Hong-Kong in the "Castle Eden".

During the time he was quartered in Ceylon, Captain Champion seems to have given a great deal of attention to its Botany and its Beetles, and made a collection of the former; he was a member of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, and contributed articles to local and home papers on the botany of the colony. He was not forgotten when the Regiment left Ceylon, for on hearing of his death from wounds received at Inkerman, the Ceylon Observer published a very sympathetic notice, concluding with the words: "While the Army mourns over one of its brightest officers, Science bewails in him the loss of one of her most devoted sons. The loss to Ceylon is especially heavy."

Other officers of the Regiment seem to have taken a more material interest in the productions of the country, especially with regard to the planting of coffee; thus in 1843 Captain Fisher purchased a property at Hewahette of 617 acres, and five years later another of 691 acres, while in 1845 Captain Taylor bought 540 acres at Batticalon; and among the reminiscences of early days of coffee planting in Ceylon, Mr. P. D. Millie, in his "Thirty Years Ago", writes: "It was about 1846-7 that Wavendon was first opened by Captain Fisher, who, like most of the original planters, never reaped any of the fruit from all his labours: Fisher was a great hunter in this land."

This is all that could be obtained about the life of the Regiment in Ceylon: it is of little military interest, it is feared, and it is to be regretted that nothing was forthcoming about the cholera epidemic, during which the Regiment behaved so well as to draw an especially eulogistic order from the General Officer Commanding. It may be interesting to add that the Col. Campbell, K. H., then commanding the 95^th, was in the early part of 1852 appointed to the command of the Forces in Australia. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, where, in the Monumental Chambers, there is a tablet bearing the following inscription:

To the memory of Major-General James Campbell, K. H., late commanding 95^th Regiment who departed this life on the 18^th of November, 1853, in the 67^th year of his age. This tablet is erected as a tribute of her gratitude and affection by his surviving widow Elizabeth Campbell.

Visit the Regiments. org page about the Derbyshire Regiment/95^th Regiment of Foot where you will also find more links to further material relating to the Sherwood Foresters. [Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth].

AJ, Moss Valley, 2001-02.

Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy

The Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy is a voluntary group which is endeavoring to preserve the heritage of this colonial cemetery, to keep the records of the graves and to maintain and restore the tombstones and their surrounding on a regular basis.

On request we are prepared to locate family tombstones, report on their condition and take photographs which may help family members intending to visit. The Friends will also assist with research where they can.

Our caretaker, Mr Charles Carmichael, would be pleased to show you around, and provide information on many of the graves.

We are entirely dependant on donations for our upkeep expenses and your help in the collection box at our museum, or by cheque in favour of "The British Garrison Cemetery, Kandy" would be most gratefully received. The Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery are grateful for the support they receive from volunteers, well-wishers, the business community, the Municipality, and the Sri Lanka Army and Police. We are particularly grateful for the grant received for the printing of this leaflet from ANZ Grindlays Bank, 7 Temple Street, Kandy. Tel. +94-(08)-224963-4 & +94-(08)-232860 - the International Bank in close proximity for your Travellers Cheques, Foreign Currency encashment and International ATM facilities.

The Honorary Secretary

7/11, Anagarika Dharmpala Mawatha

Kandy

Sri Lanka.

In the very heart of Kandy, behind the Kandy National Museum and practically adjacent to the Law Courts and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, lies a ¾ acre plot of land wherein rest many men, women and children, mainly colonial British, cut off from life, many in the flower of their youth, others blossoming into manhood, and with only a bare handful reaching the proverbial three score years and ten. This is the British Garrison Cemetery, which was opened in 1822 and closed by Governor's Proclamation in the mid-1870's, except for those with a relation already buried therein.

After recent restoration, anyone interested is now more than welcome to visit this slightly bizarre reminder of the past, where chattering monkeys and the acrid smell of elephants mingle with the peace and quiet of this tranquil spot.

Here you will find fine examples of table tombs, raised tombs with inscribed side tablets, obelisks, a fluted column and many more of the more mundane head and rarer foot stones; a good number of these have their own stories to tell (details in our museum).

To name but a few of the 195 graves:

No.66

John Spottiswood Robertson, b. 1823 d. 1856. A table tomb. The seventh and last recorded death of a European in Ceylon killed by wild elephants.

No.90

Lieut.-General John Fraser, aged 72 years. A table tomb.

Best known for his satinwood bridge, which spanned the Mahaweli Ganga at Peradeniya. This graceful single arch with a span of 205 ft. was in use from 1833 to 1905. It was built with not a single nail or bolt. He was also renowned as a road builder and cartographer, apart from being a strict disciplinarian.

No. 43

Eliza Ann Philpotts, raised tomb with side inscribed tablet. This tomb was badly damaged by a tree growing through it, and had to be dismantled before restoration work.

No. 11

Sir John D'Oyly, b. 1774 d. 1824, Fluted column with marble tablet. He represented the British Government at the 1815 Convention whereat the Kingdom of Kandy was annexed to the British Crown. Fluent in Sinhala, he acquired great influence over the local population. A set of verses was addressed to him by Ganjaman Nona, the Matara poetess.

No. 101

William Robert Lyte, b. 1846 d. 1865.

Grandson of the Rev. Henry Francis Lyte, author of the hymn "Abide with me"

No. 88

David Findlay, b. 1823 d. 1861. A fine granite headstone with carved Grecian urn. Findlay was killed when the Mullegodde (sic) House, owned at the time by Advocate J. A. Dunuwille, collapsed on him.

No. 114

Henry Mackenzie, b. 1841 d. 1869.

This headstone has been badly broken and now lies flat. Nine randomly drilled holes for embellishments can be seen, the significance of which is not known. Any assistance would be most welcome.

No. 123

Lady Elizabeth Gregory, b. 1817 d. 1873. Carved granite raised tomb with iron railing surround including a small visiting gate. She was the wife of the Rt. Hon. William Henry Gregory, Governor of Ceylon 1872 - 1877.

No. 1

Captain James McGlashan, b. 1791 d. 1817. This tombstone was brought to the cemetery in the late 1880's from Lady Longden's Drive. Distinguished himself at the Battle of Busaco, Albuera and Waterloo. With reckless disregard of precautions he walked from Trincomalee, drenched with rain, wading, sitting and even sleeping in saturated clothing; not surprisingly he was seized with violent fever and accepted his end with manly fortitude.

No. 117

William Charles MacReady, b. 1832 d. 1871.

Son of the celebrated actor William, known to Charles Dickens, W.C.M. held many civil servant positions. In 1865 he published a translation of the Sinhalese poem "Sela Lihini Sandese: the Sela's message, with Notes and Glossary, for the use of Students" by Sir Rahula of Totagamuwa.

No. 110

William Watson Mackwood, b. 1847 d. 1867.

Alighting from his horse, he was transfixed by a stake placed to mark out the ground.

No. 68

Oteline Rudd, b. 1829 d. 1867. A table tomb.

Her husband, Billy, was one of the first planters to be sold up in the 1847-48 coffee crisis, losing thousands of acres originally worth many thousands of Pounds, for a few hundred paltry Rupees. He was reduced from living in princely state to not even owning the chair on which he sat.

No. ???

