Kanchana Senerat Kadigawe

Kanchana Senerat Kadigawe
Nickname(s) Raja, Kadee
Born 1921
Wanni, Ceylon
Died 2008
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Allegiance Sri Lanka Ceylon
 United Kingdom
Service/branch (Scottish) 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade
Years of service 1941-46
Rank Private 267305
Unit 5th Battalion, C company
Battles/wars World War II, Greece, Italy, Southern France, Greek Civil War
Awards Mentioned in Dispatches

Kanchana Senarat Kadigawa was a Sri Lankan police officer who served as a Paratrooper in the British Army in World War 2 and was mentioned in dispatches.

Early life

Kadigawe was born in 1921 at Kadigawa Walawwa situated in the hamlet of Kadigawa in the Wanni and was known as Rajah by his family. Kadigawe was a descendant of the Adigar of Nikeweratiya.[1][2] He was educated at Ananda College Colombo where he was on the boxing team and cadet corps.[3][4]

Career as a paratrooper

Kadigawe joined the British army and was assigned to the Royal Army Service Corps. On arrival in the Middle East he volunteered and was accepted to join the Parachute Regiment (as it later became known) and was assigned to the 5th Battalion (Scottish) 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade, the only Asian in that service at the time.[5][6]

Anecdotal accounts reported in the Sri Lankan press suggest that he saw action in the Mediterranean Theatre in Greece and Italy September 1943 (where the Paras operated as line infantry) and jumped into Southern France in August 1944. He also served during the Athens occupation force in the winter of 1944-45.[7][8]

Honours

He was mentioned in dispatches for services in the South of France.[9][10]

Later career

On demobilisation he was recruited to the Ceylon Police as a Sub Inspector by Sir Richard Aluwihare rising to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police and serving on the personal protection detail for the Prime Minister.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Our Valiant World War 11 RAF Paratrooper Late SSP. K. S Kadigawe (Raja)By Ananda Pilimatalavuva". Island. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  2. ↑ "Tracing my Roots by Sharm de Alwis". The Sunday Island online. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  3. ↑ "H. S. Kadigawa - World War II Paratrooper by Sharm de Alwis". Island. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  4. ↑ "Tribute to a brave soldier by Sharm de Alwis daily News saturday 23 February 2002". Daily News. 23 February 2002. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  5. ↑ "Pte. Kanchana Senerat Kadigawe MID British Army 5th Btn (Scottish) 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade By Janaka Perera, Asian Tribune Sat, 2008-09-13.". Wartime memories project. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  6. ↑ Times of Ceylon 31 July 1944 Ceylon Man Serving in Mediterranean Theatre as Paratrooper
  7. ↑ "Thread: Senerat-Kadigawe, K.". Special Forces Roll of Honour. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  8. ↑ "D-Day: 60 years after By Esther Williams". Sunday Times. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  9. ↑ "Thread: Senerat-Kadigawe, K.". Special Forces Roll of Honour. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  10. ↑ "The London Gazette K. Senerat-Kadigawe. 5349616 Pte Army air Corps" (PDF). www.london-gazette.co.uk. 4 December 1945. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  11. ↑ "Carlyle Silva Sunday Leader 21 September 2008 Volume 15 no 10". Sunday Leader. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  12. ↑ "Carlyle Silva Appreciation - SSP K. S. Kadigawa". The island. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
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