Birchall Room unveiled at National Defence Headquarters

Lieutenant-General Steve Lucas, Chief of the Air Staff (left) unveils a portrait of the late Air Commodore Len Birchall, alongside his widow, Kathleen Birchall, inside the “Birchall Room” at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

OTTAWA – At a time when the Canadian Forces are transforming and embracing the challenges of the future, the Air Force continues to find inspiration in the life and leadership of the late Air Commodore Len Birchall.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) boardroom at National Defence Headquarters, where key issues are debated and decided on the future of the organization, has been named in honour of the late Air Commodore Len Birchall, also known as the “Saviour of Ceylon.”

Lieutenant-General Steve Lucas presided over an unveiling ceremony that saw the CAS boardroom officially become the “Birchall Room.” CAS also unveiled a permanent display containing pictures, artifacts and personal mementos of the man generations of Air Force personnel have admired, revered and been inspired by.

“ We are here to honour the memory of a great Canadian,” said LGen Lucas. “ Without a doubt he was probably one of our greatest aviators. Not only was he known as the Saviour of Ceylon, but his actions under the most difficult of circumstances in the (Japanese) POW camp (for four years) were something that airmen of all stripes and all nations can take lessons from.”

The wife of the late Air Commodore, Kathleen Birchall, was visibly moved by the tribute to her late husband. “This is one of the proudest, most memorable moments of my whole life. I would like to thank the members of the high command who have made this possible. My only regret is that the late Air Commodore did not know about this. He was a very humble man. He never suspected that such an honour would be paid to him. I hope that the many users of this room -- Army Navy Air Force and civilians -- will come to appreciate this great Canadian hero and acknowledge that. Thank you so very much.”

Air Commodore Len Birchall in his 413 Squadron Honorary Colonels uniform in 2004. CREDIT: Photo manipulation: Major Adam Cybanski.

Air Commodore Birchall’s life story is legend in Air Force circles – a man with 70 years service to the Air Force and to Canada, five clasps on his CD and a title bestowed upon him by Sir Winston Churchill, the “Saviour of Ceylon”. He earned the title for alerting Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) about incoming Japanese invaders during a reconnaissance flight on April 4, 1942. He and his crew were shot down by the Japanese and interred in a POW camp until the war’s end. He endured unimaginable torture, starvation, disease and three firing squads that spared him each time. His leadership in the camp is legendary as, in but one example, he directed all of his fellow officers to refuse their own food until their enlisted men had eaten first.

Air Commodore Birchall died last September in Kingston.

By Holly Bridges