G. & M. Wait

A small Memorial stone for their five infant sons.

No. 135

Henry Thompson, P.M., P.Z., b. 1831 d. 1881. A carved granite raised tomb.

"Erected by his Masonic Friends in Ceylon".

No. ???

Marcella Stewart b. 1806 d. 1830. All the above-ground bricks were missing, and the side tablet was found buried face down during restoration work. This whole grave has been remade with old bricks by one of our masons using a degree of licence in the absence of records.

The inscription on one of the other graves is for James McPherson of Kingussie N. B. Died Kandy 12 August 1859. The caretake would be most interested to know the meaning of the initials N. B. - can anyone help?

You'll note that some of the details given above are significantly more than one would expect to be written on a grave - you'd be right - someone has researched the occupants of many of the graves and the information is held on cards in the museum.

Best of luck!

Geoff Summers

Canterbury, Kent, England

Forgotten campaign, forgotten veterans

Sunday Times, Nov 5 2006

In this three-part series for Remembrance Day, Sergei De Silva Ranasinghe looks at the Burma Campaign (1941-1945) of World War II and traces the role of the Ceylon volunteers who fought at the front

It is often overlooked that the internecine Burma Campaign was for the British Army and its auxiliary forces, the longest campaign throughout the Second World War, starting from December 11, 1941 and ending on June 15, 1945. The intensity of the fighting can be gauged by the casualties suffered by both sides, with 14,326 Allied troops killed and 73,909 wounded; and among the Japanese an estimated 185,149 fatalities.

Due to little public recognition received in the media and the protracted nature of the campaign which extended well past VE Day - May 8, 1945, the British/Indian Army in Burma was termed the ‘Forgotten Army’. As one officer described it, he had the, “…strong feeling that they are taking part in a forgotten campaign in which no one in authority is taking any real interest”.

Allied soldiers in Burma during WWII

During the early stages, up to early 1942, few people in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, demonstrated an awareness of the impending strategic consequences of the Japanese invasion of Burma. Only in April, 1942, did the full reality of war come home to the people of Ceylon, when the Imperial Japanese Navy assaulted Colombo and Trincomalee by air and mauled segments of the hastily assembled British Eastern Fleet off Ceylon.Popularly, the Burma Campaign is often better known for the infamous treatment of European Prisoners of War (POWs) on the Burma-Thai railway, which received widespread coverage through the award winning film, The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), which incidentally was itself filmed in Ceylon.

At the time, the film was a huge undertaking, the bridge alone needing, as the late Noel Crusz who liaised with director David Lean, maintained in a recent interview: “Local labour, carpenters and craftsmen from Kitulgala saw 1,500 trees cut down and dragged to the site by 48 elephants … It was the largest film set built at that time, even surpassing Cecil B. de Mille’s Gates of Tanis in ‘The Ten Commandments. There were many fair-skinned Ceylonese Burghers: planters, merchants, engineers, willing to be extras. In fact 37 nationalities were among the extras, and some had fought in World War II.”

Considering Ceylon’s proximity to Burma, for years I was deeply intrigued to ascertain whether Ceylon, in any way contributed to the Burma Campaign. In recent times I was fortunate enough to find rare details alluding to the participation of Ceylon volunteers to the much vaunted Burma Campaign.

After undertaking years of extensive field research and conducting numerous interviews with veterans, I have finally gathered the biographical details and stories of several Ceylon volunteers who served in the forgotten Burma campaign, which commenced 64 years ago.

Enter the Ceylon volunteers

It presently remains obscure how many Ceylon volunteers served in the Burma Campaign, although there are fleeting indications that suggest the manpower contribution was between 100-200 volunteers.

However, I am aware that Ceylon’s volunteers formed two distinct ethnographic categories, namely, British and Ceylonese – the British mainly from the exclusively European, Ceylon Planters’ Rifle Corps (CPRC) and the Ceylonese from units of the Ceylon Defence Force (CDF) and the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR).

The British element consisted of two types; those born and raised in Ceylon; and those who settled in Ceylon for mercantile or other reasons. Both types joined the all European CPRC, a prominent unit of the CDF which was open to all European males of military age in Ceylon. An appropriate personification of this is exemplified by CPRC volunteer, Major Philip Grimwood, as stated by his relative: “Prior to World War Two, Philip was a Tea Taster in London and was then employed by Attampettia Estate, Bandarawela, Ceylon as a Tea Planter, joining the Ceylon Planters Rifles’ Corps in 1939. He was also the SD in charge of the Napier Division of Rookatenne Estate.

“With the outbreak of World War Two, he was involved with Garrison Duty in Ceylon with the CPRC. On May 7, 1942, Philip was granted an Emergency Commission into the 4/10th Gurkha Rifles. From January to May 1942, he attended the Officers Training School at Belgaum, India and was subsequently deployed at Imphal with the 4/10th Gurkhas.

The 4/10th GR War Diary entry for November 4, 1943 states: ‘Lt Grimwood and Rfm Budhiman Limbu entered Burma for attachment to 3/1 GR, being first men of 4/10th GR to enter Burma’.”

He subsequently served with the 3/4th Gurkha Rifles, as a Lieutenant attached to 40th Column in the Second Chindit Campaign. Later, he served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), Detachment 101 and Special Operations Executive (SOE), Z Force. Upon demobilisation at the end of the war, Major Philip Grimwood returned to Ceylon to continue his career in the tea industry. At the time, European males of military age in Ceylon were generally affiliated to the CPRC. In much the same circumstances as the First World War, throughout the Second World War, the CPRC served as valuable officer reinforcements and is estimated to have provided over 700 volunteers commissioned in the British and auxiliary armies, mainly enlisting or obtaining transfers on an individual basis. Notwithstanding, between August, 1940 and July, 1942, the CPRC dispatched six contingents amounting to 172 soldiers as officer reinforcements to the Officer Training School at Belgaum, India, and they were given postings in British/Indian Army units. According to one unpublished and incomplete list, the CPRC had at least 39 of their volunteers in Gurkha units, some of whom are highly likely to have served in Burma.

Perhaps there are many similar stories to be told about the hundreds of CPRC volunteers who served in India but that is not the objective of this article. Of the CDF units, the Ceylon Light Infantry (CLI) appears to have been where the trickle of Ceylonese volunteers originated. These participants included: Gerry Van Reyk of the 2nd battalion CLI, (who according to Lieutenant General Denis Perera served in Burma, although no records have been located); P.D. Pelpola; S.D. Ratwatte; A.R. Udugama and B.R. Kriekenbeek, who all served as military observers.

It is a matter of regret that I could not locate any substantive details on P.D. Pelpola, S.D. Ratwatte and A.R. Udugama other than their war service records.

Volunteers from outside the CDF included Rex de Silva, Bonaventure Schofield and 17 known personnel from the CRNVR. As such, the largest contribution of manpower to the Burma Campaign came from the CRNVR. As will be established, the unassuming Ceylonese contribution to this forgotten theatre, merits deference.

