>> Henry and Cyril Talalla: RAF's brothers-in-arms [Part 1]

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 2 November 2006

ELDEST SON, Henry, shot down during the D-Day invasion, had a French provincial road named after him. King George VI of Britain invested second son Cyril with a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. They were the Talalla brothers, oldest of seven siblings - six sons and a daughter - of Hewage Benjamin Talalla.

Hewage Talalla, a prominent and successful Sinhalese entrepreneur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya - now West Malaysia - made his fortune, running a flourishing business in sanitary hardware. His company, Fletcher Trading Company Ltd, introduced modern sanitation to KL.

Hewage Talalla became a founding member of the original Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur; and became a leading figure in Malayan society.

He learnt flying too. In 1932, he flew an epic 28-day journey from Alor Star, Perlis to Croydon, England, then returned to Malaya an instant celebrity. Society elites honoured, feted and invited him to guest-speak wherever he went.

Henry and Cyril, inherited their father's love of the sky and aeroplanes.

*To be continued . . . [Part 2]

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