{"id":43710,"date":"2020-04-24T04:28:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T04:28:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=43710"},"modified":"2020-04-24T04:35:19","modified_gmt":"2020-04-24T04:35:19","slug":"vale-eddie-baptist-by-des-kelly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/vale-eddie-baptist-by-des-kelly\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;VALE&#8217; EDDIE BAPTIST&#8221;  &#8211; By Des Kelly"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #f0114c;\">\u00a0 \u00a0&#8220;VALE&#8217; EDDIE BAPTIST&#8221;\u00a0 &#8211; By Des Kelly<\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hhIGIfsLxVk\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">There is not very much more that I could add to the excellent tribute to Eddie, by Chris. Lawton, simply to say that, as another Royal Ceylon Navy man, I too had the pride and privilege of serving with Eddie who was at our main Naval Land Base, H.M.Cy.S. Gemunu, Colombo Fort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">If I remember this correctly, Eddie was a &#8220;Killick&#8221; or Leading Seaman in the Executive Branch of the Navy in which I joined up as a Supply Assistant in 1953. This, I remember very clearly. Eddie Baptist was one Sailor, admired, looked up to, and totally respected by both the Officers and Men of all branches of the Navy, and we had many of them. He had this certain Charisma, afforded to very few. Even as a Leading Seaman, he could &#8220;order&#8221; junior ratings like us to do our drills, rifle drills, marching orders, etc., etc., which he DID!!, on the Parade Grounds, when he had to, but, right from the start, there was never any malice or showmanship on his part. Eddie just wanted us to look good, smart &amp; work as one, which was expected of the Senior Force.\u00a0<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">I still remember him telling us, that when we &#8220;Ordered Arms&#8221;, he wanted to hear every rifle butt in the Platoon hit the ground with big CLICK!! Eddie gave the order, and we obeyed. Off the Parade Ground, he was a different guy. Always helpful, kind &amp; compassionate, he gave us, Junior recruits the chance to realize that joining the Navy was not the worst thing we did in our lives, in fact, partly because of Eddie Baptist, I always say that serving the Royal Ceylon Navy, when I did, was definitely the BEST thing I ever did in my life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 There were many Chief Petty Officers in the R.Cy.N.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">at the time, but the Special Designation of C.P.O. (Master At Arms), belonged only to Eddie Baptist. This title was originated for him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 On behalf of eLanka, I would like to convey our deepest sympathies to Moira Baptist, and the rest of Eddies&#8217; family. Eddie my friend, you were a great man in anyone&#8217;s book, and will never be forgotten by those who love you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">Sleep peacefully, and may the breezes of the Indian Ocean blow gently over you. God bless you.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29910 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Desmond-Kelly-9.jpg\" alt=\"Desmond Kelly\" width=\"125\" height=\"178\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">Desmond Kelly.