Peter Donald Pelpola

The late Major P.D. Pelpola served in both World Wars in frontline theatres receiving many decorations to his name, including the War Medal, Defence Medal and the Burma Star for service in the Second World War and appears to have been the oldest Ceylonese volunteer to serve in Burma. Due to his rank as Major and his impressive military background, notably in the First World War where he served with the Legion of Frontiersmen in German East Africa campaigning against General Von Lettow-Vorbeck, it is quite likely that he held a position of responsibility.

According to his service records, while he was affiliated to the 2nd battalion, CLI, he volunteered to serve in Burma for a short tour. He was sent to India for further training on December 16, 1943 and was subsequently attached to the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade, in the Arakan, from January 1, 1944, to January 27, 1944.

Sooriyaratne Douglas Ratwatte

The late Colonel S.D. Ratwatte joined the CLI in 1938 as a 2nd Lieutenant and when war started, he was posted to the 1st and 5th battalions, CLI. In 1942, he volunteered to serve in Burma. After initial training, he was attached to the 14/15th Punjabis, in the Arakan, where he led a company. In the post-independence Ceylon Army, S.D. Ratwatte held several senior positions in the Ceylon Volunteer Force, later the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, notably as the first Commanding Officer of the 2nd (V) Sinha Regiment, retiring at the rank of Colonel.

Alexander Richard Udugama

A.R. Udugama received a commission in the CLI as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1940 and was posted to the 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions respectively.

According to the excellent research conducted by retired Major General H.V. Athukorale: “He underwent numerous infantry courses [sic] in Ceylon and India, and was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1st January 1943. In November 1943, he was selected for attachment to the 14th Army in the operational areas of Burma. During this period of attachment, he served [sic] with the 7/2nd Punjab Regiment in the Arakan area, on the eastern side of Mayu Range. For service during the Second World War he was awarded the Burma Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.”

Mervyn Rex de Silva

Winner of the prestigious Lord Leverhume Aviation Scholarship, the late Rex de Silva from St. Peter’s College, Colombo, was one of several dozen Ceylonese volunteers who joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in the Second World War and was amongst the first Ceylonese to experience frontline aerial combat in the war. He received his training in England and was posted to 504th Squadron, (Spitfires VB) at Ibsley and Redhill where his squadron escorted Marauders over German occupied ‘Fortress Europe’.

After a lengthy period of service in Europe, he had the honour of being posted to Ceylon in April, 1944, with the 17th Squadron, at Minneriya in defence of the ‘Trincomalee Fortress Area’. On November 19th, 1944, the 17th Squadron relocated its operational base to the Imphal valley, where air support was rendered to the allied ground offensives on Kalewa and Taukyan. In his diary, Rex summed up the events: “December 19th. Spitfire VIII. Beat Up Taukyan. Just a show for the Colonel’s benefit!!! December 19th. Patrol. Kalewa Bridgehead again. December 20th. To Sapam. And Gentlemen! Kalewa Once Again!!” Rex ended the war as a Flight Sergeant.

Brian Randall Kriekenbeek

Now an elderly gentlemen, born 1924, yet vibrant and alert, Brian Kriekenbeek recalled for the first time, during his telephone conversations with me, his memories of over 64 years. When war began, Brian felt assured of his motivation to fight: “I accepted the fact the British were occupiers, and felt the Empire was guarding Ceylon from the Japanese.” On completing his schooling at Royal College and turning 18, he volunteered to join the Ceylon Defence Force (CDF) and was accepted for officer cadet training at Diyatalawa. In December, 1942, after finishing a six month basic training course, he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant in B Company, 2nd Battalion, CLI.

In November, 1943, he volunteered to serve at the Burma front. Within days of selection, he entrained from Colombo to Talaimannar and embarked on a ferry to Dhanushkodi, the closest proximity from Talaimannar to Southern India on the Rameswaram coast. On January 1st, 1944, he was attached as reinforcement to the 114th Indian Infantry Brigade in the Arakan and posted to D Company, 4/5th Gurkha Rifles, as a Second Lieutenant. Brian’s tour with the 4/5th Gurkha Rifles was an outstanding experience. In his short three-week stint he was accepted by the other ranks and officers of the battalion. Ethnically, the unit’s composition was typical of the British-Indian Army of that time, mostly British officers and Indian other ranks.

His first experience of patrolling through the jungle was uneventful. However, his experiences soon changed. As he sardonically recalled, his first combat experience was: “Quite frightening because no one had shot at me before”. However, on his second dusk patrol they stumbled on to a Japanese platoon near a paddy field. Immediately both patrols began firing at each other from a distance of about 200 yards. The loud clatter and confusion of rifle and sub-machine guns firing went on for several minutes before both patrols hastily withdrew into the jungle – as he remembers, there were no likely casualties in the skirmish. Out of the six patrols with the 4/5th Gurkha Rifles, four made contact with the Japanese.

At that time, due to the static nature of their portion of the front, they had simple orders to collate field intelligence on Japanese positions, movement and numbers. As Brian said: “I conducted all my patrols at night, scouting for Japanese positions, which was pretty grim work. Night patrols were normally conducted after dinner, around 7 pm, and usually lasted several hours. We tended to stay away from the jungle tracks as they were prone to ambushes. The ‘No Man’s Land’ area we operated in was normally between three quarters to a mile in distance. At night we could not see, so we navigated with a hand-held compass which was difficult. When we encountered Japanese patrols it was always nerve wracking and confusing and we were not quite sure where they were, so we fired wildly in their direction. Once contact was made we would either drop flat on the ground or take cover and frantically scan for enemy silhouettes or muzzle flashes. If we spotted them we fired our weapons and threw grenades. The duration of these skirmish actions lasted sometimes for up to 15 minutes. Quite often contact was made out of the blue with the Japanese patrols.”

Through his encounters and experiences, he had developed an ungrudging respect for the Gurkhas he served with. “It was a brotherhood. They treated me in an excellent manner. The Gurkhas were so special, it was like working with military machines.”

Once his brief tour with the Gurkhas was over, he was posted to another unit on the Burma front for an even shorter tour as a 2nd Lieutenant in the all British composed, 1st Somerset Light Infantry, better known as the ‘SomLI’.

His posting was with C Company, 1st Somerset Light Infantry, which was attached to the 7th Division’s 33rd Indian Infantry Brigade. His duties were identical to his experience with the Gurkhas, taking part in three uneventful night patrols with no sign of the Japanese. As destiny would have it, Brian’s short two-week tour of duty with the SomLI was to be a starkly different experience. He remarks rather indignantly: “When they found out where I originated from, there was a definite change in their attitude towards me. They had very ill-informed and negative views of Ceylon and its people to the point of being condescending and just bloody rude. They didn’t like that I was an officer, didn’t respect my commission and displayed irritation when saluting me!”

Once his five-week tour of Burma ended, he was ordered back to Ceylon in February 1944 and rejoined the 2nd battalion, CLI at China Bay, Trincomalee where he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Soon after, he attended an advanced infantry training course for NCOs and junior officers at the ‘Battle School’, near Weliveriya. Subsequently, he was sent to India to attend the Jungle Warfare School, at Shimoga, in January, 1945, for one month, before rejoining the CLI in February, 1945. In mid 1945, he led a group of 10 soldiers from his battalion on a special mission, escorting 26 interned Japanese POWs to India. As he recalled, “They were just poor harmless bastards who were captured probably from the merchant navy.” The escort party travelled by train from Colombo to Talaimannar, and the group was ferried to Dhanushkodi. Once in India, they travelled by train all the way to the Red Fort, Delhi, where the POWs were transferred. Brian affirms that by the end of the war the CLI furnished guards as POW escorts for at least 6-8 missions, between Ceylon and India.

