Message Board

Koelmeyer

desmond — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:42:10 GMT

Is anyone having information on the surname Koelmeyer

Looking for Heyn family members

RRH — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:29:13 GMT

I am looking for members of the Heyn family (of Sri Lanka) who now live in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, etc. Names and email addresses, will be great. Also, personal websites, addresses, etc.

Richard Russell Heyn
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
rrheyn (at) gmail.com

Forum: FRIEND FINDER

at last a dutch burger website.

tradigo — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:10:23 GMT

thank you for a great website away here in England for all these years its great to think about the country of my birth, i hope to come to Ceylon in the next few years and show my other half the beauty that is Ceylon god bless you all , Bryce devos.

Forum: CONTEMPORARY

More members for the site

desmond — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:57:08 GMT

I suggest that some advertisements/ writeups be placed in the newspapers regarding the site. Infact mails could be send to universities and professional organisations regarding the site. If necessary some australian mangazines could also be informed. This approach will assist to have a wider customer base

Forum: CONTEMPORARY

Top 40 Charts.Com USA News Report on Alston Koch

asiamusic — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:23:20 GMT

The highly popular American entertainment website, Top 40 Charts.Com had a news report on Alston Koch and his Murali song now storming the charts around the world.

http://top40-charts.com/news/Pop-Rock/Australian-star-Alston-Koch-storms-the-charts-with-the-Murali-

Pop / Rock (2008-01-08)

Australian star Alston Koch storms the charts with the Murali Song

Australian music star, Alston Koch who was born in Sri Lanka is storming the charts with a song dedicated to the world champion bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan. The Murali Song is doing well down under as well as the Asian Charts. It has been featured in three continents. Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's ace spin bowler overtook Australian Shane Warne's record when Eng;and played Sri Lanka in a three test series on the island. Murali is now the world's leading wicket taker - a historic record. He could well end up with 1000 wickets.

Alston Koch has recorded the only official tribute personally endorsed by Muttiah Muralitharan.Alston is the only Sri Lankan-born singer song-writer to be signed to an international record label and have success in Australia,Asia and Europe with Platinum & Gold record status.

Acclaimed as Asia's King of Pop in the late 70's when his hit song 'Disco lady' stood on the top of the charts for more than 8 weeks in three continents, he was also commissioned to write and perform the album for the America's Cup by the Australian syndicate 'THE KOOKABURRAS' who defended the cup for Australia.

Alston Koch's profile can be seen on: www.youtube.com/alstonkoch The song, already acclaimed by music critics as a classic, is being launched with the support of cricket website Cricinfo, the online home of cricket, and CD's can be purchased in Sri Lanka Cricket's official online shop - www.srilankacricketshop.com.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of the CD and DVD will be donated to the 'Foundation of Goodness', a Sri Lankan Charity run by Kushil Gunesekera, Muralidaran's manager and a few other Sri Lankan cricketers including the legendrary Sri Lankan bowler, Chaminda Vaas.

Ranked No 1 by the ICC official ratings for an unprecedented period of time, Murali now has the distinguished title of being the greatest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket. Having won the admiration of one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Sir Donald Bradman, Muralidaran was refered to as the 'David Copperfield of cricket' by another cricketing giant Steve Waugh.

The spin-wizard and spin-doctor was at his best once again mesmarising the English batsmen and has now taken more than 1000 wickets in both tests and one day matches...another record.

To write a song about a living legend was no easy task with months spent in the planning stages by the production team and the Muralidaran Management Team. It was finally recorded in one of the best recording studios in the world in Melbourne, Australia with award-winning conductor, arranger and producer Jarrad Gilson.

Jarrod Gilson believes it is one of the best tribute songs written and remarks that he now understands why triple Grammy award winner Alicia Keys introduced the singer Alston Koch to the World at a recent MTV awards ceremony as 'a legend and a superstar' as he is a dedicated and disciplined perfectionist.

A music video has just been completed and includes footage from some of Muralidaran's greatest triumphs and live footage while the song was been recorded at Oatlands Studios in Melbourne. The music video can now be seen on http://www.alstonkoch.com

The song is simply titled 'Murali' and is a number one hit in South Asia. Millions follow cricket on the Indian sub-continent.

The song has three versions and one version is an an authentic Australasian Dance Mix featuring some of the best Aboriginal didgeridoo players and musical instruments and ancient tribal chants from India to Afghanistan...Sri Lanka to Australia and cricket crowds from all over the world.

