Letter concerning third batch of Ceylonese joining the RAF

Letter concerning third batch of Ceylonese joining the RAF

Author (probably Roy J de Niese) gives some information on recruitment and training of Ceylonese volunteers for the RAF. It includes his recruitment and initial training in Ceylon, travel to Great Britain, enlistment, elementary flying training and postings. It continues with information on individuals in his batch and further information on other Ceylonese.

Three typewritten sheets

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S102SqnRAF19170809v10004

Re the points you raise in paras 1 2 & 3 of your letter, here are my Comments:

I was in the [deleted] 3 [/deleted]rd batch of Ceylonese volunteers to the R A F under the Pilot/Navigator/Bombadier [sic] scheme. This recruitment was probably more streamlined than the previous two batches : viz an ad. in the local papers calling for volunteers with the necessary physical attributes and the [indecipherable word] Matriculation or equivalent pass.

After medical examinations and interviews before a board of three, eleven of us were chosen for this P/N/B training. We were all Matriculate with the exception of Dixon Kotalawala who with much less than the Matric was chosen, doubtless due to the influence of his uncle John Kotalawala who was a member of the selection Board. The others [sic] members of the Board were, D.S. Senanayake and a high ranking RAF officer.

The questions asked by the Board were mostly on Academic and Sports qualifications. However, I recollect a question leveled [sic] at me by John Kotalawala re my previous employment as a Sub Inspector of Police. He asked me whether I resigned or was sacked. I think I scored a good mark with the Board by pointing out that my discharge [inserted] certificate [/inserted] which was on their table, bore a remark from my Supdt. Sydney De Zoysa that my “resignation was a loss to the Police Force”.

Sportswise the 3rd batch volunteers had [inserted] done [/inserted] well: Dixon Kotalawala was a champion inter-schools boxer. C.H.S. Amarasekera was one of the top long distance runners in Ceylon. George Ferdinand was an Inter-schools champion relay runner. Dion Bennett was a Thomian champion swimmer. I was police boxer and Rugby player. Kingsley Werkmeister was a Thomian crickter [sic]. Royle Jansen was a Benedectine soccer player and so was Paramanathan from a Jaffna College. Clement Andrews, an Antonian soccer player.

We eleven trainees commenced our local Flying Training at Govt. expens in [underlined] Feb 1942 [/underlined]. This was done at the Aero Club at Ratmalana under F/Lt Duncanson and Flying Instructor Booth. All eleven Trainees were given abinito [sic] training up to solo standard on Tiger Moth aircraft. To enforce Military discipline and Training we took our oaths as Privates in the Ceylon Light Infantry. In lieu of Khaki uniforms, we wore civilian clothes with a CLI arm band. Sgt Tillekeratne was assigned to us. We were housed in tents near the airfield and the Sgt conducted our drill, arms training and rifle firing practise, etc, when we were not occupied with flying training. While under canvas, we experienced a couple of Jap air raids, and took to the rubber trees with our .303 rifles to fire at low flying Jap fighters.

[page break]

After six months of Flying and military training, we were issued [inserted] In [underlined] Au[missing letter/s] [/underlined] [/inserted] with passports. I reckon, the idea being to travel as civilians, [deleted] in [/deleted] case we fell into enemy hands. The first part of the journey was by train [inserted] to Talaimannar [/inserted] and ferry, and train to Bombay. We were about a week in Bombay, housed in a flat and then shipped off to the U.K. (I cant recollect the name of the troop ship).

Batchmates Mawalagedera and Ferdinand were detained due to illness and fol[missing letters]wed on a later ship. Our ship sailed off the Cape and way out into the North and west Atlantic into port Southampton in early [underlined] Nov. 1942 [/underlined]. The entire journey took two months – we embarked from Bombay in [underlined] Sept. 1942 [/underlined]. We stopped for a few days at an east African port and then at Durban for a few more where we were welcomed and loked [sic] after by an English South African Committee who had been briefed of our arrival. While sailing in the Atlantic, our [missing words] was trained [inserted] in [/inserted] and took turns in manning a heavy machine gun for possible use against enemy aircraft attack.