\u00a0 <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #003366;\">Editor-In-Chief (eLanka)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #f0114c;\"><b>Edward\u00a0 Charles\u00a0 Benjamin\u00a0 Baptist: By\u00a0<i>CHRIS. J. LAWTON<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-43711 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Edward-Charles-225x400.jpg\" alt=\"Edward Charles\" width=\"225\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Chief Petty Officer. Master at Arms, Royal Ceylon Navy ( Retd. )<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Edward Charles Benjamin Baptist ( Eddie ), was born on 29th. May 1928 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He would have entered his 92nd year next month ,- a good and blessed innings in Life for us human beings. It has been a life lived well as a good Christian, as a loyal servant to his country in the service of the Royal Ceylon Navy ( now Sri Lanka ), as a loving husband, a devoted father of four sons, grandfather of nine and great grandfather of two children. An impressive and blessed legacy indeed ensuring that his surviving wife , Moira, will continue to be surrounded with love and care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Edward\u00a0 Charles\u00a0 Benjamin\u00a0 Baptist ( Eddie ),\u00a0\u00a0 was\u00a0\u00a0 born\u00a0 on\u00a0 29<sup>th<\/sup>. May\u00a0 1928\u00a0 in\u00a0 Colombo, Sri Lanka. He\u00a0 would\u00a0 have\u00a0 entered\u00a0 his\u00a0 92<sup>nd<\/sup>\u00a0 year\u00a0 next\u00a0 month ,- a\u00a0 good\u00a0 and\u00a0 blessed\u00a0 innings\u00a0 in\u00a0 Life\u00a0 for\u00a0 us\u00a0 human beings.\u00a0 It\u00a0 has\u00a0 been\u00a0 a\u00a0 life\u00a0 lived\u00a0 well\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 good\u00a0 Christian,\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 loyal\u00a0 servant\u00a0 to\u00a0 his\u00a0 country\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 service\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Navy\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ( now\u00a0 Sri Lanka ), as\u00a0 a\u00a0 loving\u00a0 husband,\u00a0 a\u00a0 devoted\u00a0 father of\u00a0 four\u00a0 sons, grandfather\u00a0 of\u00a0 nine\u00a0 and\u00a0 great grandfather of\u00a0 two\u00a0 children.\u00a0 An\u00a0 impressive\u00a0 and\u00a0 blessed\u00a0 legacy\u00a0 indeed\u00a0 ensuring\u00a0 that\u00a0 his\u00a0 surviving\u00a0 wife , Moira,\u00a0\u00a0 will\u00a0 continue\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 surrounded\u00a0 with\u00a0 love\u00a0 and\u00a0 care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">I\u00a0 first\u00a0 met\u00a0 Eddie\u00a0 when\u00a0 I\u00a0 joined\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Navy\u00a0 in\u00a0 March\u00a0 1951 &#8211;\u00a0 that\u00a0 would\u00a0 be\u00a0 69\u00a0 years\u00a0 ago. At\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 Headquarters\u00a0 in\u00a0 Galle\u00a0 Buck\u00a0 ( upper Chatham\u00a0 Street ) Colombo\u00a0 Fort, I\u00a0 had\u00a0 finished\u00a0 my\u00a0 tense\u00a0 interview , Medical\u00a0 check\u00a0 and\u00a0 collected\u00a0 my\u00a0 uniforms. I\u00a0 then\u00a0 walked\u00a0 into\u00a0 the\u00a0 \u201c Gemunu\u00a0 Barracks\u00a0 \u201c\u00a0 which\u00a0 was\u00a0 situated\u00a0 across\u00a0 Galle\u00a0 Buck road\u00a0 where\u00a0 the\u00a0 present\u00a0 new\u00a0 Light House\u00a0 is. I was\u00a0 literally\u00a0 terrified\u00a0 because\u00a0 every\u00a0 Service\u00a0 person\u00a0 I\u00a0 met\u00a0 had\u00a0 a\u00a0 stern\u00a0 and\u00a0 almost\u00a0 condescending\u00a0 manner\u00a0 about\u00a0 them.