By Gen.Lalin Fernando

Every private in the French Army carries a Field Marshal’s baton in his knapsack (Napoleon)

There is a lot written and spoken about Field Marshals (FMs) just now. The latest is about the privileges that FMs should apparently have. It appears Hitler’s Germany is the source for these anachronistic examples. The privileges it gave FMs were ‘compelling and influential role in military matters, tax exemption, become a member of nobility, equal to Government officials, constant protection or escort, right to report directly to Royalty’. The rank was abolished in Germany after WW2 (1945).

Hitler (a former Corporal) promoted many to FM rank. Unfortunately many of them like Goering were arraigned at Nuremburg war trials after WW2. One FM, the famous FM Rommel of Africa fame, suspected of being part of a coup to kill Hitler, was invited to and did commit suicide. Another, Von Paulus was promoted FM at Stalingrad on 24 January 1943 and ordered not to surrender but allow himself to be killed or commit suicide. He surrendered with 300,000 troops on 31 January. Over 750,000 Germans had been killed in the combat zone while 1750 tanks, 6,000 guns and 1,500 aircraft were lost.

Japanese Commanders were also tried and many executed for the same reason. (Emperor Hirohito had been stripped of his honorary FM rank granted by the British King at the outbreak of war but was not charged with war crimes!). None on the winning side were accused. Not even for Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Dresden or Hamburg. The prosecutors were all Europeans just as they are now in Geneva, (less Russia) baying for SL’s blood. Theirs may not be the best example for SL to follow now.

Some ask whether the SL army is big enough to have a FM. The size of the army is not a criterion for promotion to FM. India has 1.2 million troops but no FMs now. Presidents and former Generals Didi Amin (Uganda) and Ayub Khan (Pakistan) promoted themselves. There were some in Africa. One was even accused of cannibalism (Bokoso).

A case for promotion to FM in SL was made on behalf of Gen Attygalle, and then about 70 years, to President JR Jayawardene (JRJ) by a person who was not only related but had also served in the volunteer force as a subaltern. (SL path to promotion – sometimes). JRJ not without reason known as the ’Old Fox’, had asked just one question- “In what war did Attygalle fight”?

Another retired officer wrote in his memoires, long after JRJ had died that he was offered the rank of FM by JRJ but declined. This officer had retired earlier as Brigadier and gone to work in a government institute but was taken back later and made Joint Operations Commander and promoted Lieutenant General. That double promotion he had accepted without demure. Two would and could, but not should be, FMs down.

FM Hindenburg was recalled from retirement in WW1 to nominally command the German troops at Tannenberg where the Russians were annihilated. His Chief of Staff Hoffman would take visitors over the field of Tannenberg and say “this is where the FM slept before the battle; this is where he slept after the battle; and this is where he slept during the battle”.

FMs have been promoted for winning huge wars, against foreign enemies. Like FM Manekshaw who was the Indian Army Commander (known as Chief of Staff) during the 1971 Indo Pak war that led to the formation of Bangladesh. (93,000 Pakistani troops became prisoners of war). He became the first Indian FM in 1973; a while after the idea to promote him was mooted.

While he was immensely popular with the people all over India, he also made some injudicious remarks to a reporter that if he had opted for Pakistani citizenship that was offered him at the partition of India and joined the Pakistani army, Pakistan would have won the war. It went down badly with the politicians and bureaucrats and some of his colleagues.

The President of Pakistan Gen Yahya Khan was his close friend at the Indian Military Academy and they had worked together at GHQ before partition. It was said that if Pakistan had won the war, Yahya Khan would have been FM – immediately- -appointed by himself.

Just before Manekshaw died the Indian Government decided to give him his back pay .It amounted to Rs (Indian) 1.2 crore. At his funeral the only Government representative was a lowly junior minister.

The British Army has suspended the rank of FM since 2001 but allowed for ‘special circumstances’. While they hold the rank for life, when not in an appointment, they receive only half pay.

FM Sir Peter Inge in 1994 was the last active service officer to be promoted. ( He had been at Sandhurst with the first intake from Ceylon, a colleague of Capt Tony Anghie).

He relinquished the post of CDS in 1997. FM Charles Guthrie who followed as CDS (He was in the same company at Sandhurst with Major WM Weerasuriya and late Major Eshin Fernando) and FM Michael Walker were promoted honorary FMs only after retirement in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

By 2012 there were only 11 FM living including Prince Philip, Prince Charles (who holds the FM rank in all 3 services) and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The murdered last King of Nepal where the doughty Gurka fighters come from was also a British FM. Four Brit FM s had won the Victoria Cross medal – for valour.

The USA has abolished 5 star ranks, (General of the Army), the equivalent to FM. It used to be given to officers who have commanded large armies in major wars.

Only FM Sir William Robertson, who joined the army as a private to finally become FM, is credited with proving Napoleon’s maxim in the British Army.

The writer was privileged to meet Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein KG at the Alamein Company ante room of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1959 when he came for Alamein Day dinner. It was unforgettable experience to meet the Commander of the 8th Army that defeated Rommel in the desert and the 21st British Army Group that took part in the Normandy invasion and fought its way to Luneburg Heath in Germany to accept the surrender of the German Army there. We 3 ‘Ceylonese’ officer cadets (the others were Sena de Sylva and Cecil Waidyaratne-later Army Commander) were introduced to him by the company Commander Major Carey.

He told us that he had been in India for about 10 years and was sorry he could not come over to ‘Ceylon’ which he had heard was a beautiful country and that he would try to do so sometime .In 1960 at the 8th Army reunion at the Royal Festival Hall London the rousing reception he received from the ‘Desert Rats’ as the 8th Army called themselves, had to be seen to be believed. They knew that ‘Monty’ as he was affectionately called cared deeply for every single life under his command, while still trouncing the Germans in meticulously planned battles. Over 1000 artillery guns were fired by the British alone at the battle of Alamein.

What is relevant to SL is that China that has 1.3m, India that has 1.2 million and Pakistan that has 550,000 troops, are commanded by Generals. They do not have Field Marshals. The rank is defunct.

SL has a date with Geneva in September. She should concentrate on that and not mock the Inquisitors by stoking the fires.

Courtesy:The Island