Military Medal to Rotuman Soldier

THE Military Medal has been awarded to Staff Sergeant Josefa Rigampto, a former member of the Fiji Medical Corps. , Tfie citation accompanying the award states: “During the period of active ser vice on Bougainville, detachments of the Bearer Company were in the habit of accompanying the two Infantry Batta lions during their operations against the enemy, and did particularly fine work under trying and dangerous conditions.

“Staff Sergeant Rigamoto usually ac companied these detachments. During the 3rd Battalion operations on the Mawaraka the Bearer Company per sonnel, under the personal leadership of this NCO, carried out work of a decidedly high order in dealing with wounded under enemy fire and difficult circum stances. His energetic leadership and lack of thought for his personal safety were an example, not only to his own bearers, but to all with whom he came in contact.”

Staff Sergeant Rigamoto is a native of Rotuma. He has now been discharged from the Army, and has returned to Rotuma, where some months ago he was appointed Officer-in-Oharge.

Flying-Officer Les H. Wilkinson, for merly of Misima, Papua, arrived back in Sydney on the “Aquitania” in November after 2 h years in the RAAF abroad, mostly in England. He was in Lancaster bom bers, and he was 18 times in operational flights over Germany. He was a radio officer, and his pilot on all those flights was Flying-Officer Bill Passlow, who was on the Bulolo. Gold staff in New Guinea before the war, now back in Brisbane.

The crew included the two New Guinea men, one Scotchman, three Englishmen, and one Hong Kong colonial —a typical cross-section of Empire. Wilkinson and Passlow have •their noses turned New Guineawards; but there is little hope for the re-establishment there of such men while Wardism endures.