\u00a0 Then\u00a0 I\u00a0 met\u00a0 Eddie\u00a0 who\u00a0 was\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Regulating\u00a0 Office\u00a0 which\u00a0 controlled\u00a0 the\u00a0 activities\u00a0 of\u00a0 all\u00a0 personnel\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Barracks.\u00a0 He\u00a0 looked\u00a0 at\u00a0 me\u00a0 and\u00a0 gave\u00a0 me\u00a0 the\u00a0 first\u00a0\u00a0 \u201c Welcome \u201c smile\u00a0 which\u00a0 encouraged\u00a0 me\u00a0 immensely. They\u00a0 say\u00a0 that\u00a0 at\u00a0 most\u00a0 times, the\u00a0 \u201c First\u00a0 impression\u00a0 is\u00a0 the\u00a0 Last\u00a0 impression \u201c\u00a0 And\u00a0 in\u00a0 this\u00a0 instance\u00a0 it\u00a0 has\u00a0 proved\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 absolutely \u00a0true. Throughout\u00a0 my\u00a0 entire\u00a0 career\u00a0 of\u00a0 nearly\u00a0 twenty\u00a0 years\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy\u00a0 and\u00a0 even\u00a0\u00a0 later, I\u00a0 have\u00a0 never\u00a0 forgotten\u00a0\u00a0 his\u00a0 smile\u00a0 and\u00a0 his\u00a0 demeanour\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 true\u00a0 gentleman\u00a0 even\u00a0 though\u00a0 he\u00a0 was\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 strict , rigid\u00a0 and\u00a0 demanding\u00a0 service\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 country\u2019s\u00a0 Defence\u00a0 Forces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Eddie\u00a0 was\u00a0 among\u00a0 the\u00a0 first\u00a0 batch\u00a0 of\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 Parade\u00a0 Drill\u00a0 and\u00a0 Rifle Movement\u00a0 Instructors..in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Royal Ceylon Navy.\u00a0 Many\u00a0 of\u00a0 us\u00a0 would\u00a0 admire\u00a0 him\u00a0 standing\u00a0 so\u00a0 erect and\u00a0 smart\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 pristine\u00a0 white\u00a0 Service\u00a0 uniform\u00a0 , Cap\u00a0 and\u00a0 shining\u00a0 black\u00a0 boots\u00a0 and\u00a0 gaiters\u00a0\u00a0 on\u00a0 the\u00a0 Parade\u00a0 Ground . His\u00a0 commands\u00a0 could\u00a0 be\u00a0 heard, loud, clear\u00a0 and\u00a0 crisp. His\u00a0 power\u00a0 of\u00a0 command\u00a0 was\u00a0 superb\u00a0 and\u00a0 the\u00a0 sailors\u00a0 executed\u00a0 the\u00a0 drills\u00a0 flawlessly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">During\u00a0 the\u00a0 latter\u00a0 part\u00a0 of\u00a0 his\u00a0 service\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy, Eddie\u00a0 was\u00a0 entrusted\u00a0 with\u00a0 the\u00a0 task\u00a0 of\u00a0 being\u00a0 the\u00a0 Master\u00a0 at\u00a0 Arms\u00a0 .\u00a0 This\u00a0 is\u00a0 a\u00a0 very\u00a0 responsible\u00a0 and\u00a0 arduous\u00a0 job\u00a0 as\u00a0 this\u00a0 Office\u00a0 maintained\u00a0 discipline, controlled\u00a0 and\u00a0 regulated\u00a0 the\u00a0 activities\u00a0 and\u00a0 movements\u00a0 of\u00a0 all\u00a0 the\u00a0 hundreds\u00a0 of\u00a0 sailors\u00a0 in either\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0 ship\u00a0 or\u00a0 Shore\u00a0 Establishment . Not\u00a0 many\u00a0 who\u00a0 held\u00a0 this\u00a0 position\u00a0 were\u00a0 liked\u00a0 or\u00a0 trusted\u00a0 by\u00a0 the\u00a0 sailors, and\u00a0 even\u00a0 Officers.\u00a0 But\u00a0 Eddie\u00a0 was\u00a0 the\u00a0 rare\u00a0 exception. \u00a0He\u00a0 had\u00a0 the\u00a0 uncanny\u00a0 knack\u00a0 of\u00a0 blending\u00a0 Discipline\u00a0 with\u00a0 Understanding\u00a0 and\u00a0 Compassion . The\u00a0 hall\u00a0 marks\u00a0 of\u00a0 a\u00a0 true\u00a0 Gentleman.