Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Kanchana Senerat Kadigawe

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was soft delete. Based on minimal participation, this uncontroversial nomination is treated as an expired PROD (a.k.a. "soft deletion"). Editors can request the article's undeletion. GirthSummit _(blether) 01:45, 4 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Kanchana Senerat Kadigawe[edit]

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Discussed at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history#Kanchana Senerat Kadigawe. Doesn't appear to meet notability guidelines, if the high point of his military career is being mentioned in dispatches. There are also significant problems with the references.

The Island is a Sri Lankan newspaper from 2009, and would appear reliable on the face of it. However it claims the person was awarded the Military Cross and was mentioned in Winston Churchill's memoirs. Neither appear to be independently verifiable, if they aren't that would tend to disqualify it as a reliable reference.
Different article in The Island from 2009. I'm not sure whether it's a letter from a reader (due to the address at the bottom) or an article by the paper. The only apparent mention of the subject is "My grandmother’s brother, Senerath Kadigawa".
Another article in The Island from 2008, written by the family member. In this he's called "H. S. Kadigawa", not entirely sure where the "H" comes from,
Daily News is another Sri Lankan newspaper from 2002. It's written by "Sharm de Alwis", who is the family member who wrote the last two articles. It essentially repeats the claims, but leaves out the supposed Military Cross award and instead says the oak leaf is "the over-flow of the Victoria Cross for bravery" which seems dubious at best.
Asian Tribune article from 2008 (apparent reproduction on another website) says he received the Military Medal. Again, I haven't been able to verify this anywhere else.
Times of Ceylon 31 July 1944 I have no access to.
Sunday Times is another Sri Lankan newspaper from an unknown date. It repeats the Military Medal and Churchill's memoirs claims.
London Gazette says on the previous page "The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field". I assume that's "mentioned in dispatches" or something else of that nature?
The Sunday Leader from 2008, this is definitely the reader's letters page though.
The Island again from 2008. This is a fawning opinion piece written by the same person who wrote to the Sunday Leader.

The occasional reference that isn't a fawning piece written by a friend or family member repeat the same unverifiable claims made by friends and family members, that he was awarded the Military Medal or Military Cross and that he was mentioned in Winston Churchill's memoirs. FDW777 (talk) 16:36, 25 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Sri Lanka-related deletion discussions. Coolabahapple (talk) 07:33, 26 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Military-related deletion discussions. Coolabahapple (talk) 07:33, 26 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Law-related deletion discussions. Necrothesp (talk) 11:13, 26 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Delete. Can't see any particular notability. As a private doesn't meet WP:SOLDIER. As a police officer, nowhere near senior enough for an article. Definitely didn't have the Military Cross, as wasn't an officer. No proof he had the Military Medal either, but if he did have he still wouldn't be notable as it's a third-level decoration. Definitely was Mentioned in Despatches, but that's less notable than an MM. The only possible claim to notability is the allegation that he was the only Asian soldier in the Parachute Regiment "at the time". But even if true I don't think that's sufficient to establish notability. -- Necrothesp (talk) 11:17, 26 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.