Another legend leaves us......


BIRCHALL, Leonard J. Air Commodore (Retired), CM, OBE, DFC, O Ont, CD,
LL.D., D. Sc. M. On Friday, September 10, 2004, at St. Mary's of the Lake
Hospital, Kingston, ON, in his 90th year. Born in St. Catharines, "Birch"
graduated from RMC in 1937 and was commissioned in the RCAF. On April 4th,
1942, while on patrol southeast of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), he and his crew
gave the warning that prevented the Japanese fleet from surprising the
Allies as they had done at Pearl Harbour. For this action, he was awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross and became known as the "Saviour of Ceylon".
Shot down, he spent the remainder of the war in prisoner-of-war camps in
Japan. His gallantry and constant concern for the welfare of his fellow
prisoners led to his being made a member of the Order of the British Empire.
Following the war, he held many postings culminating in the positions of
Chief of Air Operations, RCAF and Commandant, RMC. At the time of his death,
he had completed seventy years of military service; he was the first member
of the Canadian Forces to receive the fifth clasp to the Canadian Forces
Decoration. In February, 2000, he was made a member of the Order of Canada,
and in 2001, was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. A member of
the United States Legion of Merit, he was made an "American Eagle", in 2003.
Predeceased by his first wife Dorothy Logan Birchall, his second wife Betty
Clapp Birchall and his sisters Elizabeth Sinnett and Ina Landale. "Birch" is
survived and will be sorely missed by his wife Kathleen, by his daughters
Sharon Logan Chandler (Downsview) and Judy Kadish (Vestal, NY) and
sons-in-law John Chandler and Gerald Kadish, by his son Charles Birchall
(Ottawa) and daughter-in-law Hilary Geller, by his stepson and
daughter-in-law David Graham and Pamela Hodgson (St. John's), his
stepdaughter and son-in-law Nancy and Leighton Reid (Toronto), by his
grandsons David and Christopher Chandler and their wives Angela and
Elizabeth, by his granddaughters Isabelle and Emma Birchall, and by his
great-grandchildren Jonathan, Victoria, Alexandre and Olivia Chandler.
Funeral Service will take place from Chalmers United Church, 212 Barrie
Street (at Earl Street), Kingston, ON on Monday, September 13, 2004 at 3:30
p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Air Commodore Leonard
and Kathleen Birchall Award/Scholarship Fund, Air Cadet League of Canada,
Constitution Building, 313 Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5Y4.