ROYAL WINGS OVER CEYLON: An Engraved Era submerged with time
History is dotted with moments, that
developed into incidents, which collectively impacted and altered the
trajectory of time from then onwards. The changes wrought on the actors
involved transformed their journey, and generations thereafter live according
to the results of that which occurred long before they were around. These
moments and incidents are now long gone, having been committed to history, but
must never be forgotten, owing to the enormity of challenges, the fortitude
with which they were faced, and the power with which they were overcome.
The latest publication of the Sri
Lanka Air Force, ‘Royal Wings over Ceylon: An engraved era submerged with time’
is a timely reflection of a critical moment in Sri Lanka’s history, when the island
was under British rule, and got drawn into the Second World War. While the
theatre of conflict was away from the island, the book revolves around the Japanese
attacks at the height of the war, which brought the conflict to our shores. It
emphasizes the effective manner in which the attacks were thwarted, and how
efforts were taken to ensure that the tide was not turned in the war effort of the
Allied powers against the Axis powers. Failure on that occasion could have
changed the course of history drastically. British war-time Prime Minister, Sir
Winston Churchill, claimed that the 1942 bombing of Ceylon was “the most
dangerous moment of the war”, and the severity of those moments is duly
reflected in this latest book. Historians have written extensively about the
rigours of war, especially the Second World War, yet the position of Ceylon in
this intricate narrative is often lost internationally, and is absent domestically,
where knowledge of such an occurrence is miniscule.
The book takes the reader on a
fascinating journey back in time, through the well-crafted chapters, which
examine aspects of 1942, from the global scenario that prevailed, and the Japanese
expansion of Empire that was occurring, to the travails of Squadron Leader
Leonard Joseph Birchall, a Canadian pilot who emerged a hero, though remained a
prisoner of war for many years. The heroism of such officers, who saw
colleagues perish around them, yet remained steadfast in their duty, and
safeguarded the island nation, are personalities worth researching and knowing.
They were a long way from home, yet duty called, and the result was the
safeguarding of our home country.
Similarly, the chapter on the entire
attacks in Colombo and Trincomalee, encapsulates details of all that unfolded,
and the inclusion of pictorial representations, especially the comparison of the
affected areas then and now, enhance the reflective tribute of this book. Also
highlighted, and of special interest is how many well-known areas of Colombo,
specifically the Colombo Racecourse grounds served as an airstrip with maps
providing residents of Colombo an understanding of what the city they dwell in
endured. The chapter on ‘The Eastern Fortress’, which discusses Trincomalee and
the magnificence of the natural harbour that exists there, causes the reader to
grapple with the enormity of potential, that was realised at that time, by a
colonial power, and had been to the advantage of other powers too, given the
battles that had been fought in the seas off the coast.
The reader is given a synopsis of RAF
bases that existed in Ceylon. For civilians, researchers and air enthusiasts,
this information is an opportunity to understand the outlay, the incidents, the
capacity and the achievements of a bygone era. The meticulous attention to
detail makes for very interesting reading, and piques curiosity in the researcher
to delve further into a time and space that existed on our island, but has
passed into the annals of history. The chapter, appropriately titled,
‘Courageous Ceylonese Seeds in the RAF’, focuses on the people of this country,
who joined the Royal Air Force, gained training at the Cranwell Flying School
in the United Kingdom, and would later defend the skies over the island, and
significantly came from all communities that inhabit the island. The reference
to Aimee Jonklaas, who was the only Ceylonese female pilot in WWII is
especially poignant.
Interwoven through the book, is the
story of the island of Sri Lanka, from the vantage point of a specific moment in
history. Undertaking a project of this nature requires much effort, dedication
and true passion to see it through to fruition, and this has been accomplished
overwhelmingly. The editorial team has provided the reader with food for
thought in the arena of air power, and ensured that the book and its rich
contents could spawn several more research projects, to dig deeper and uncover
treasures of the past, which should be safeguarded for posterity. This timely
publication is a must-read for all those interested in the history of Sri
Lanka, world affairs, the colonial period, strategy, warfare and air power.
The book is a worthy contribution to
the existing literature pertaining to the RAF, yet its reflective nature weaves
our island into that century-old tapestry, which has been guided by the spirit
of ‘Per Ardua ad Astra’ (through
adversity to the stars).
Kudos to the team, and their desire
to revive, revisit and record history!
- George I. H. Cooke