Demobbed in mid 1946 he was awarded the Burma Star and the War Medal. Subsequently in 1947, he signed up as a 2nd Lieutenant in the British Army, General List Infantry (Ceylon Section) and agreed to serve with the 1st battalion, Ceylon Corps of Military Police (CCMP) that was deployed in Malaya from August, 1947, to June, 1949, where he was promoted to the rank of Captain. After Malaya, Brian returned to Ceylon and in 1949 migrated to Australia.

Surviving amidst dying men and muddy swamps

Sunday Times Nov 12 2006

~ Remembrance Day 2006. In this the second in his three-part series on the forgotten heroes of the Burma Campaign of World War 11, Sergei DeSilva Ranasinghe traces the exploits of one intrepid Ceylonese volunteer, Bonaventure Schofield

Bon Schofield was born in Ceylon in 1922 to a Burgher planting family of four boys and two girls. He attended school at St. Joseph’s College, Maradana, but left school when he was 17 years old to start a career as a tea planter with his father’s up country plantation at Talawakelle.

When the Second World War began, Bon and his three brothers Joe, Paddy and Charles were very keen to enlist to fight overseas, which he says was spurred by his family tradition of military service in the British Army. In November, 1941, Bon, who was then 19, and his three brothers volunteered to join the British Army, affirming: “I was fighting to protect Ceylon, my mother country.”

Bonaventure Schofield

Once enlisted, they travelled by train to Talaimannar and embarked on a ferry to Dhanushkodi, then once again embarked on another train to Wellington, where they all joined their new unit, the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment. In February, 1943, Bon was drafted as reinforcement for the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers (RWF), 6th Independent Brigade, 2nd British Division, a unit and formation he would remain with until February 25, 1945.

As reinforcement Bon was sent to Chittagong and then on towards Donbaik, to participate in a major offensive thrust against the Japanese in the Arakan, as he explained: “The 1st battalion RWF were in Burma. I joined them with 224 others on the 22nd February, 1943 as reinforcements. The battalion had been in action, and had suffered heavy casualties in Burma. I was posted as a Rifleman to B Company, 12 Platoon.”

After months of inactivity at the frontline, the British Army launched a divisional sized offensive into the Arakan, with the aim of capturing the strategically important Mayu Peninsula and air field at Akyab.

The First Arakan Campaign extended from December, 1942 to May, 1943. The British advance at Donbaik met fierce and well fortified Japanese resistance, which in counter-attack after counter-attack proved impossible to dislodge. Practically upon arrival Bon was thrown into action and received his ‘baptism of fire’ in a skirmish action against Japanese snipers. The 1st RWF sustained heavy casualties around Donbaik and was forced to withdraw by night, along with the rest of the division, to the village of Indin, 20 miles away.

Parallel to these events, the Japanese 112th Infantry Regiment had outflanked the division’s exposed left flank in a surprise attack, overrunning several units including the 6th Brigade headquarters. The 1st RWF was immediately involved in heavy fighting when it arrived at Indin. Heavy fighting continued all day and a dire situation developed for the entire 14th Indian Division, as Bon put it: “We suffered more casualties and retreated at night along the beach. We fought our way back to India over mountains, rivers and jungle.”

After recuperating for 39 days in hospitals around Northern India, Bon was rewarded with three weeks leave in Ceylon. Afterwards, he rejoined his battalion in June, 1943, at Ahmednagar, 117km northeast of Pune. The 1st RWF underwent more jungle training and a refit until March, 1944, when it was transferred to Assam to relieve the siege of the desperate British garrison at Kohima.

The over-ambitious Japanese offensive code named Operation U-Go, began on March 7, 1944, with the primary objective of capturing Imphal, the capital of the hill state of Manipur Province and Kohima, with the principal intention of invading British-India’s eastern periphery, Assam.

The Japanese were keen to capture the massive supply dumps that existed at Imphal and Kohima, which they heavily relied upon to sustain their grand offensive plans. Burma, was considered the gateway into India, where the Japanese believed a general insurrection against the British Raj would take place once their troops along with Subas Chandra Bose’s, Indian National Army, had established a foothold in Assam, within reach of Calcutta. The Japanese began their siege on April 5, 1944, which forced the British to supply the garrison by air. The desperate battle received accolades from the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who described it as "probably one of the greatest battles in history... the British/Indian Thermopylae.”

It was in this setting that Bon Schofield encountered fanatical resistance from Japanese soldiers and his hardest fighting of the entire campaign, which he vividly described: “In March, 1944, we were rushed to Kohima in Assam, the Japs had already captured most of the Kohima ridges. Our battalion reached Dimapur from Ahmednagar on April 12, with a full strength of 35 officers and 869 other ranks. The next day we advanced 18 miles down the road digging in and sent out recce patrols. My platoon reached Zubsa at Mile Stone 38. The battalion then positioned itself covering the road to the south of Zubsa, with a small force in the village itself.” On April 18, after much fighting the British led forces finally lifted the siege at Kohima, but considerable fighting still lay ahead.

The next day his unit was involved in heavy fighting, as he stated: “From then on we were in constant contact with the enemy and many hand-to-hand battles and we occupied Garrison Hill.”

Although the siege was lifted, the Japanese still held the forward positions they had taken around Kohima and fiercely defended it. As Bon testified, a grim war of attrition ensued: “On April 29th, the battalion was brought up in carriers along the road still under fire by enemy snipers, and relieved the Durham Light Infantry on Garrison Hill. B & C companies came under fire while crawling through the shallow muddy communication trenches to take over the forward dug outs and fox holes. The most lasting impression of all was caused by the stench of decaying bodies, half buried or lying in the open between the lines. The fighting in Kohima was bloody hand to hand fighting with no quarter asked and no quarter given. The few yards of no man’s land were strewn with the dead of both sides. In some of the trenches, rotting bodies of Japanese were used as a protective parapet. But mercifully lime was available to make the task less distasteful. Space was so limited that dug-outs, latrines, cook houses and graves were all close together. When the rains came it poured in buckets and the trenches filled up with water. We were so tired, that we went to sleep with the water up to our chest. It was almost impossible to dig anywhere without uncovering a latrine or a grave. Flies swarmed everywhere and men were wretched as they dug in. The stench hung in the air and permeated ones clothes and hair. The ground everywhere was ploughed with shell fire and it stank.

“I will never forget C Company going in to attack Kuki’s Piquet. Coming out of their trenches, they reached a jeep track near the top of hill, when the Japs opened up with their machine guns killing everyone in their sights. The following morning was our turn. We went through A Company lines and attacked the Japs. Almost immediately, our Company Commander, Platoon Commander, and Sergeant were wounded by sniper fire. We all dropped where we were, out of line of the sniper, but this was not for long. We were ordered to move forward. I’d only just started when a grenade came over.