Forum: NEWSMAKERS

Alston Koch storms the charts with Murali Song

asiamusic — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:07:45 GMT

Australian music legend Alston Koch is storming the charts with a song on Muttiah Muralitharan, world champion bowler.

Please see the World Music Central article:

WORLDWIDE INTEREST IN ALSTON KOCH'S MURALI SONG

Australian singing legend Alston Koch who was born in Sri Lanka has attracted worldwide interest with his tribute song to the world's greatest bowler in the history of cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan. 'Murali' is now the world's leading wicket taker, he swept past Australian spin bowler Shane Warne's record recently when Sri Lanka played England in a 3 test match series on the island.

In London, Muttiah Muralitharan received a standing ovation when his name was mentioned at the 'We, Children of the Pearl' cultural show held at Imperial College on 15th December 2007. Murali was hailed as a wonderful example of diversity in action in Sri Lanka.

Alston Koch has recorded the only tribute song officially endorsed by Murali himself.Alston told World Music Central that he has also released a music video to go with his 'Murali' song. It has been played by radio and TV stations in three continents and been even mentioned on the BBC's 'Test Match Special.'

He is the only Sri Lankan-born singer song-writer to be signed to an international record label and have success in Australia, Asia and Europe with Platinum & Gold record status.

Acclaimed as Asia's King of Pop in the late 70's when his hit song 'Disco lady' stood on the top of the charts for more than 8 weeks in three continents, he was also commissioned to write and perform the album for the America's Cup by the Australian syndicate 'THE KOOKABURRAS' who defended the cup for Australia.

Alston Koch's profile with a string of hits is on You Tube: www.youtube.com/alstonkoch.

The song .'Murali', already acclaimed by music critics as a classic, is being launched with the support of cricket website Cricinfo, the online home of cricket, and the Murali CD can be purchased for $6 dollars via Sri Lanka Cricket's official online shop - http://www.srilankacricketshop.com.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of the CD and DVD will be donated to the 'Foundation of Goodness', a Sri Lankan Charity run by Kushil Gunesekera, Muralitharan's manager and other Sri Lankan cricketers such as the legendary bowler Chaminda Vaas.

The song was recorded in Melbourne, Australia and produced by Jarrod Gilson who believes it is one of the best tribute songs written and remarks that he now understands why triple Grammy award winner Alicia Keys introduced the singer Alston Koch to the World at a recent MTV awards ceremony as 'a legend and a superstar' as he is a dedicated and disciplined perfectionist.

The song 'Murali' has three versions and one is an authentic Australasian Dance Mix, featuring some of the best Aboriginal didgeridoo players and musical instruments and ancient tribal chants from India to Afghanistan...Sri Lanka to Australia and cricket crowds from all over the world.

World Music Central readers can see Alston Koch's stunning tribute to World Champion Bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan by accessing his website: http://www.alstonkoch.com.

http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20071227150012690

Forum: NEWSMAKERS

Gresha Schuilling releases UK Christmas Single

asiamusic — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:57:29 GMT

Sri Lanka's rising star, Gresha Schuilling, has created music history by being the first singer from the island to release a Christmas single in London.

Gresha Schuilling is Sri Lanka's latest singing sensation, she is a young musician with a powerful voice. She has recorded a Christmas single, 'Cold Cold Night,' composed by the award winning Sri Lanka born singer/song writer Nimal Mendis and his son Paul Marie Mendis. The single 'Cold Cold Night' is being promoted by MediaEye Music in London via the internet but people around the world could also order the CD Single from Media Eye Records in London.

Gresha was born in in Colombo on May 15, 1983. Both sides of the Schuilling family are very musical. She spent her childhood in Saudi Arabia where her father worked for the Inter-Continental chain of hotels. Gresha was educated at the Continental School in Jeddah. The school was very good at harnessing talent and Gresha excelled in music.

She said: 'We also had an extremely talented band called Impact which we formed when we were 14.We bagged the award for best band at our annual Battle of Band competition both of the years that we performed and also for best singers Katy Parry and Gresha Schuilling.'

When the family moved back to Sri Lanka, Gresha was drawn to the music scene. She had completed her GCE 'Advanced Levels' in Colombo and she decided to pursue her interest in popular music.

Gresha noted: 'Musically, I am inspired by all types from baroque to grunge, from the koto to the distorted guitar and from the Ink Spots to Shaun Kingston.'

