Salute to Major General Percy Fernando
Tiger Killer
Major General Percy Fernando
Several tributes have already appeared in the newspapers for the late
Major General Percy Fernando, who was killed in action at Elephant
Pass. My memories of Percy ("PP" to some of his friends) spring mostly
from having had him as my rowing captain at the Royal College.
When I commenced rowing practices in 1970 Percy was already a
coloursman, and a member of the team which had, for the third
successive year, annexed the T. Noel Fernando Trophy for overall
winners at the Royal-Thomian Regatta in 1969.
0While Royal were to emerge victorious in 1970 as well, the following
mention of Percy appears in the Royal College Magazine of that year (p.
162): "....the titbit of the day, in the falling light of the evening,
was when our ‘B’ string sculler Percy Fernando... with his smooth style
pulled off an amazing and unexpected victory over the Thomian captain,
who had tactically dropped down to the ‘B’ string." The rowing legend
that was Percy had been born.
Percy’s individual feats were many: According to the RC Magazine of
1971-72, Percy became the first schoolboy to win both the Gordon
Armstrong and Wardrop Trophies for sculling in the same year. He was
also the first schoolboy to win the Senior Sculls over one mile at the
National Rowing Championships, and had won his Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
colours in 1971. But he was above all a leader. After tasting the
sweetness of victory at the Royal-Thomian in 1970, 1971 was to prove
galling as the Royalists, captained by Percy lost the Senior Fours (and
consequently the overall regatta) to the Thomians "... during the last
few seconds by the mere margin of half-a-canvas, after leading most of
the way." (RC Magazine 1971-72). Re-appointed captain in 1972 (the sole
coloursman), Percy dedicated himself to building up quality Royal
crews, superior in both style and strength. He was a disciplinarian who
led by example.
The regimen of exercise, weights and running - apart from the rigours
of rowing - (supplemented by nutritious intakes
of "Maltova", "Casilan", etc.!) increased the stamina and fitness of
the boys. The particular activities that come to mind, almost
nostalgically (!), are windsprints, and that of running round the
College grounds with a tire tied to one’s waist! Pre-regatta
predictions in 1972 favoured the Thomians, especially their ‘B’ crew
who were relatively well- built and had (at least) the brawn. Thus when
the Royal ‘B’ crew beat their Thomian counterparts in a thrilling,
record-breaking finish, the grim set of Percy’s face relaxed; it was
not only a sweet elixir, but also a challenge for the ‘A’ crew in the
Royal-Thomian Boat Race that was to follow. Percy and "his boys" went
on to win it and the overall Regatta by 32 points to 8.
Leadership came naturally to Percy. He was tall and broad-shouldered,
and walked straight. Possessed with rugged good-looking features, he
had penetrative eyes which bored into one. Truant schoolboys squirmed
before Percy the Prefect. Within the rowing team, he addressed everyone
by their surnames, even his classmates! That was his style; the slight
aloofness it engendered helped him maintain his command. But when he
relaxed, he was part of the crowd, with his loud, carefree and
infectious laugh He led the way in singing "Back to Royal, happy land
happy land, I’ll buy my ticket back if I can!"
In later years what we heard of Percy’s life with the commandos
confirmed the qualities he had displayed in his school days. A chance
meeting he had with my brother showed his thoughtful humane side. The
latter, resident abroad, had come over to Sri Lanka for a brief visit.
On bumping into Percy, they had a great reunion, and in the chat that
followed, Percy had shared his experiences in the Eastern Province.
Unlike some of his predecessors, he ensured that his men treated
civilians with respect. This paid dividends in the way of intelligence
about the enemy. I consequently met Percy briefly when he was in charge
of airport security at Katunayake. His only laconic comment was about
my receding hairline!
The schoolboy memories of Percy will ever remain fresh. Those of us who
were nurtured at the Colombo Rowing Club will see in our mind’s eye
Percy smoothly and effortlessly setting his scull racing on the Beira
waters. And I have no doubt that in his final race in this life as he
crossed the finish line into that Valhalla of the good and righteous;
in an echo of human voices on countless golden evenings past, the
Eternal Coxswain would have called out, albeit in hushed tones, "Easy
oar, Percy; easy oar".
C.R.A.
--
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Me Sinhala Apage Ratai, Api Ipadhila Merana Ratai
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Before you buy.
arun
WHO SPECIALIZE IN MARATHAN RACE !
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TigerKiller
<arun_eela...@email.com.invalid> wrote:
>EVEN OUR ENTRY LEVEL FIGHTERS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN YOUR GENERALS
>WHO SPECIALIZE IN MARATHAN RACE !
>
You are very proud to send babies to cross our MineField and
get killed like a rats, what a pathetic sakkiliyan .....
Our kids goto school, we feed them and keep safer, instead of
sending to WAR front, you are a real scary Thalathel sakkiliyan
who ran away from Srilanka to save your faggy arse.
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
007
What is your problem?
Why are you writing under two names?
No body supports you? You ask questions and answer by yourself?
I think this is a sign that Tamils are not buying your stories!
Paatukaran <paatu...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ym0W4.57656$nB3.2...@news1.rdc2.on.home.com...
> "Our kids goto school, we feed them and keep safer."
>
> So, why is the Sri Lankan government invading the schools with their
> propoganda and such to join the army?
>
> Paatukaran
>
>
> TigerKiller <tigerkill...@buddhist.com.invalid> wrote in message
> news:09290e65...@usw-ex0104-028.remarq.com...