“I got down quickly and saw Bren Gunner, Fusilier Ron Jones running not ten feet in front of me, I yelled out ‘Get down, Get down!’, but tragically the grenade exploded with Private Jones crumpled up on the ground in front of me on the slope. Fusilier Morris and I crawled up to Fusilier Jones. There was not a thing we could do, he was dead. Planes came over parachuting our rations, when a huge basket of rations came with a bang dropping close to both of us. The mortars then dropped some smoke bombs and we pulled out back to our lines.”

By June, 1944, the Japanese had been forced out of many positions around Kohima. His unit was subsequently involved in combat with the rear guard elements of the retreating Japanese Army. “After 4 months rest and with reinforcement we started after the Japs again, and marched about 1,000 miles over mountains and jungle. We were in the Kabaw Valley.”

On February 24, 1945, his battalion prepared for a renewed advance, in a risky night operation to capture a key island in the middle of the massive Irrawaddy River. The objective was a small island in the middle of the river.

His section, almost immediately, was hit by Japanese machine gun fire from across the river. When disembarking near the shoreline, Bon’s boat was hit and he sustained a serious leg wound. As he recalled, his ‘Mae West’ life jacket prevented him from drowning, while he sat helpless in the water up to his armpits for hours: “I managed to drop my ammunition vest off to stop the weight pulling me down. I just sat there and hoped for the best. I was many hours in the water with an open gash in my thigh. I could feel things eating at the open wound. I was so thirsty I drank pints of muddy river water.”

Hours later, he was rescued by two unknown British soldiers in a motor boat: “They threw me into the boat and took me back across. I never knew who they were.”

For Bon, the war was over. He was taken to a field hospital and then transported to India for treatment spending 10 months in hospital, and was bedridden for seven of them. After recovery, he was discharged and returned to Ceylon on December 17, 1945.
After the war Bon migrated to Australia in 1949, where he has since lived. Bon was awarded the Burma Star, War Medal, 39-45 Star and Defence Medal.

CRNVR’s role in the allied reconquest of Burma

Sunday Times Nov 19, 2006

Concluding his series on the Ceylon volunteers in the Burma Campaign of World War 11, Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe reports on the action off the coast

Outside the participation of individual Ceylon volunteers in the 14th Army, the presence of the CRNVR off the coast of Burma is another historic and intriguing case of the overseas deployment of Ceylonese servicemen during the Burma Campaign.

In early 1945, while the allied reconquest of Burma was steadily progressing and the Japanese Army was in full retreat, the South East Asia Command (SEAC), Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten and his staff planned to retake the Arakan and Rangoon by land and seaborne offensives. Due to the general shortage of ships available, the CRNVR’s Commander, Captain Beauchamp, offered resources, providing two Motor Fishing Vessels (MFVs) with crews to logistically assist the allied offensives.

The special mission consisted of two ships, MFVs 185 and 186, inclusive of 17 crew members. The crew on each ship was as follows: MFV 185 - Lieutenant D.V. Hunter; Sub-Lieutenant Ivan de Livera; Leading/Seaman S.A. Fernando; Leading/Seaman A.A. Fernando; Able Seaman Ponnuchamy; Leading Stoker Attapattu; Stoker N. Abeydeera; Stoker Tony Fernando and Yeoman of Signals E.P. Wickremasinghe. MFV 186: Lieutenant Raja Proctor; Sub-Lieutenant George Ekanayake; Leading-Seaman F. Sabamalai; Leading-Seaman G.A. Fernando; Able Seaman S.V. Mariam; Able Seaman Weerasingham; Stoker Piyasena; Stoker Saranelis.

Fortunately, Lieutenant D.V. Hunter, kept a personal account of his mission, entitled ‘A Passage to Burma’, which was published in Somasiri Devendra’s book, A History of the Navy in Sri Lanka: The Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (1937-1950), (Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy, 1995), pp. 37-42: “We were ready to proceed in the stipulated week and had made contact with the Commanding Officer of the ML that would escort us, and planned our movement. We were to go through Pambam Pass, the passage between India and Ceylon at Adam's Bridge and stop at Madras and Vizagapatnam before crossing the Bay of Bengal to Akyab. We reported to the Chief of Staff who took us into the ‘Old man’, Capt. Beauchamp, the then boss of our outfit. ‘Well, Proctor and Hunter, here's something exciting for you to do. I suppose you know that at this moment the Jap front line is 5 miles from Akyab. They've just been thrown out, but haven't gone far’. We knew that, of course, and also that they were on the run; but that did not prevent my heart from missing a beat at what 5 miles meant. I made a quick calculation - Fort to Bambalapitiya. I swallowed hard and looked sideways at Proctor. The .... was grinning. He was enjoying the prospect of being shot at! I smiled weakly and tried to look brave.

"‘Any questions or problems, now before you take off?’ said the Big Boss. There was only one thing troubling us and that was that we had no independent communications and if we got separated in the Bay we'd be in real trouble. ‘Well, don't bloody well get separated then’ was the answer to that one when we pointed that out, and there was nothing to say but ‘Aye, aye, sir’; and then he softened and said ‘Don't worry, we'll find you if you get lost. Well, good luck! And take care of yourselves’, were his passing words and we knew he meant it. We were like one big family then and we knew that he was worried that he was sending some of his ‘sons’ into danger. But he also knew there was a war on!

“The passage through Pamban was uneventful but when 100 miles from Madras my ERA reported on the bridge one morning and said we had to stop engines. There was something wrong – a knock – in the engine, he said, and we must stop, open up and inspect. After signalling 1285 what we had to do, all ships stopped and waited for us. In half – an hour the ERA was back and he said one word ‘Kaput’, ‘No go, Chief?’ said I. ‘No go, sir’, said he. Towing was the answer and 1285 took us for a few hours and the HM Indian ship (as they were called then) Cuttack towed us the rest of the way to Madras. We were stuck for a week under repairs and the escort and Proctor’s ship had to leave me and proceeded on their own.

“Repairs completed, I was sailed to Vizagapatnam where I was to pick up a new escort to cross the bay but after re-fuelling and topping up with water and food the XDO (this was the short title for ‘Extended Duties Officer’ and I don’t know why ‘Extended’ but anyway he now appeared to be, full!) sent for me and said he had no escort and could I make the last leg of my passage alone? At that time I had one hell of an opinion of myself as a navigator and my reply was that it would be no problem. I conveniently forgot about the communications. There is a saying that to be a good captain one must also be lucky and I was certainly lucky on that occasion. Calm seas, clear days and nights, and the enemy off the immediate sea far away. It was a picnic and we made our landfall on the dot. Proctor came to me in 186 and showed me where he was parked and I secured alongside him.