Gresha is now recording an album in Colombo, due to be released in 2008. She has recorded a Sinhala film classic 'Ganga Addara,' also composed by Nimal Mendis. The original song was sung by the Sri Lankan cinema icon, the late actor Vijaya Kumaratunga - he made it a number one hit in Sri Lanka. Gresha has her own style with the song and she is poised to release it in Sri Lanka.

She is also reaching out to the socially excluded in her island home. Gresha Schuilling has been appointed an 'Ambassador for Autism' in Sri Lanka by the Autism Awareness Campaign UK and Sri Lanka. She is determined to make a difference to the lives of children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome in Sri Lanka.

Gresha said on autism, Autistic is the adjective of a development disorder of the brain, NOT a definition of who a person is! Educate yourselves and others on this disorder more common that Down Syndrome or cystic fibrosis. It is 4 times more common in boys than in girls and is said to be as common as one in every 250 children born in recent years. It is our duty as people who have been given the talent and opportunity to do everything we can to increase awareness of Autism. Ignorance in this case is as far from bliss as it can get.

She has the potential to become a huge international star and one hopes that an international record label will open the door to Gresha Schuilling to introduce her to a wider international audience.

Her 'Cold Cold Night' Christmas single has been released in London and is available for download for only 49 pence via the MediaEye Music website: www.mediaeyeproductions.com/gresha.html

The CD can be ordered for 1.99 plus postage from MediaEye Music: songsign29@yahoo.co.uk or by telephone in the UK: +44(0)1895253192

This article is from the highly influential World Music Central Website: http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20071117184314243

Forum: NEWSMAKERS

Gresha Schuilling's 'Cold Cold Night' on YouTube

asiamusic — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:49:13 GMT

GRESHA SCHUILLING HITS THE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

GRESHA SCHUILLING'S COLD COLD NIGHT ON YOU TUBE

Sri Lankan star, 24 year old Gresha Schuilling has just released her UK Christmas hit, 'Cold Cold Night' on YouTube. The BBC said that Gresha Schuilling is attempting Christmas Number One on the BBC Music website.

Gresha's Christmas hit was released by Media Eye Music in London. 'Cold Cold Night' was composed by the distinguished Sri Lanka born singer/songwriter Nimal Mendis and his son, Paul Marie Mendis. The Christmas song has had huge exposure around the world and independent radio stations have also played it on the internet.

The song was also featured at a diplomatic event - The Christmas Carol Service at the Sri Lanka High Commission, based at Hyde Park Gardens in Central London. Nimal Mendis spoke to the gathering about the song, he also sang the Sinhala version, 'Seetha Cecil Rei' at the Carol Service.

Gresha Schuilling was appointed Sri Lanka's first ever 'Ambassador for Autism' by the Autism Awareness Campaign UK and Sri Lanka. She is currently starring in an Indian teledrama currently being filmed in Sri Lanka. She is scheduled to release her debut album in Colombo in early 2008.

To watch Gresha Schuilling on youtube go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6wXhXR9bnk.

For further information on Gresha Schuilling: visit www.mediaeyeproductions.com/gresha.html.

The article from the highly influential World Music Central website:
http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/gresha_schuilling_cold_cold_night

Forum: NEWSMAKERS

Looking for a Van Cuylenberg

MaryJane — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:00:41 GMT

Can anyone help with information on a Clarice Edina Van Cuylenberg who apparently married a Graham Colling Ward (or could be Collingwood) Brohier. It is thought by the person who gave me this info that G C Brohier was the son of a Nicomed Brohier.

Please and Thank you,
MaryJane.

Forum: GENEALOGIES

Reimers & Raffel Families

Robin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:53:56 GMT

I would greatly appreciate any contact with persons related to the above families either through birth or marraige.I am especially keen to hear from people whose family details are not part of the Genealogies published in the DBU Journals i.e people born after 1940s

Looking forward to hearing from you

Forum: GENEALOGIES

Looking for Ancestor

MaryJane — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:15:00 GMT

I have a *Cornelia Elizabeth Koch born about 1768 who married a Daniel Anthony Bartholomeusz born about 1765. (He was the son of Daniel Bartholomeusz and Helen Darius) They married 11 Jan 1802 at Jaffna. I have no Koch family who have a daughter named *C E Koch and no parents for the same lady. Does anyone have the parents for Cornelia Elizabeth Koch please and thank you.
MaryJane.

