Cambrian Cadetting 50 years ago

by Cecil de Mel

After more than 50 years I still cherish the nostalgic memories of my school days at Prince of Wales College, especially in relation to Cadetting. This period was dominated by great personalities like J.B.C.Rodrigo. ( Principal) , K.K.S. Ram (Vice Principal) A.P.M.Peiris, (Head Master) A.V.S.Fernandoand Eric Perera and therefore it is with pleasure that I recall the history of Cadetting in my heyday, i.e. from 1947 to 1954.

I should mention here that I came to Prince of Wales College from Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, a premier Buddhist institution. Most of the practices at Prince of Wales were then alien to me, but I took to them as a duck takes to water, including the singing of hymns at morning assembly, and even taking part in Founder’s Day Service choirs, in sharp contrast to ‘Pan Sil’ administered every morningm by P. de S. Kularatne, Principal of Sri Sumangala and singing oriental melodies of Ananda Samarakoon who was the music teacher.

Cadetting which was completely new, simply fascinated me. To see the Junior Platoon marching in formation and performing drill manoeuvres, under the command of their Sergeants who were my seniors, namely Aelian Peiris, Spencer Silva, and Kenneth de Mel, under the watchful eyes of Lieutenant Eric Perera, was a treat; but I was too young to join. Gradually I progressed from juvenile drill squads to the Wijemanne squad which was the spawning ground of young recruits to the Junior Cadet Platoon.

Mr. Wjemanne was an exceptional character who did not hesitate to shout at the youngsters in their own ‘Sinhala idiom,’ [Yakko] when they made mistakes. I did not stay there very long and was soon spotted by J.R. Jayawardene, the young Second Lieutenant, and given a place as a private in the Junior Cadet Platoon. This Platoon was led by Sergeant Shirley Mendis and we practiced and practiced in preparation for our first camp, jovially teasing our Sergeant, as often as possible, after the squad was dismissed.

Those days we had a great friend in ‘Charlie Aiya’ our middle aged ground boy with an enchanting unshaven smile, who made us a big mug of tea and two thick slices of bread [ quarter lb ] with a generous spread of butter and sugar, which was given to us after a grueling two to three hours of continuous drill after school. The school met all these expenses and we being very hungry would gobble it all in one mouthful and often looked for leftovers, with Charlie Aiya’s favour.

The first Camp we attended was at Boosa. We were quartered at the grandstands of the Boosa Race Course. The Journey to Boosa was by train, after a route march along Galle Road to the Moratuwa Railway Station. We were at our smartest best, as we knew that the eyes of all townfolk were directed at us, as we marched through, under the command of our smart young officer.

Everything at camp was in accordance with strict discipline. We rose up early at the sound of the ‘Reveille’ the stimulating morning bugle call, and went on after a quick wash, for a large mug of milk tea, and had PT (Physical Training) after which breakfast was served. Immediately afterwards we had to get into uniform and muster for parade. Programs of drill practices and competitions followed Including a route march to the Koggala airstrip and back in one day.

After tea time there were sports activities. The Army saw to it that we were well fed. The work day ended with the sound of the ‘Retreat” a somewhat sad bugle call at which we had to stand at ‘Attention’ wherever we were.

In the evenings the usual sing songs and other pranks went on till dinner time. Usually the Battalion Commanders and Adjutants came to see us at dinner time and inquired after the quality of food and our general well being. Every table was called to ‘Attention’ as they passed by and momentarily we stopped eating, till they signaled us to go on. Saluting all officers was a must at all times we wore the uniform and in our day we were called the Ceylon Cadet Battalion which later took the name of Ceylon Cadet Corps.

All the commands were given in English and all training was conducted in English, according to Standard British Army Practices. It was a great new experience to go for our first Junior Cadet Camp and we profited immensely in learning to obey before learning to command. The very next year, I was selected as the ‘Sergeant’ of the Junior Cadet Platoon on the results of a ‘Commandant’s Test’. The judges were Lieutenant A.P.M.Peiris, Captain A.V.S Fernando and Lieutenant Eric Perera. My enthusiasm for cadetting was well rewarded and in turn I dedicated myself to give leadership and motivation to the entire platoon, consisting of Lance Sergeant Nimal

Bhareti, Corporal Leslie Mendis, Corporal Rienzie Aponso, Lance Corporal Stanley de Alwis and over thirty others in my age group.

The next camp was also held at Boosa. I was in the habit of taking snaps with a Kodak Brownie box camera with Super XX Roll film and the pictures came out pretty well, with all my colleagues, but unfortunately the studio which did the processing did not do a proper job and the prints turned brown and faded off. Camp life and the activities were just about the same as in my first camp and we returned home in high spirits.

By now, I was preparing to sit for my Senior School Certificate Examination (SSC) which I passed in that year at 16-years of age, and had to bid adieu to my colleagues in the Junior Platoon. As the former Junior Cadet Sergeant, I was guaranteed a place in the Senior Platoon and went on to train in weapons, their handling, and firing practices with the .22 rifle.

In those days the College had an Armoury consisting of 33 rifles of .303 calibre, which were standard service weapons. We also had a British Army Bren Gun (an LMG). The College had a .22 firing range behind the tennis courts close to the Lunawa lagoon. All our weapons were looked after by our dear friend ‘Army’ Alwis (Armoury) an Army (Ordnance ) Civilian Employee, who was specially trained in handling weapons and their custody and upkeep.

He wore the National Dress and was also adept at palm reading. He made many a prediction after studying the palms of our Senior Cadets. I can still remember the serial number of the rifle assigned for my use. It was a .303 calibre (Mark I ) serial number M – 10881, a rifle well zeroed which fired very accurately. We practiced all arms drills, loading and unloading, using dummy rounds and stripping down and re-assembly of the Bren Gun, including action to be taken when the gun stops firing, which was bound to happen in real life.

By now Lieutenant P.H.S. Mendis had taken over the Senior Platoon as its OC Contingent and we had Sergeant Major Moses, of CLI (who was later awarded his Commission) for our training. Sergeant Major Carter of CLI was also a visitor now and then to train us in drill and weapons. I can still remember the memorable ‘ First shot ‘ I fired with live .303 ammunition at Galle butts, which was situated near the ’Butterfly Bridge ‘ facing the sea.

At the command to ’load ‘ I had gone down correctly and loaded my rifle with five rounds of live ammunition. Sergeant Major Carter of CLI. who was in charge of supervision, was seated nearby, on the concrete bund, but unknown to him, in the excitement, I had already taken the ’first pressure ‘ on the trigger. When the ‘fire’ order was given, I took the ‘second pressure’ thinking it was the ‘first pressure, with the nozzle of the rifle still on the ground, and with a ‘loud bang’ the bullet went straight into the ground, raising dust and concrete particles everywhere.

All hell broke loose! Sergeant Major Carter yelled and swore in raw army lingo and shouted orders to stop firing, unload, and fall back, in rapid succession. I had to eat humble pie and fall back to the end of the line and await my turn, after everybody else had fired. At long last my turn came and he gave orders to load, keeping a sharp eye on my trigger finger. Thereafter the ‘fire’ order was given and the first shot registered a ‘wash out’ as the red flag waved and I got the kick of the rifle on my cheek.

Having learnt the lesson of my life, I gritted my teeth and holding the rifle rock steady with the butt tightly pressed against my shoulder, fired again without even breathing. Targets reported bulls and inners and plates began to fall. I was simply amazed! Sergeant Major Carter stared at me in surprise. He had virtually written me off, but had to concede ‘Good Show’, then and there! At the grouping targets too I did pretty well and secured a twelve inch group.

The Senior Cadet Camp in 1952, was at Diyatalawa and of much longer duration. We had full training in weapons, warfare, strategies and tactics, methods of camouflage and exhausting exercises on ‘Fox Hill’ and ‘Stable Hill ‘ in full battle dress with bayonets fixed. As before, we were solidly fed by the Army. The Medical Corps took care of our health. We gained in overall fitness, and earned a few bucks as ‘bata’ in addition.

In my second year, as a result of my untiring dedication, I was promoted Senior Lance Sergeant. Seniors before me were, Sergeant Tilan Perera and Sergeant Herby Fernando. Don Premaratne was by then the incumbent Platoon Sergeant. The year 1953 became eventful with the August 12 ‘Hartal’, when we were just getting ready to go to camp as it marked the end of our possession of weapons at the College, which were all withdrawn.

We were very sad about that, but the next year things began to turn bright again for cadetting, with the Queen’s visit in 1954. We seemed to follow the Queen wherever she went. A new ceremonial kit was made to measure by army tailors for each one of us. We lined the streets with fixed bayonets at Kollupitiya, for the Queen’s Motorcade and at Kandy for the special Perahera , which was held in honour of the Queen. We were very lucky to be right opposite the Queens Hotel, where all performers put on a special display for the Queen.

All costumes for this Perahera, including those of elephants were newly designed. Sir John Kotalawala was at the height of his power as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and being a military man, he tolerated no nonsense . There followed a full dress ceremonial parade of all Armed Services, with massed bands in attendance, at Galle Face Green, which the Queen reviewed in person, standing up in a richly embellished jeep, which slowly moved across the parade ground. The martial music was superb and exhilarating. The young Queen Elizabeth II, was resplendent in her finery, and was the perfect picture of elegance and smartness. We were at ‘Royal Salute Present Arms ’ looking straight ahead as she passed by, but saw everything.

At the very last ceremonial function, when the ‘Gothic’ (Queen’s Yacht’) sailed away with Queen Elizabeth on board, we gave her the Royal Salute, called three cheers for her and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and other English songs in farewell, with all bands playing in grand unison. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh waved back to us from the Bridge of the ‘Gothic’ till they were virtually out of sight. It was an unforgettable experience for all those who participated in these ceremonies who are now senior citizen.

My school career was over by now. I had sat the University Entrance examination and secured passes in two subjects. Having gained admission to the Technical College for professional studies as a Chartered Secretary and securing employment as an apprentice, I said farewell to my ‘Alma

Mater’ with the knowledge that life will never be the same again, as when we were in school, where we had such ‘great benefactors’, as our teachers of yore, who moulded us in every way. The certificates given by them, which I still possess, bear testimony to the responsibilities held by me in school.

“If you can keep your head when all about you, are losing theirs and blaming it on you ” keeps reverberating in me, from time to time in their fond memory. Fifty years is a long time, but it is a microscopic speck in ‘Long Sansara’. Our beloved teachers are still there, far out somewhere! May they all achieve the sublime bliss of Nibbana.

(First published in the centenary Magazine of Cadetting at Prince of Wales College Nov. 1904 to Nov. 2004)