Page 7 - Inner front

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The uniform was very smart and no doubt the in the shell served there I have not seen
allure for many young men to enlist in the Navy. reproduced, though I have long searched in
vain the world over. The secret surely was
In the early sixties, Officers wore shorts
that there was more crab meat and less
with the working white uniform, as in the Royal
breadcrumbs, and prepared expertly and
Navy, but later in that decade changed to white
deliciously.
longs.
The Ward Room was a place of
The other uniforms were the blues, worn
genteel excellence with its superb location,
on sea duty as on patrol craft, and the dashing
service, company, food and drink and polite
cocktail dress the ‘Red Sea Rig’ with white short
conversation (religion and politics was not
sleeved shirt and black long trouser separated
acceptable).
by a wide black cummerbund.
The plaintive wail of the peacock
Always smartly attired, the Officers
(in a nearby caged compound) was heard
presented well, many in full beards. Apart from
putting a characteristic stamp on this
the appearance, it was accepted that the Navy
exclusive social watering hole in this most
conducted itself in an exemplary fashion as
spectacular of all harbours.
befitting its title in England among the armed
forces as ‘The Senior Service’. The only vehicles on the Dockyard
roads were smart navy-blue service
The force was very much smaller than
vehicles, Jeeps and cars with the number
what it is now, but they seemed to be called
plate beginning with NAV. There were hardly
out first to quell any unrest or emergency in
any civilian vehicles and women drivers
the country as seeing the smart sailors in their
were exceptionally rare, so Lieutenant
gleaming white uniforms brought peace and
Commander Alfred Perera’s wife, ‘Aunty
calm. It was also recognized that the officers
Daphne’ as she was affectionately known
were men of high calibre and honour who, for
by the younger officers, in her grey green
instance, would never abuse Navy vehicles to
Morris Minor, and my Aunt Kanthi, driving
send wives shopping!
her navy-blue Fiat were distinctive and
I perhaps saw them at their best and least familiar sights within the Dockyard.
guarded moments, relaxed in the Ward Room,
My uncle and aunt though protective,
when I enjoyed the good-humoured banter
also gave my brother and I freedom to
in the setting of mutual respect for officers,
explore the Dockyard. So going there for
regardless of seniority – though, of course the
many holidays while schooling at S. Thomas’
senior most officers commanded much respect
we got to know it intimately.
through both rank and more through how they

conducted themselves.
As my brother Lasath and I both
The Ward Room was situated at an had a license to wander and explore, this
elevation with views of the harbour and Crows sometimes led to unexpected excitement.
Island. The food was superb. The Navy cooks My uncle worked in the Engineering
were certainly not into preparing ‘health food’ Department in the ‘Inner Yard’. As security
at the time. The ‘Sunday special’ lunch was in those days was not as strict, I could
memorable and literally to die for with yellow wander back home on foot after dropping
rice, tempered potatoes (ala thel dala), oily him off at work.
fried aubergines, fried fish and a beautiful
spicy chicken curry (yes, with the skin on), DR. DEEPAL LECAMWASAM MD FRCP
pappadums and chutney. (LOND.) FRACP FCCP
Senior Geriatrician
As a special treat, Officers could book
families into the Blue Room. The baked crab Royal Adelaide Hospital
South Australia