“When we were on talking terms again after securing, I asked him what the score was. ‘Just fiddling around,’ said he, ‘running ammunition and stores to warships and river craft, from the ammunition and stores ships over there.’ ‘Where are the Japs?’ I asked. ‘Not far. You’ll hear them soon enough tonight when they pass over here to bomb the air-field, but you won’t see them.’ And there was his silly grin again. ‘What’s funny?’ said I. ‘This is the life’ said he, ‘and I am going to volunteer to go up the river.’ He was a senior and if he went I would have to follow. The bloody idiot had forgotten the old rule – never volunteer: it will come soon enough. ‘We can see some action. Nothing’s happening here’ – and the enemy only five miles away! ‘Better report yourself to the NOIC. He must be expecting you,’ said Proctor. And this didn’t take long. It was as Proctor advised, maid-of-all-work in the harbour. That night we heard heavy guns firing eastward and knew the fight had commenced. They seemed to prefer to fight in the dark and expected you to sleep by day. As prophesized, the bombers passed over that night for their usual strafing of the air-field and we opened fire with our main armament – 4 in no. 9mm Lanchesters! Couldn’t see them, of course, but they must have been close overhead as the roar of their passing was deafening. ‘Don’t shoot, sir,’ pleaded a seaman at my elbow, ‘they’ll see you and drop something.’ ‘Go to hell,’ I retorted, ‘how do you think I am going to expend this ammo otherwise? We are not going up the river-unless somebody volunteers’ – and I felt the butterflies fluttering madly about in my innards as I thought of what passed between Proctor and me earlier.

“Three months were we in Akyab. They didn’t send us up the river although Proctor volunteered, as promised. They reckoned, quite rightly, that we’d be sitting ducks and wanted us in one piece to work in the harbour. We saw wounded prisoners coming in daily and had to help out from time to time. Air raids at dawn and dusk became routine even though the Japs were soon pushed far into Burma. One of the finest fireworks displays I have seen took place when they hit our ammunition ship in harbour during a dawn raid. One moment she was there and the next she was gone forever. Everything inside her went up and she herself went the other way. The concussion was terrific and our little ships were bobbing about for an hour afterwards. I gulped when I remembered that I was to have been alongside her in an hour to unload ammo. Shortly after this I hit a marker buoy which was not ‘watching’ properly and nearly sank before I put my ship on the beach. A damaged stern gland due to the blow let the water in. This was soon plugged and 186 towed me alongside a salvage vessel and we were pumped dry in ten minutes. However, the accident placed 185 ‘hors de combat’ and we were taken into an inlet of the river near by and beached. War receding, our usefulness had gone and the powers-that-be were not going to worry about repairing my little vessel. We were all taken off one day and returned home soon afterwards in a British warship.”

Retrospective

Clearly, the veritable contribution of Ceylon volunteers to the Burma Campaign is another outstanding example of Ceylon’s involvement in the Second World War. My research so far indicates that 24 Ceylonese served in the Burma Campaign, (17 CRNVR; 5 CLI; one RAF and one 1st RWF). Interestingly, several of Ceylon’s Burma Campaign veterans later served in the post-independence armed forces, with two particularly rising to the rank of Commander: Major General A.R. Udugama (1964-1966) of the Ceylon Army and Rear Admiral Victor Hunter (1970-1973) of the Royal Ceylon Navy.

Although it is estimated that at least 200 Ceylonese or perhaps more were awarded the Burma Star, it is more than apparent, considering the broad eligibility regulations of the Burma Star, that many servicemen had not served in Burma itself, which is an important distinction to clarify.

Indeed, these historical revelations open a new chapter in colonial Ceylon’s military history, which until now remained under-researched. As such, I am hopeful that in time, I will be able to expand on this article with new sources of historical information, to reveal further, the involvement of Ceylon’s volunteers in the Burma Campaign.

Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe is interested in corresponding with people who can provide any further information or assistance to his research. Sergei de Silva,Victoria, Australia

World War I

Ceylon sent around 2000 volunteers to join the WWI campaign, and 442 among them did not survive. Their names are recorded in the Cenotaph War Memorial that resides in the Colombo Public Library premises. The Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps played a significant role in World War I. The CPRC, a volunteer based regiment force from Kandy, comprised mostly of European Rubber and Tea Planters. They were the first regiment from Ceylon to head overseas during the war and are also affiliated with being a part of the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. The regiment disbanded in 1949 along with the Ceylon Defense Force to make way for the Sri Lankan Army which exists till the present day.

However, there is an estimate which has been recorded that nearly 50% of the volunteers of Ceylon, were commissioned off as officers during the war. All that because they had prior connections to military regements and battalions and such. Amonst them, records specifically demonstrate the numbers of young men (330) of four English medium schools, namely - Royal College, Trinity College, S.Thomas' College and Kingswood College.

Stories about the young men involved were found on various occasions in (our) the search for what really happened to the Sri Lankans who fought in the World War I. Sir Richard Aluwihare, the first Ceylonese Inspector General of Police and Ajit Rudra, a Major General in the Indian Army were two of them.

WW1 Mines and Minesweeping off Ceylon

This appeared on MARHST-L in December 1999 and January 2000, and is reproduced here.

From Glen Robert-Grant Hodgins

As part of my ongoing research into Sri Lanka's naval history, I came across the following reference in a local (provincial) government report for 1918. I thought other Marhsters might find it of some interest. [A "Kachcheri", by the way, is the local term for a district/local government office/HQ.]

REPORT OF THE WESTERN PROVINCE [Ceylon] 1918,
Section II: Report of the Kalutara District
by C.V. Brayne, Assist Govt Agent, Kalutara Kachcheri, 17 March 1919

The Year Under Review

An unpleasant reminder that the Empire was still at war came in the shape of floating mines which drifted up on to the coast. One at Wadduwa, and one at Kalutara, [about 30-40 km south of Colombo], were, happily, harmless; but a second one, which struck the coast near Wadduwa in September, exploded, with disastrous results. In spite warnings, the villagers crowded around to see it. Ten were killed on the spot, and five succumbed afterwards to their injuries. About 150 people all together were injured, some of them severely. Excellent work was done by a number of local doctors at the Panadure Hospital, wither the wounded were taken. Relief was immediately given to the families of the killed and injured men, and this was facilitated by a generous donation of Rs500, given by Mr E.C. de Fonseka, as soon as he heard of the catastrophe. ..............

Three Europeans and eight Ceylonese left for war service during the year. Considerable sums were raised by local subscriptions for the Red Cross, the Red Triangle, and other War Funds. Two local branches of the Queen Mary's Needlework Guild did useful work.

From Fred Rowe

In reply to your comments Ceylon/Sri Lanka(M/S) the following vessels were in that area mid 1917 onwards,

· GENERAL ELLES

· GOLIATH (tug)

· LADY INCHCAPE

· LADY MACKAY

All designated Patrol Vessels with Minesweeping capabilities.All of them were Auxiliaries and 'taken up' from Indian Ocean area local sources. They operated out of Colombo.

From Glen Robert-Grant Hodgins

I have discovered that 6 trawlers were purchased from Japan by the Ceylonese government, (in 1917) to act as the mainstay of the island's minesweeping efforts. Upon arrival, these vessels were re-named: KUMARHAMI; LANKDYS; LAKSHMI; PARVATI; RANMENIKA; AND SARASVATI. I don't think they would be formal HMS's, since they were operated by the Colombo Harbour Master. The information I've pieced together thus far indicates that this flotilla was employed until the end of the war to maintain a swept channel from the harbour entrance, at Colombo, out to the 100 fathom line; and then sold to a Bombay firm at the cessation of hostilities.

