Sunday Times 2
A pioneering naval officer who inspired
I had my first glimpse of him when I was yet a Cadet, undergoing training at the Naval and Maritime Academy at Trincomalee. I belonged to the 7th Intake of Officer Cadets recruited to the Sri Lanka Navy in August 1978. Admiral Fernando was the Commanding Officer of SLNS Tissa at the time. Whilst training, we had to go past his office at SLNS Tissa after class room instructions, on the double at least twice a day. This lovable officer would stand at the corridor of his office watching the cadets go past, making a loud noise with the taps on the soles of their boots striking the tarmac. We were headed towards the Cadets’ Mess or rather the ‘Gun Room’.
Admiral Clancy Fernando
The impression which I still remember is of a stocky man smartly attired in naval uniform sporting a well groomed beard. At the time, even in my wildest dreams I did not think that one day I would come directly under his command. The first surprise was when it was my turn for sea training as a Midshipman. I was attached to SLNS Samudra Devi of which he was the Commanding Officer with the rank of Commander. SLNS Samudra Devi was the Navy’s flagship at the time. It is a rare opportunity for a Naval Officer to be in command of the flagship. Probably due to his inspiration, it was my ambition too, to command the Navy’s flagship one day, which became a reality many years later.
Admiral Fernando was always at ease using naval language and instilled naval tradition but was very practical in its adaption. He acquired all these skills as a result of his long years of association with the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, U.K. commencing in the late ’50s. The intensive training I received on board SLNS Samudra Devi under the watchful eyes of Admiral Fernando ensured that I reached the very top of the Midshipman Board, held subsequently. I am grateful to this day, for the training I received under his direction. This gave me the opportunity later on to train at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, U.K. in the early ’80s.
A further surprise awaited me. I was appointed to MV Lanka Kanthi which belonged to the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, a general cargo ship which usually sailed from Sri Lanka to China and the Middle East, carrying rubber and tea. The entire ship was manned by personnel drawn from the Sri Lanka Navy with the exception of the Purser who was from the Corporation. The ship was captained by Admiral Clancy Fernando. We were also fortunate to have Madam Monica Fernando together with her young sons Nishan and Dinukh which ensured a family atmosphere onboard during the long voyage.
There was no sophisticated gadgetry on board MV Lanka Kanthi. For navigational purposes, there were only two ancient radars. One was of World War Two era. GPS was not heard of, at the time. Hence, we had to use celestial navigation with a sextant instead. I was designated as an additional Fourth Officer. Hence, I had to assist the Watch Keeping Officer. I remember Nishan would hang around with me on the bridge most often than not whilst trying to understand the skills of sailing the high seas. Though I possessed theoretical knowledge on the subject of navigation, I had no practical experience. It is during this time, I made my first mistake while the ship was sailing to the Middle East with a full load of cargo on board. It was whilst rounding Bab el-Mandeb light house at the Gulf of Aden that Admiral Fernando took over the navigation and avoided a possible running aground. Hence, we sailed into our first port of call Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Entering the Suez Canal was an experience. A ‘mafia’ operated which demanded various types of ‘presents’ from ships to enter the Canal and unless they were ‘looked after’, a ship would be made to stay at anchor without being joined to a convoy entering the Canal. Those operatives forcibly opened up small sales points, to sell their wares onboard. Admiral Fernando managed these issues diplomatically and we were soon sailing through the Suez into our second port of call Port Said in Egypt.
Admiral Fernando was keen to take his family especially the two young boys to Cairo and show them the Great Pyramids at Giza. I can very well remember how he encouraged all on board to visit Giza to see the remains of one of the greatest civilizations of the world. The distance from our port of call to Cairo was almost 200 km. Nevertheless, he made arrangements and also invited me to join his family possibly since I was the youngest officer on board. This was a memorable visit and I admire the foresight of this father figure in giving me that opportunity.
Our next port of call was the beautiful city of Latakia in Syria. I recall Admiral Fernando relating the history of this ancient city to us young officers on board. He was well versed in world affairs and historical facts. I’m saddened to hear the fate of this wonderful country which is very much in the news today.
Contrary to its usual voyages we were suddenly required to sail all the way to Europe. One of our ancient radars had packed up whilst approaching the Suez Bay. Admiral Fernando was not deterred and continued the voyage having minimum navigational aids on board.
We obtained the requisite navigational charts from Gibraltar our next port of call which is at the extreme Western edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and headed towards Europe. It was at the next stretch, in the Bay of Biscay when rounding off from Portugal and Spain towards Europe, that we encountered the fearsome roaring 40s. These waves were most frightful. The crashing of the mighty waves accompanied by extremely strong wind could be likened to the roar of a lion. Maneuvering the ship under such conditions needed not only great skill but absolute courage and determination. Admiral Clancy Fernando displayed all these qualities proving worthy of the ‘Master Mariner’ Certificate he held from the Board of Trade U.K. We finally entered the North Sea passing the English Channel after an extremely hazardous voyage.
Sailing in the English Channel was an amazing experience. It was flooded with high speed hovercraft, hydrofoils, merchant ships of varying sizes, sailing boats, fishing craft and even seaplanes. Navigating required a high level of skill and Admiral Fernando managed it with ease. We then called in at two wonderful ports in Europe – Hull in U.K. and Hamburg in Germany. I recall Admiral Fernando taking his family to London whilst the ship was at Hull since he wished to familiarize the two boys with another historical city.
A few years after MV Lanka Kanthi, I was posted to the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee as an Instructor and used to partner Admiral Fernando at tennis and squash. We also participated in pistol firing at the Small Arms Range which was designed by him at Sandy Bay.
Admiral Fernando was the pioneer who introduced the small boat operations initially in the Kilali lagoon which metamorphosed into the Special Boat Squadron and the Rapid Action Boat Squadron later on. It was during Operation “Balavegaya” mounted to relieve the siege of Army troops stationed at the Elephant Pass Garrison in the year 1991, that I saw Admiral Fernando in the Navy’s camouflaged uniform which he introduced.
He was a role model to emulate as he had all the qualities that a naval officer and gentleman should possess. It was very unfortunate that we lost such a high calibre naval officer. His untimely death deprived the Sri Lanka Navy of many more firsts.
May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias