The Story of Corporal Sefanaia, V.C.

Suva, Nov. 3.

YINAKA! Vinaka! Vinaka Voka Levu!” shouted the assembled chiefs. A deep’ murmur, swelling to a roar of delight swept through the crowd of Fijian onlookers.

It was the opening session of the Council of Chiefs, 1 and the Governor of Fiji had just made the dramatic announcement that the King had awarded the Victoria Cross to a Fijian soldier, the late Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu.

“You will be aware that there is one decoration which is the highest and rarest to which any sailor, soldier, or airman in the British forces can aspire,” said his Excellency. “It is the Victoria Cross.

“Nothing but the merit of con spicuous bravery can give claim to this decoration, and that merit must be evinced by some ‘signal act of valour’ performed ‘in the presence of the enemy..’

“Very proud is any regiment upon one of whose members this much prized honour is bestowed. Very proud is any British territory, one of whose sons has earned the right to wear it. This supreme accolade has now been bestowed upon a Fijian soldier.”

The announcement of the award could not have come at a more appro priate time. The colourful ceremony of the Council of Chiefs was the best possible setting for such an occasion, rpo-DAY was one of real rejoicing i. in Fiji—the only shadow over the peoples’ joy being that Corporal Sefanaia is not here to receive the tributes that would have been so liberally heaped upon him. For Cor poral Sefanaia gave his life in carry ing out the gallant act which earned this cherished award. Here is the story as it was published in the citation: “On June 23, 1944, at Mawaraka, Bou gainville, in the Northern Solomons, Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu crawled forward to rescue men who had been wounded when their platoon was am bushed and some leading elements had become casualties.

“After two wounded men had been successfully recovered, this NCO, who was' in command of the rear section, volun teered to go on further, alone, to try to rescue another one, in spite of machine gun and mortar fire, but on the way back he himself was seriously wounded in the groin and thigh and fell to the ground, unable to move.

“Several attempts were made Xo rescue Corporal Sefanaia but without success, owing to heavy firing encountered on each occasion, and further casualties Cctuscd “This gallant NCO then called to his men not to try and get to him as he was in a very exposed position, but they replied that they would never leave him to fall into the hands of the enemy alive.

“Realising that his men would ’ not withdraw as long- as they could see he was alive, and knowing that they were all in danger of being killed or captured as long as they remained where they were, Corporal Sefanaia, well aware of the consequences, raised himself up in

front of the Japanese machine-gun and was riddled with bullets.

“This brave Fiji soldier, after rescuing two wounded men with the greatest heroism, and being gravely wounded him self, deliberately sacrificed his own life because he knew that it was the only way in which the remainder of his platoon could be induced to retire from a situa tion in which they ijiust have been anni hilated had they not withdrawn.”

THE action in which Corporal Sef anaia won his Victoria Cross has been described as a little Dun kirk. The battalion, supported by American artillery and engineers, landed on the coast of Bougainville, outside the Empress Augusta Bay perimeter defences, and cautiously edged forward towards the road which was its first objective.

Strong opposition was encountered and. towards evening, on the second day, it was decided to withdraw by sea, as the principal tasks had been carried out. Landing craft were called in and the companies near the beach disengaged fairly easily.

“A” Company, commanded by Major R. Stevens, of Christchurch, was further inland. The company had suffered casualties and needed help, to get in dead and wounded lying in front. Two patoons—all that could be deployed on the swampy restricted front —went forward. More men were lost. before “E” Company and rein forcements eventually disengaged and

reached the beach. An officer, des cribing the scene, said: “They came out with all their arms, some walking wounded, others stag gering along as they helped one an other, some wounded carried on another man's back. There was no hurry or rush.”

By the time they were on board and the beach-head troops were being embarked, Japanese bullets were sweeping the beach, but the with drawal remained orderly.

“The whole operation showed the Fijian in an entirely new light,” said Lieut.-Colonel Voelcker, afterwards.

“We knew that they were good in the jungle with plenty of room to man oeuvre, and cover to use for surprise and ambush, but here we had them behaving like Guardsmen on an open beach, under a hail of fire, and never a man flinched from his duty.”

IT is a sadly ironic fact that Corporal Sefanaia’s second name, Suka naivalu, means “Returned from the war.” He was born in Fiji, in 1919, at about the time that the Fiji Labour Corps of the last war returned from France and Italy, and this suggested the name to his parents. This was mentioned by the Governor, who elo quently voiced the feelings of the people of Fiji when he said: “It is tragic irony that Sefanaia’s second name should mean ‘Returned from the war.’ • Corporal Sefanaia will not return. He will never stand at attention at Buckingham Palace in London while the Victoria Cross is pinned on fiis tunic by the King.

“He will never hear from your lips or mine how proud we are that these islands should have produced a soldier whose name will live forever in the annals of martial heroism. But we shall remember and honour his name as long as we live; and, after we are gone, it will be remembered and honoured by our children. All over the Empire to-day, all over the free world, the story of Sefanaia is being broadcast from hundreds of radio stations.

“In this story of gallantry and supreme self-sacrifice, our Allies and our friends will see epitomised the courage and devotion of our fighting men and the intense loyalty of the race which reared them.”