World War II | Veteran Captain C.K. Pathy
Captain C.K. Pathy (Chelliah Kanagasabapathy) from Uduvil, a village in northern Sri Lanka, served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) as a pilot during WWII. World War II. Veteran Captain C.K. Pathy sadly passed away at the age of 102.
Chelliah Kangasabapathy was in the 2nd Batch of RAF Volunteers from Ceylon. His Service number was 1399887. He was known as C K Pathy in the Royal Air Force. However, he was NOT the first Ceylon Tamil to serve in the RAF. There was one Tamil in the 1st Batch, Ponniah Balachandran Service number 1397053 who continued to serve in the RAF after the war and obtained the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
There were several other Tamils in the 2nd Batch. Veluppillai Saravanapavan (1399706) who went as V.Sara; Seva Suriyapillai Sinniah (1800190) who was killed in a flying accident; Sithamparapillai Thirunavukarasu (1399714) who went as S.Thiru; and Daniel Selvarajah Navaratnam (1800432).
There were other Tamils (and Sinhalese) that had joined the RAF on their own. Some of the Tamils are: 1380975 Ganesveran (Gnani) Nadaraja, a Pilot Officer, killed in action, 4th June 1942 and Flight Sergeant Kadir Kamn NAGALINGAM (Service Number 1378626) who was KIA 15/10/1944 at age 48, which was considered very old for RAF Aircrew.
Note By: Charles Manohara Ameresekere
