Ex- Services News

Religious and civic activities

Sri Lanka Army Service Corps Ex-Servicemen’s Association will treat the members of the Bolagala Veterans Home with lunch on June 30. This will be held with the participation of Brigadier M.R.U Bandarathilake, President and the Committee Members of the Association.

Vijayabahu Infantry Association visits North

The members of the Vijayabahu Infantry Ex-Servicemen’s Association and their families visited the North for three days from June 2 to 5. Transport, board and lodging were provided free of charge.

They visited Nagadeepa Vihara and viewed special places of interest in Mullaitivu and Jaffna. The visitors were accommodated at the various camps and were entertained by the Band of the Ayiakachchi Camp.

Ex-Air Force Logistics Association AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Ex- Air Force Logistics Association will be held on July 1 at 10 am at the Sri Lanka Ex- Servicemen’s Institute, Bristol Street, Colombo 1. All members and non members (all ranks and all trades under the Directorate of Logistics Branch) are invited.

Further details can be obtained from A S K Senevirathne, Secretary on 0112888919 or 0718044841.

Archives and War Graves Committee

P Katugahage (Chairman), M Amaradasa, Col. H G W Pathmasiri, Jayantha Premadasa, A Pathmasiri, R W Lenora, Ananda Jayasekera, H G P Jayasekera.

Career Guidance Committee

Cdr. H L A R Pinto (Chairman), Major Sisira Godamunne, Capt. T B Weerakoon, Lt. Priyanganai Jayasundara, M S Wijesinghe, M P Warskoon, H D Kularatne.

Membership Evaluation Committee

Rear Admiral J Jayasooriya (Chairman), Lt. Col D S C Ganegoda, Rear Admiral S R Samaratunga, AVM Elmo Perera, Major K S Jayaratne, S S Gunawardena, Ananda Jayasekera, Capt. M K S S Sumanasena, S Lt. W N K de Alwis, Lt. A R Karunaratne, G L L Rathnaweera, W A Hemachandra.

Library Project Committee

Captain J Sisira Bandara (Chairman), Lt. Cdr. S Sudasinghe, M H M Mulafer, Jayantha Premadasa, D A Wanigasooriya, R L Bandurathne, L J P Gunawardena.

Medical Grants Committee

Maj Gen K D P Perera (Chairman), Lt. Col. W Wimaladasa, Surg.dt.Cdr. K.D.P.Jayathilake, Lt. Cdr. R M Piyasenabanda, V G Francis, W A R Perera, R L Banduratne, H Jayasinghe, B A Ranjith Gamini.

Membership Welfare Committee

Col. Faiz-ur-rahman (Chairman), Major M A Jayarathne, Lt. Cdr. M D R S Peiris, R Gamage, S C Nagasinghe, P K Premadasa, B A R Gamini, F J Wijeratne, K W D Nimalsiri, D Walisundara.

Memoirs of a war veteran

He was to travel in the Moscow – Berlin express on a fine evening in May to the end of the line. Vladimir Abyzov was his name and this was the third time that he was leaving Moscow by train from Byelorussia to the war front.

Late one cold evening in December 1944, the train was delayed, Abyzov and the others were not allowed to get in but was held by officers who were wearing red bands on their arms and were asked to get in to a building nearby. But it was packed with men in gray coats and they could not get in.

There was a rumour that De Gaulle was arriving which seemed incredible, but it was true. Shortly, a band started playing on the platform and more and more in Astrakhan hats worn by Colonels and Generals known as “Papakhas” were arriving.

Abyzov and the others were standing behind the railing watching the train which was approaching.

Even though the platform the Byelorussian station was poorly lit, De gaulle who was a tall man could be easily be spotted and was walking with the cheers of the crowd. Later Abyzov and others got in to the train and was Scampering for a good seat.

Autumn 1945 was the second time Abyzov left the Byelorussia Station to return to Germany after a short leave, when again the station was packed. They were traveling in an unheated carriage nibbling on the ration rusks given to them, were in high spirits because they were going to finish their service and return home for good and not to fight the war.

The third time he left the Byelorussia Station was in spring, a warm and quiet day and was hopeful of the joyful days at the end of the last war. There was a man who had come to see a friend off, carrying a twig of cherry blossom. The conductors were very courteous and said that they will check the tickets when the train starts moving. The route was well remembered by those who survived the war and the heavy bloodshed of battles

The train was passing Moyhaisk, a modest Suburban town and Abyzov was reminded that in 1941 the Nazis were establishing their new order which is associated with Zoia Kosmodemyanskaya a youthful patriot guerilla fighter who went to the gallows crying out to her enemies, “you are hanging me, but I am not the only fighter. There are two hundred million others. You can’t hang all of us!”

The places around Moscow are memorable because the Soviet army routed the invaders and prevented them from capturing the Russian capital, Moscow. Traveling farther they passed Smolensk and all Russian cities which have won many battles and in the early 17th century fought bravely to repel the invasion of the Polish Gentry.