WWII

The Easter Sunday Raid was an air attack on Colombo, Ceylon, during the Indian Ocean raid by carrier-based-based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy on 5 April 1942. The Japanese objective was to destroy the Ceylon-based British Eastern Fleet in harbour. The British preemptively dispersed shipping from the harbours before the attacks due to advance warning from intelligence in March 1942, and air reconnaissance during the raid.

The attacking Japanese aircraft were met by fighters of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) 222 Group, commanded by Air Vice marshall John D’Albac, and the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm (FAA), and anti-aircraft artillery. Port facilities were damaged, and ships both in harbour and - having dispersed - on the ocean were sunk or damaged. The bulk of the British Eastern Fleet was not found and survived.

The raid demonstrated Ceylon's vulnerability; British forces were not prepared to face further Japanese carrier raids. The Eastern Fleet relocated its main base to East Africa, from which it regularly deployed carrier task forces into the central and eastern Indian Oceans. [Wiki]

Background

Upon Japan's entry into the Second World War, the air defences on Ceylon consisted of only four obsolescent three-inch anti-aircraft guns at Trincomalee. The sole RAF squadron was 273 Squadron based at China Bay near Trincomalee; it flew four Vickers Vildebeest and four Fairey Seals torpedo bombers. With the loss of Singapore in February 1942, British planners identified the island as essential to the defence of India and Allied lines of communication through the Indian Ocean. The threat of Japanese carrier-bourne air attack was recognized from the examples of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and Darwin in February 1942.

Ceylon's air defences were reinforced in early 1942. Eight Hawker Hurricane fighters arrived on 23 February fighters; they flew in from Karachi where they had been assembled from crates delivered by Cefn-Y-Bryn. 60 Hurricanes arrived on 6 and 7 March; they were ferried by HMS Indomitable from the Middle East for 30 and 261 Squadrons RAF; a Hurricane from 30 Squadron was lost in a crash at sea on 4 April. On 5 April, there were 37 or 38 serviceable Hurricanes near Colombo. By 4 April, there were 803 and 806 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) from the FAA, and 44 Fairey Fulmars. The number of anti-aircraft guns increased to 144 by 4 April.

222 Group also received Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats, which spotted and shadowed the Japanese fleet during the raid. The only air reinforcement to Ceylon in the two months after 7 December 1941 consisted of the first Catalina. By 4 April, there were seven operational aircraft; four RAF, two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and one Dutch. Two RAF and three Dutch were unserviceable, with at least some being overhauled at Bangalore. Two more RCAF aircraft arrived on 6 and 7 April after the raid started. Squadrons operating Catalinas included 205 Squadron RAF and 413 Squadron RCAF.

Other air reinforcements included maritime and naval strike aircraft.

The airbases at Ratmalana, near Colombo, and China Bay were expanded. Another was established at the Colombo Racecourse to relieve congestion at Ratmalana. The Catalinas operated from Koggala and the adjacent lagoon, near the southern tip of the island. The Japanese were unaware of the bases at the Colombo Racecourse and Koggala.

Colombo and Trincomalee each received a radar station.

The Colombo radar station unit was AMES 254. Its personnel arrived on 18 March and its equipment on 22 March. The station became operational at the Royal Colombo Golf Club - about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Ratmalana - on 25 March, and was connected by telephone to the No. 20 Operations Room on 28 March. [Wiki]

The Ceylon Defence Force (CDF)

The Ceylon Defence Force (CDF) was established in 1910 by the Ceylonese legislation Ceylon Defence Force Ordinance, which reformed the Ceylon Volunteer Force (CVF) that existed previously as the military reserve in the British Crown colony of Ceylon. At the time of forming it was only a reserve force but soon developed into a regular force responsible for the defence of Ceylon. The CDF was under the command of the General Officer Commanding, Ceylon of the British Army in Ceylon if mobilised. However mobilisation could be carried out only under orders from the Governor.

In 1900 Ceylon Mounted Infantry saw action and in 1902 a contingent of Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps, took part in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Their services were recognised by presentation, in 1902, of a colour to the Ceylon Mounted Infantry, and a presentation in 1904, of a Banner to the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps.

Although there were Ceylonese officers much of the officer corps was made up of British officers and the other ranks were mostly Ceylonese with the exception of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps which was completely made up of Europeans.

Units of the Ceylon Volunteer Force in 1910

* Ceylon Light Infantry (CLI) (1881–Present)

- Mobilised Detachment of Ceylon Light

Infantry (Mob. Det., CLI) (1917–1939)

* Ceylon Garrison Artillery (CGA) (1889–Present)

* Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps (CPRC) (1887–1949)

* Ceylon Cadet Battalion (CCB) (1902–Present)

* Ceylon Mounted Rifles (CMR) (1906–1938)

* Ceylon Engineers (CE) (1911–Present)

* Ceylon Medical Corps (CMC) (1911–Present)

* Colombo Town Guard (CTG) (1914–1918, 1939–1945)

* Town Guard Artillery (TGA) (1914–1939)

* Ceylon Motor Cyclist Corps (CMCC) (1915-N/A)

* Ceylon Supply & Transport Corps (CSTC) (1918–1949)

* Ceylon Signal Corps (CSC) (1943–Present)

* Auxiliary Territorial Service (Ceylon) (ATS (Ceylon)) (1943–1946)

* Royal Military Police (Ceylon) (1944–1949)

Ceylon Artillery Volunteers (CAV)

Notable Personalities

* General Hamilton Wanasinghe, VSV - Former Commander of the Army.

* General L. P. Balagalle, VSV, USP, ndc, IG - Former Commander of the Army.

* General C. S. Weerasooriya, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP - Former Commander of the Army.

* Major General Gratian Silva, VSV - former Military Secretary

* Major General Duleep Wickramanayake - former Director Operations and Training

* Major General Jayantha de S. Jayaratne, VSV, ndc, IG - former Commander Security Forces Jaffna

* Major General Sarath Munasinghe RWP, RSP, USP - Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Commander Security Forces Headquarter Jaffna.

* Major General Larry Wijeratne † - Former Brigade commander, 514 Brigade.

* Major General Ananda Hamangoda † - Former Brigade commander, 512 Brigade. Jaffna.

* Major General Larry Wijeratne † - Former Brigade commander, 514 Brigade.

* Major General Ananda Hamangoda † - Former Brigade commander, 512 Brigade.

* Brigadier B. K. V. J. E. Rodrigo - Former Commandant of the Volunteer Force.

* Brigadier Leonard Merlyn Wickremasooriya - Former Commandant, Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa

* Brigadier K.T.Sujeewa Gunawardhana, RSP, USP - first commanding officer, 14th Rocket Regiment SLA

* Colonel Fredrick C. de Saram OBE, CA - former Commanding officer, 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Ceylon Artillery & Leader of the Attempted military coup in 1962

* Lieutenant Colonel Wilmot "Willie" S. Abrahams, MC, MBE, CA - former Commanding Officer, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, Ceylon Artillery & accused conspirator in the 1962 coup d'état attempt

* Major Victor Gunasekara, CCS - former Controller of Imports Exports and Government Agent of Kegalle

* Lieutenant Ajantha Mendis - International Cricketer[8]

* Bombardier Gratien Fernando - Leader of the Cocos Islands Mutiny

Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps

Notable Personalities

* Colonel Thomas Yates Wright, MBE, VD - appointed member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the Senate of Ceylon and commanding officer of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps

* Major John William Oldfield, CMG, CBE, MC, ED - appointed member of the State Council of Ceylon and the Parliament of Ceylon.

