Air Commodore Leonard J. Birchall Memorial

2364 Air Commodore Leonard J. Birchall CM, OBE, CFC, OO, CD

In the word of Sir Winston Churchill he will be known as The "Savior of Ceylon" (1915-2004) Le "Sauveur du Ceylan"

An extraordinary leader, a distinguished RMC ex-cadet, RCAF career officer, former commandant of RMC, honourary colonel of 413 Squadron and until his death on September 10th 2004, the Vice-Patron of the RMC Club. On April 4th 1942, then Squadron Leader Birchall was piloting a Catalina flying boat over the Indian Ocean when he sighted and reported an advancing Japanese fleet intent on attacking Ceylon. The Allied Forces response to Birchall's call successfully blunted the force of the attack. However Birchall's Catalina and its crew of eight were shot down and he, along with five survivors, spent the remaining years as Japanese prisoners of war. It was as a senior officer among the POWs that Birchall's true leadership skills came to the forefront as he confronted his captors, often risking his own life in order to preserve the morale, dignity and safety of the lower ranked prisoners of war.