On the [underlined] 19th Nov. ’42 [/underlined] we enlisted at Euston as [underlined] AC2 [/underlined]. My [underlined] Airman No. 1811843 [/underlined] Our batch was then broken up and posted to diverse [underlined] Initial Training Wings [/underlined] C.H.S Amarasekera, Dion Bennett, Dixon Kotalawala and I commenced our ITW (Ground School training) at fighter station at Kenley in Surrey. After successfully completing this training, we were promoted to [underlined] Leading Aircraftmen (LAC) [/underlined]. After this, we were separated once again and shipped off to Canada [indecipherable letters] [underlined] Elementary Flying Training [/underlined]. My EFTS was at Windsor Mills in Quebec on Tig Moths. After successful flying and Ground School, I was posted to Service Flying Training School on Harvard aircraft. After about 40 hrs training on this aircraft, I had a difference of opinion with my instructor and agreed transfer to Navigator/Bombadier [sic] training at North Battleford in Sasketchwan [sic] On successful completion of this course, I received my wings as [underlined] Bombadier/[missing word] [/underlined] and was Commissioned as [underlined] Pilot Officer [/underlined] in [underlined] Nov.’44 (Officer No. 188121) [/underlined]. I re[missing letters] to the U.K. and was posted to Harrowgate [sic] in Yorkshire. From there I was transfered [sic] to [underlined] Transport Command [/underlined] to Staging Post, Jodpur, Rajputana, India as [underlined] Navigation Briefing Officer [/underlined] in [underlined] Feb ’45 [/underlined]. After a few months here, I obtai[missing letters] a transfer to Staging Post Ratmalana as NBO. and with RAF opening Katanaya as a Staging Post, transfered [sic] there [inserted] as Flying Officer [/inserted] and served there until [underlined] May ’47 [/underlined] when I requested and obtained a local release.

Here are some particulars of my batch:

[inserted] 1. [/inserted] [underlined] P.B. Mawalagedera [/underlined]. (Pilot) after war service flew as Line and Chief Pil[missing letters] and Operations Manager in Air Ceylon. Retired. resident in S.L. Address: 31/1 Attidiya Rd, Ratmalana.

[inserted] 2. [/inserted] [underlined] G.E.L. Ferdinand [/underlined]. (Pilot) after war service, served as Line and Chief [missing word] and Operations Manager, Air Lanka. (Deceased)

[indecipherable words]

[page break]

and then in Air Ceylon as Ground Instructor/Navigator/Link Instructor and later as Director Airports Authority and finally as Suptd. Civil Aviation Training Centre, Ratmalana.

[inserted] 4. [/inserted] [underlined] R.Jansen [/underlined]. (Aircraft Maintenance) after war service, worked in the U.K. as Aircraft maintenance Engineer, and then worked for a few years as an Engineer in Air Lanka. (Deceased)

[inserted] 5. [/inserted] [underlined] D. Kotalawala [/underlined]. (Trainee Pilot, medical release) flew as pilot on DC 3 aircraft in Air Ceylon for a few years and then functioned as Asst. Direct of Civil Aviation. Last known to reside in the U.K.

[inserted] 6. [/inserted] [underlined] D. Bennett [/underlined] (Pilot) after war service flew in command in an Indian airli[missing letters] and later in Air Ceylon on D C 3 and then as Capt. on Air Pacfic. [sic] Resident in Fiji. Address: [censored]

[inserted] 7. [/inserted] [underlined] H. Asserappa [/underlined]. (Pilot) after war service flew in an Indian airline as [missing word] Was residing in Negombo . .

[inserted] 8. [/inserted] [underlined] C.H.S. Amarasekera [/underlined]. (Pilot) after war service flew in an Indian airline, and then as Chief Flying Instructor, Air Academy and then was Director of Civil Aviation, S.L. for a few years. (Deceased)

[inserted] 9. [/inserted] [underlined] K. Werkmeister [/underlined]. (Aircraft Maintenance) after war service, lived in Perth Australia. (Deceased)

[inserted] 10. [/inserted] [underlined] C. Andrews [/underlined]. (Meterology) [sic] after war service worked as [indecipherable words] in S.L. Residing in Australia. Address: [censored]

[inserted] 11. [/inserted] [underlined] Paramanathan [/underlined]. [indecipherable words] shortly after obtaining ‘wings’ died in aircraft [missing letters]ent.

Re your other Queries: I have not heard of Stu Levell.

Re the Jacotine who served in WWI, M.R. de Silva would be able to give so[missing letters] information, also he would inform you of another Jacotine who was in the batch and made it to be a spitfire pilot to be killed in a raid over Ger[missing letters]
M.R. de S. said he would be writing to you after the Christmas rush.

Another 2nd batch spitfire pilot is R. Sielman who resides in the U.K
His Address: [censored]

The 2nd batch also included F/O Brohier who passed out as Navigator
We served together at Katunayake during my last year of service. His Ad[missing letters] [censored] Australia.

I have spoken to Lt. Col. C. Fernando who informs me that Maj. Gen Muttukumaru is alive and resident in Queensland (Australia)

I also met a Mr B. Claasen. who had war service in Singapore, and [missing word] be able to give you much information. His Address: [censored] Australia.