Forum: GENEALOGIES

About Time- Congratulations

CeylonDatabase — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:41:09 GMT

Congratulations on the long awaited site, its important to preserve these Journals for History and it was originally Victor Melder whom provided me with all the Journals as the DBU at the time, provided unfortunately no help. The Journals provide a great starting point though it must be warned have a lot of errors or ommissions. It was this discovery that started the next phase of the great work started by creating the International Ceylon Database in order to correct, update and include other families not reflected in the Original DBU listings. The long-term gift to all those of connection to (Ceylon)Sri Lanka is that the major libraries acorss the world will have the most accurate and complete genealogies that have been able to be gathered. If there is any assistance we can provide let us know.

http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/ceylondatabase/genealogy.html
kjoustra@bigpond.net.au

Forum: CONTEMPORARY

Susan Bartels

fazli — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:00:41 GMT

Anyone having the contact email address of Susan Bartels, sister of Russel, who used to live down Dhammarama Road, opposite the Savoy Cinbema at Wellawatte, and who should now be around her late fifties, please send it to me. Susan married one of the Jayasekera brothers of St. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia and has since moved to the UK as I am told.

Forum: FRIEND FINDER

Rosanna Helena Huntingford

fazli — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:07:17 GMT

Eulogy - by E Lorensz Pereira (Lollo)

Rosanna Helena Huntingford

Born to Eternal Life 20th October 2006

St. Leonards Church
349 Springvale Road
Glen Waverley 3150
Victoria Australia

I am finding it almost impossible to comprehend as to why I am standing here to deliver this Eulogy at Rosannas funeral. That certainly was never intended to be the script.

]She had all the credentials for a long, healthy and contented life. She had the right genes. Her Mother, Madeleine is a well preserved 80 something and Rosannas elegant, stately Italian Grandmother, Gungi, lived actively on a remote coconut plantation in Sri Lanka to a ripe old age. But so very, very sadly that has turned out to be not the case.

She had a very short illness suffering from that horrendous disease, lung cancer. Not once during this brief illness and certainly not during her last 48 hours did she ever greet anyone without that sweet charming smile which she maintained right throughout the conversation. This in spite of enormous difficulties in her breathing.

I understand that she passed away with that sweet smile still on her face. One could not wish for or pray for a more beautiful and peaceful departure. We thank the Lord for that very special blessing.

Rosanna had a fettishness about paying bills. She was a Creditors delight. Here she was lying in her bed, fully aware that she was dying, yet the first thing she always asked me was wether there had been any more bills that day. She drove our Daughter Anneliese crazy about paying these bills immediately. In fact Anneliese was severely admonished, just the day before Rosanna passed away, for failing to do so, on one occasion. Rosanna, will you please find some time from having fun up there, to step into my home one day and sort out the mess of my many unopened bills scattered all over the place.

Those who came in contact with Rosanna will ever remember her lovingly, as a beautiful person in every sense of the word. She was vivacious, possessing that fantastic and infectious smile that instantly disarmed anyone. She was extremely youthful looking and attractive, as you would have gleaned from the presentation on the screen. She was the Belle of Colombo. Soon after leaving school she worked as a Dental Assistant. The clinic attracted a flood of young guys, feigning unimaginable dental problems, just to be able to see her at close quarters.

I vividly remember attending a function with her in Colombo in our early thirties. This lovely little girl came up to Rosanna, pointed her finger at me and asked her Aunty is that man your father? It took me a long time to live that down.

As most of you would know, Rosanna and I have been divorced for about 20 years. But let me tell you that period of her brief illness and more particularly her passing away has effected me badly. I have never experienced such emotional distress before. Possibly, unconsciously, helping to share the grieving with our three children.

At moments like this ones past is so spontaneously thrust before you. I would like to briefly allude to a few snippets from that past to give you a far better idea of the woman that Rosanna was. Importantly, it will provide our children Robin, Anneliese and Marc of some unique insights about their Mother that they never knew.

But, before I do so I would like to sincerely thank all those who have so very kindly helped me through this very trying period.

My three children Robin, Anneliese and Marc and their spouses, Robert, Katarina and Lilly. My partner, the amazing Grace, my brother Alan and wife Margot, Rosannas sister Meropi and husband Ratna, my work colleagues, particularly Watto who rang me a number of times on the day of Rosannas death and all my other dear pals. Thank you so much for propping me up. I never knew that sincere, warm, caring words and tender, loving hugs can provide so much relief and comfort.

As some of you would know, Rosanna built her home immediately abutting my home, to the rear, and lived there for the past 15 years. We became even greater pals with a focus on the children and grandchildren. This rare phenomenon of family unity involving the 2 ex spouses, Grace and our children and grandchildren was a blessing that we all valued, nurtured and thoroughly enjoyed.

