Final salute: Royal Navy officer’s ashes laid to rest at Ostenburg Point

In a solemn and dignified ceremony held at Trincomalee’s Ostenburg Point on September 27, the ashes of late Lieutenant Norman Schofield, a Royal Navy officer, and Marian Schofield, his late spouse, were scattered with full naval honours.

Between 1956 and 1958, Lieutenant Schofield served as a communication officer at the HMS Highflyer naval base in Trincomalee, which was regarded as the second-largest naval base in the world during that period. He passed away in 1999. In accordance with the officer’s final wishes, his and his spouse’s ashes were scattered following naval traditions.

Honouring the final wish of Lieutenant Schofield, who passed away 25 years ago, his ashes were intended to be scattered at sea in Trincomalee. Unfortunately, this practice has been discontinued due to various complications. According to a special request made by the Defence Advisor of the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, Colonel Darren Woods to Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, the ceremony of scattering the ashes of Lieutenant Schofield and his wife at Ostenburg Point was organised by the Naval Dockyard.

Lieutenant Schofield enlisted in the Royal Navy as a signalman in August 1935 and received his commission in June 1947, during the Second World War. After being assigned to various ships and bases of the Royal Navy, he served as the Port Signal Officer at HMS Highflyer Naval Base in Trincomalee from 1956 to 1958. He served in Sri Lanka, stationed at the Trincomalee Naval Base, until its transfer to the Sri Lankan Government in 1957.

The occasion was also attended by Colonel Woods of the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, and two relatives of the late officer. The ceremony was carried out by the Commanding Officer, officers and sailors of the Naval Dockyard.

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