Ex- SERVICES NEWS

Naval Families Get-together

The families get-together of the Sri Lanka Naval Association was held on a grand scale at the Naval Base Welisara on December 16.

Many events were organised by the committee to foster inter-action among Naval families.

Prizes were distributed among the winners of the events. A colourful cultural performance was provided by the Naval cultural dancing troop and music was provided by the Navy Band.

Ex-Airmen get-together

The Sri Lanka Ex-Air Force Association held its annual get-together on December 16 at the sports ground of the Air Base, Katunayake.

The programme commenced with the lighting of the oil lamp by Chief Guest Air Chief Marshal A W Fernando.

The events of the day included a spectacular air dog show and a colourful drill display performed by air women of the Air Force regiment.

The arrival of Santa Claus was appreciated by children. A cultural dance was performed by the Air Force dancing troop.

Well - known singers participated to the backing of the Air Force Blue Eagle Band which also provided music for the show.

Base Commander Air Commodore D L E Dias, Air Commodore J S I Wijemanna Director Administrtion Gp Captain and W M M M V Werellagama Air Force representative also attended.

Vocational Training Course for Ex-Army Navy and Air Force personnel

The Sri Lanka Army Engineer Services Association organised a vocational training course at 208c, High level Road Kandalanda, Homagama for the following courses: Industrial electrician - 12 months, aluminium fabricator – six months and carpenter (building) – six months.

These courses are for the benefit of services personnel who have retired and also for those who are on the verge of retirement and are intended to rehabilitate the retiring service personnel to be of fruitful service to the country.

The interviews for 2013 will be held on January 7 and 8 between 9am to 3pm at the above address. Inquiries may be made from Officer - in - charge on 0776452360 or Major M A Jayaratne on 077 3484295.

Memoirs of a War Veteran Fighting in Berlin

Medvedev ashed whether anyone had “a drop” of Schnapps (Brandy) but Abyzov did not keep that kind of supplies, so he could not help him. However another soldier handed a flask to Medvedev saying “not all of it, mind.”

Medvedev tilted his head and took a swig and then another. His adam's apple could he seen moving up and down.

He held the flask to his ear and shook it to check how much was left, but he did not drink anymore and returned the flask to its owner.

“Thank you friend,” he said.

The sound of shell bursts and machine gun fire reached them through the thick walls of the cellar.

“We will have no rest,” someone remarked. Medvedev got up and looked around for a place to lie down.

“Vasya come over here,” Abyzov called out. He came and threw his quilted jacket off and sat down next to him (Abyzov) and leaning against the wall closed his eyes like a tired man.

“What is the matter, aren't you well?” asked Abyzov.

He did not reply.

Yurka the musician was still smiling as he wrote his protest. Abyzov was thinking of writing home after they forced their way to Berlin, His dad, who was gray haired and balding at the temples was a man of few words and hardly displayed an emotion, would be happy to hear from his son fighting at Berlin. Suddenly Medvedev said that Zhenka Nyrkov had been killed with a mortar shell right before his eyes.

Abyzov had only heard of Nyrkov who was from another platoon a tall and a fair haired boy.

Abyzov was silent and so was Medvedev. Death hovered around them every minute and it was time, that they got used to it.

Kurbatov, a pock marked middle aged soldier sat next to Yurka the musician.

Kurbatov had a wife and four children near Kursk. He asked Yuri for a pencil to write home as he had not done so far a long time.

Yurka crumpled up the pieces of the paper with his protest saying. “Never mind! What does a few kilometers more or less mean to us now? Sit down uncle and write your letter”.

It seemed that fate was against Abyzov writing to his folks and reconciling himself to that fact he followed Medvedev's example and went to sleep. To be continued ...