I well recall the day she moved in. Late that evening I was in the shower when there was this aggressive, somewhat hostile, banging on my front door. Hastily, I wrapped myself in a towel and cautiously opened the door to find Rosanna. Before I could mutter a word, she said I saw you from my bedroom. You were stark naked. You ought to do something about this. I most certainly did! I built a trellis over my back fence the very next day. I cared for my front door.

R
osanna loved her grandchildren. With the pet being Lachlan, as he was the eldest. Lachlan spent most of his school holidays at his Grandmas. Lachlan used to prepare an extensive and exhausting agenda for each holiday stay. It usually consisted of movies, visiting the video parlour, lunch somewhere and playtime at the park, all this all in the one day.

The program was so intensive that Rosanna obtained well needed respite by sleeping through each movie, to be woken by Lachlan to begin the next agenda item. Spencer was the other beneficiary being taken for regular play with Grandma at Lollipops. They will both miss her dearly. I had the gut wrenching task on Sunday, with Anneliese, of picking up 3 trolley loads of Christmas gifts for Rosannas grandchildren that she had put on lay-by. It was so very sad indeed.

Rosanna and I met when we were both 15 years old. So we have known each other in various capacities for over 50 years. Now I will be severely reprimanded by her for disclosing her age. She remained 50 for the last 15 years or so. She certainly looked it.

I was cycling one afternoon in Colombo for tennis, when I heard this distant clapping. I turned and saw this most beautiful, young, tall and slim girl with long hair and a fair complexion. I didnt take any particular notice as girls were an alien race to us boys at this time.

On my return home, I again heard this clapping. This time, much louder and closer, it was her again. I looked into her eyes and knew at once, that she was beckoning me. I panicked and hastened to cycle faster, but to no avail. She had literally jumped in front of my bike.

Therein, began a magnificent lifes journey for both of us, that subsequently spawned two distinct families, ours and Rosannas sisters who married my best mate and my rugby captain at school, Ratna. So, Robin, Anneliese, Marc and Dinesh, that was your beginning all Rosannas doing. It was a classic case of the woman choosing the man who then chose her. Hereafter, every time I hear the sound of clapping, I will be thinking of her and how she hijacked me and put me on the road, that mattered, to a great and satisfying life. Many thanks, Rosanna.

Our marriage and wedding was out of a John Cleese movie. Rosanna had to make a choice of migrating to Australia with her family or staying back and marrying me. I was just out of school, no proper qualifications, no job and no prospects for the future. Yet, she decided to marry me. At the church wedding, here she was walking down the aisle, when my best man Rupert, he is here today, turned to me and asked for the ring. A desperate search occurred. I had left the ring at home. We looked around and someone produced something that looked like a ring. I will never forget the look on the priests face, when Rupert handed him that strange contraption.

Finally, a very personal and painful confession. I need to say this for Rosanna and for the sake of her children. I have lived with this guilt, this pain, this enormous hurt that I had caused her some 40 years ago. It has tormented me from time to time.

It arose when I left to further my education in the UK. Rosanna and Robin were left behind. We didnt see each other for almost 3 years. Whilst I was living an indulgent lifestyle, Rosanna and Robin struggled through life, more or less on their own, on a very limited budget. Last Wednesday, 2 days before Rosanna passed away; we had a quiet moment to ourselves. I began to apologise for the enormous hurt I had caused her and Robin. She cut me short, kept smiling, shrugged her shoulders and ever so gently whispered, its ok.

That was typical of Rosanna, - no grudges, no malice, no hatred. I then asked her, why she had waited so long for me. There was no hesitation in her reply. She said Because I loved you very much and because I wanted Robin to grow up with his dad. Such magnificent touching words that will echo in me for a lifetime.

Rosanna, my eternal gratitude to you for your unmeasurable contribution in every possible way to our lives, and for the legacy that you have left me in Robin, Anneliese and Marc my dearest and best pals.

By the way, just a quick reminder about sorting out my bills.

With Much Love - Your Ex

LORENZ
26th October 2006

"May she rest in Peace"

Forum: NEWSMAKERS

Brian Kriekenbeek

fazli — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:05:20 GMT

Forgotten Campaigns, forgotten Veterans

Brian Randall Kriekenbeek

Extracted from an article by Sergei de Silva - Sunday Times Nov 5 2006

Now an elderly gentlemen of 83, 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. Brians 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 units 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 Mans 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 Divisions 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, Brians 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 didnt like that I was an officer, didnt 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.

Forum: NEWSMAKERS