Review

They marched to the tune of Wings

At a time Sri Lanka’s military literature mainly comprises the exploits of the armed forces, Kenneth Reeves’ book about the life of a sapper attached to the 1st Field Engineer Regiment, Ceylon Engineers, ‘They marched to the tune of Wings’ is like a breath of fresh air.

The story unfolds from September 26, 1958, the day the then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was assassinated, on which date the new recruit Winston Hills hailing from Matale, faced his recruiting test, that was to change his life, permanently.

The book, written in the witty, earthy, no-nonsense language of a military man accustomed to action rather than words, gives an insight into the Army of the bygone halcyon era, an era of peace that shows every sign of returning in the not-so-distant future, thanks to the endeavours of the armed forces facing the final victory over brutal terrorism in the North.

The aouthor presents the book to General Dennis Perera

This book has everything that should be in a good, satisfying read “adventure, humour, romance, the grandeur of bygone eras and civilizations, and is written in simple English with an uninterrupted flow.

The writer’s descriptions of the protagonist Winston’s estate at Matale, and hunting and village folklore, gives the reader an indelible impression that the writer, Kenneth Reeves, had experienced what he narrates so vividly that pictures form before the eyes of the reader of the events described in the book.

Wings, offers rare insights to the sociologist that delves into the end of the Colonial Era of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), to the early days of an independent Sri Lanka, when the words terrorism, territorial integrity and human shield were unheard of.

The military escapades and other matters described in this book, deals with a wide variety of subjects, even going in so as to describe the various village customs, superstitions and venomous and non-venomous snakes of Sri Lanka .

As I remarked earlier also, a good, satisfying read, They marched to the tune of Wings is a must read book for any one interested in Sri Lanka . I would like to conclude this review with a paragraph from Wings that is ageless and eminently suitable to this day and age:

Every nation, should be governed and ruled according to the wishes of its people, and no nation or group of nations should be allowed to govern or interfere in another on whatever pretext.

Right through history, powerful nations have interfered with weaker ones on the flimsiest of reasons and imposed their will to their own benefit. This can be repelled, if the entire nation unites to fight back tooth and nail, however small they are.

- Jayasri Jayakody