A sample biography

Major Ceada Felix Fernando MBE

He was born on 26.02.1913 in Negombo, Ceylon and was the son of Bonevencha and Harriet Fernando. He was educated at St. Benedict's, De Lasalle and Maristela Colleges. On 20.5.1940 he married Constance La Brooy in Colombo and he is the father of three children (Marlene, Dawn and Russell). He enlisted as a gunner with the CGA on 24.4.1934 and was given the Regimental number 36. He was mobilised for War Service on 3.9.1939 and his promotions in the CGA were as follows:
L/Bdr. 21.12.1939; L/Sgt. 22.11.1940; BQMS 03.12.1942; BSM 11.07.1943. On 10.12.1943 he was commissioned as a 2/Lt. in the CGA with the personal number 778 and was promoted to Lieut on 10.6.1945 (3rd Searchlight and Light Anti-Aircraft Regt. CGA). Among his wartime postings were Colombo (03.07.1939), Diyatalawa (01.05.1940) and Trincomalee (07.07.1940). He had followed the Officers AA (Anti Aircraft) Course (25.02.1944) and the Regimental D & M (Drivers and Mechanics) Course (09.04.1945). He was de-mobilised after the end of hostilities on 27.05.1946 and was awarded the EM [Ceylon] with the 1st clasp on 20.08.1948. On 01.05.1951, he obtained a commission in the newly formed Army of the post-independent Ceylon as a Lieut (QM) in the Ceylon Artillery, followed by promotions to Captain (22.10.1954) and Major (22.10.1960).

He held the appointments of District Officer (22.10.1954), Recruiting Officer (01.05.1957) and Adjutant 2(V) LAA Regt. Ceylon Artillery (10.10.1954) and took part in Anti-illicit Immigration and Anti-Terrorist duties. On 26.02.1968 he retired from the Army with the rank of Major and was transferred to the Reserve. He had been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Military Division, on 09.06.1955 and the insignia was presented to him by the Governor General at a ceremony held at the Queen's House in Colombo. His other medals include the Defence Medal and War Medal (1939-45), Coronation Medal 1953, EM [Ceylon] with 1st clasp and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal. Major Ceada Felix Fernando MBE now resides in Australia.