The Simple Dignity of Suva Ceremony

Presentation Of Vc To Parents Of

Fijian Hero

rE ceremony in Suva, on February 6, when the Governor, Mr. A. W. G. H.

Grantham, presented the Victoria Cross to Lote Vulakoro and Fani Kuva. parents of Corporal Sukanaivalu, VC, impressed itself indelibly, by its sheer simplicity, on the minds of all who attended it.

While the Governor inspected the par ade of Fijian Servicemen, Lote and Fani sat at the left of the saluting base, but when the inspection was finished, Ratu Sukuna brought them forward and, fol lowing Fijian custom in showing respect, they sat on the platform before the Governor.

The citation was then read in English by the ADC, Major Harrop: “Realising his men would not withdraw as long as they could see he was. alive and knowing 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 Japan ese machine-guns and was riddled with bullets. This brave Fiji soldier, after rescuing two wounded men with the greatest heroism and being gravely bounded himself, deliberately sacrificed his own life because he knew that it was the only way in which the remainder of his platodn could be induced to retire from a situation in which they must have been annihilated had they not with drawn.”

When Major Harrop stepped back, his

place was taken by Ratu Sukuna, who before some thousands of his own people in uniform, repeated the citation in Fijian. Major Harrop then opened the small case containing the Cross and handed the medal to the Governor, who walked across to Lote and bent down.

Lote first clapped his hands together after the fashion of the Fijian when receiving a gift, then cupped them in order that the medal could be placed in them. The Governor shook hands with Lote and Fani, then stood erect. He step ped back and saluted, and the ceremony was completed.

“But,” says an eye-witness, “it was a superbljy dramatic moment. The Victoria Cross and all that it stands for, the humble Fijian couple and the people they represented, the young Fijian who, know ing that to save his friends he must die, died, all were saluted in that movement of the Governor’s arm. Those who saw it will remember it for many years to come.”

Mr. Marc T. Greene, peripatetic Ameri can newspaper man, who has been many times through the South Pacific Islands, arrived in Auckland in February, from USA. He was caught in Manila by the Jap invasion at the end of 1941, and spent some time in a prison camp there, and then was among a number of Ameri can civilians who were allowed to return home. He has been in the United States since 1943.

The Governor of Fiji, Mr. A. W. G. H. Grantham, presenting the medal to Lote Vulakoro.