\u00a0 Both, his\u00a0 subordinates\u00a0 and\u00a0 even\u00a0 his\u00a0 Superiors\u00a0 respected , trusted\u00a0 and\u00a0 liked\u00a0 him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Eddie\u00a0 had\u00a0 other\u00a0 attributes\u00a0 too. He\u00a0 excelled\u00a0 in\u00a0 Hockey, Soccer\u00a0 and\u00a0 Cricket .\u00a0 He\u00a0 represented\u00a0 the\u00a0 Navy\u00a0 in\u00a0 Inter\u00a0 Service, Inter\u00a0 ship,\u00a0 and\u00a0 Inter Club\u00a0 matches.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Moira,\u00a0 we\u00a0 know\u00a0 that\u00a0 life\u00a0 has\u00a0 not\u00a0 been\u00a0 easy\u00a0 for\u00a0 you\u00a0 during\u00a0 the\u00a0 last\u00a0 few\u00a0 declining\u00a0 years\u00a0 of\u00a0 Eddie\u2019s\u00a0 life. Apart\u00a0 from\u00a0 being\u00a0 witty and\u00a0\u00a0 jovial ,\u00a0 you\u00a0 have\u00a0 always\u00a0 been\u00a0 a\u00a0 loving\u00a0 and\u00a0 very\u00a0 caring\u00a0 wife.\u00a0 We,\u00a0 the\u00a0 ex\u00a0 Royal\u00a0 Ceylon\u00a0 Naval\u00a0 personnel\u00a0 here,\u00a0 salute\u00a0 you. We\u00a0 wish\u00a0 you\u00a0 a\u00a0 life\u00a0 of\u00a0 peace\u00a0 and\u00a0 good\u00a0 health\u00a0 with\u00a0 your\u00a0 family. Keep\u00a0 your\u00a0 Faith, as\u00a0 it\u00a0 is\u00a0 only\u00a0 the\u00a0 Good\u00a0 Shepherd\u00a0 who\u00a0 can\u00a0 give\u00a0 you\u00a0 the\u00a0 comfort\u00a0 and\u00a0 strength\u00a0 you\u00a0 need\u00a0 now,\u00a0 and\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 years\u00a0 ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">Farewell, my\u00a0 Instructor\u00a0 and\u00a0 very\u00a0 dear\u00a0 friend\u00a0 Eddie, we\u00a0 will\u00a0 meet\u00a0 again\u00a0 soon.\u00a0\u00a0 May\u00a0 stern\u00a0 seas\u00a0 and\u00a0 fair\u00a0 winds\u00a0 take\u00a0 you\u00a0 to\u00a0 your\u00a0 place\u00a0 of\u00a0 Eternal\u00a0 rest\u00a0 with the\u00a0 Good\u00a0 Shepherd.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\"><strong><em>They\u00a0 shall\u00a0 not\u00a0 grow\u00a0 old\u00a0 as\u00a0 we\u00a0 who\u00a0 are\u00a0 left\u00a0 grow\u00a0 old. Age\u00a0 shall\u00a0 not\u00a0 weary\u00a0 them\u00a0 or\u00a0 the\u00a0 years condemn At\u00a0 the\u00a0 rising\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Sun\u00a0 and\u00a0 at\u00a0 the\u00a0 setting\u00a0 We\u00a0 will\u00a0 remember\u00a0 them.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\"><strong><em>CHRIS. J. LAWTON,<\/em><\/strong> <strong><em>Order of Australia.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000080;\">\u00a0Chartered Engineer ( Lond.)<br \/>\nLieut. (E) RCyN. retd.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 \u00a0&#8220;VALE&#8217; EDDIE BAPTIST&#8221;\u00a0 &#8211; By Des Kelly &nbsp; There is not very much more that I could add to the excellent tribute to Eddie, by Chris. Lawton, simply to say that, as another Royal Ceylon Navy man, I too had the pride and privilege of serving with Eddie who was at our main Naval [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":43713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,1104],"tags":[17244,17245,8872],"class_list":{"0":"post-43710","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"category-desmond-kelly","9":"tag-edward-charles","10":"tag-naval-headquarters","11":"tag-royal-ceylon-navy","12":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>&quot;VALE&#039; EDDIE BAPTIST&quot; - By Des Kelly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There is not very much more that I could add to the excellent tribute to Eddie, by Chris. 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