* Major Ronald McClintock, MC - British World War I flying ace

* Lieutenant Basil Blackett - British World War I flying ace

* Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Douglas Sutherland DSO* OBE MC - British Army officer of the First and Second world wars.

* Colonel C. B. 'Bosun' Loudoun-Shand, VD - commanding officer of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps

* Colonel George Bridges Stevens, CBE, VD - commanding officer of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps

* Gerald Gardner - Author

Ceylon Cadet Battalion

Past Commanding officers (1902-1987)[edit]

* Major SM Borrous 1902–1905

* Major James Von Langenberg ED CLI 1905–1915

* Major WE Gratiaen 1916–17

* Major Edvin Evans 1917–1920

* Col LMCD Robison ED 1920–1932

* Col S. A. Pakeman CBE, MC, ED 1932–1938

* Col Robert Patrick ED 1938–1943

* Col R.J.F. Mendis OBE ED 1943–1948

* Lt Col HVC De Silva ED 1948–1951

* Col R Sabanayagam OBE 1951–1955

* Bvt Col TN Munasinghe ED 1955–1960

* Lt Col HCF Abeykoon ED 1960–61

* Lt Col HSR Gunawardana 1961–1965

* Lt Col P. D. Ramayanayake 1965–1968

* Lt Col EA Perusinghe ED 1968–69

* Bvt Col GW Rajapaksha ED 1969–1973

* Bvt Col KPG Nilame ED 1973–1977

* Bvt Col RB Narampanawa ED 1977–1980

* Bvt Col NBS Balalle 1980–1984

* Lt Col HKDA Fernando 1984–1987

Past Directors (1988-Present)[edit]

* Maj Gen E. G. Thevanayagam, VSV 1987–1991

* Col HW Senevirathna (Actg) 1991

* Brig Justus B Rodrigo, VSV 1991–1994

* Maj Gen T. N. De Silva, USP 1994–1999

* Col YL Kulasooriya (Actg) 1999–2000

* Brig GSM Ranathunga, USP 2000–2002

* Col RM Somapala (Actg) 2002

* Maj Gen WR Wijerathne, USP 2002–2004

* Brig DHMRB Thammita, RSP 2004–05

* Maj Gen GBW Jayasundara, RWP, RSP 2005–2013

* Maj Gen HMHA Herath 2013–2015

* Maj Gen LWCBB Rajaguru, RWP, RSP, USP 2015–16

* Maj Gen AKP Wickramasinghe, VSV, USP 2016 to 2018

* Maj Gen MMS Perera 2018 to 2019

Ceylon Mounted Rifles

Notable Personalities

* Lieutenant Basil Blackett - British World War I flying ace

* Charles Edward Hudson - served in CMR while employed on a tea plantation before World War I.[1] Later won Victoria Cross serving with British Army in the Sherwood Foresters (1918).

Ceylon Engineers

Notable Personalities

* Lieutenant Basil Arthur Horsfall VC † – Only Ceylonese recipient of the Victoria Cross

* Brigadier Douglas Ramanayake – founder of the Sri Lanka Engineers [3]

* General Denis Perera VSV, ndc, psc, SLE – Former Commander of the Army (1977–1981).

* General Nalin Seneviratne, VSV, ndc, SLE – Former Commander of the Army (1985–1988)

* General Crishantha de Silva, RWP, USP, ndc, psc, SLE – Chief of the Defence Staff and Commander of the Army (2015–2017)

* General Mahesh Senanayake, RWP, RSP, USP, psc – Commander of the Army

* Lieutenant General Nalin Angammana † – Former GOC, 3rd Division.

* Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe, RWP, RSP, USP, ndc, psc, SLE – former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (2009–2010)

* Major General J. R. S. de Silva, RSP, VSV, USP, SLE – Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (1991–1992)

* Major General K. J. C. Perera, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLE – Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (2000–2001)

* Major General E. H. Samaratunga USP, SLE

* Major General A. E. D. Wijendra RSP, USP, ndc, psc, SLE

* Major General M. D. S. Chandrapala RWP, RSP, USP, psc, SLE

* Major General D. S. K. Wijesooriya RWP, RSP, USP, psc, SLE

* Major General J. K. N. Jayakody USP, ndc, SLE

* Major Genera V N Wijegunawardena

* Major General Janaka Walgama RSP VSV USP ndu psc

* Lieutenant Colonel J.H.V. de Alwis – former Commanding Officer, 2nd Volunteer Engineers, Ceylon Engineers & accused conspirator in the 1962 coup d'état attempt

* Brigadier S.A.R. Samarasinghe RSP USP – Centre Commandant (2008–2010) , Brigade Commander 592 Brigade (2011–2013)

Ceylon Medical Corps

Notable Personalities

* Sir Frank Gunasekera, CBE, ED - former Deputy President of the Senate of Ceylon and Commanding officer, Ceylon Medical Corps (1935-1939)

* Major General Dr Chelliah Thurairaja, USP, MBBS - former Director Army Medical Services and Colonel Commandant of the SLAMC[3]

* Major General Dr Sanjeewa Munasinghe, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP - Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Director General, Army Health Services, and Colonel Commandant of the SLAMC

* Brigadier Herbert Clifford Serasinghe, OBE, ED - former Commanding officer, Ceylon Army Medical Corps

* Colonel Vincent Henry Ludovici Anthonisz, OBE, VD - former Commanding officer, Ceylon Medical Corps (1939-1946)

* Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Rex De Costa, MBE - former Commanding officer, Ruhunu Regiment and Vice President, World Veterans Federation

* Lieutenant Colonel Dr. John Rockwood, VD - former Commanding officer, Ceylon Medical Corps (1927-1931)

* Major General Dr Thusitha Janaka Liyanaarachchi - (SLAMC-O/60041) 1982-2018 former Director of Army Medical Procurement Services

* Brigadier Dr H. I. K. Fernando - ADC, MBBS, DA (London), Officer of the Order of St. John -Former Director Army Medical Services and All Ceylon cricket player

* Brigadier Dr R. T. Tambiah, VSV - Former Director Army Medical Services

* Colonel Dr Anthony "Tony" Gabriel, MBBS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Edin), Hon. FDS(SL), Hon. FDSRCS (Eng) - former Commanding officer, 2nd(V) Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, President of the College of Surgeons Sri Lanka and Hon. Fellow British Association of Oral and Maxillofascial Surgeons.

Ceylon Town Guard

Notable Personalities

* The Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake – the first Prime Minister of Ceylon.

* Sir Razik Fareed OBE JP (29 December 1893 – 23 August 1984) – Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) lawyer, politician, diplomat and philanthropist. He was the former Cabinet Minister of Trade, Senator, member of parliament and the state council. He had also served as Ceylon's High Commissioner to Pakistan.

* Captain Henry Pedris – prominent figure executed by the British.

* Sir Oliver Goonetilleke – Governor-General of Ceylon

Town Guard Artillery