Fiji Battalion

Memorable Scenes on Departure for Malaya

Suva, Jan. 9.

r\N January 8, the Ist Battalion of 1/ the Fiji Infantry Regiment, specially detailed for service igainst the Red terrorists in Malaya, marched aboard the migrant liner Asturias (22,445 tons) n Suva and departed for Singa x>re. The Asturias was taken iemporarily from the Britain kustralia run.

It was a memorable day in Suva, from dawn, thousands of Fijians jame crowding into the town, and ill classes of all the communities jombined to give the Fijian soldiers i send-off that will never be for gotten. The town was lavishly lecorated.

' As the Battalion marched through the town to the wharf, it saluted ;he Acting-Governor, Mr. A. F. R.

Btoddart, who was on a special dais it The Triangle. With him were Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, Colonel C. L.

Pleasants (commander of the Fiji Military Forces), the Mayor of Suva (Mr. D. M, N. McFarlane) and Lieut-Commander G. R. Woods.

The men marched with spirit, fine precision and a proud bearing—and their pride was reflected in the faces Df the thousands of their fellow countrymen, whose enthusiasm was almost beyond restraint.

As the liner left the wharf at 3 pm, the soldiers sang their Islands songs, the bands played, the packed thousands ashore sang and shouted, and a NZ Air Force Catalina flew low over the ship.

The Fiji Times made this fitting comment: “The Battalion’s de parture has been an occasion for

pride—the pride of the Fijian people in the loyal response of Fijian youth to a call made in the name of the Empire, and the pride of non- Fijians in the fact that in 1952, as in the last war, the Crown Colony of Fiji is to be represented by fight ing men of magnificent stamp. The battalion has left Fiji with a fare well of moving dignity. When it returns, it will be welcomed home in the same spirit.”

It will be some time before the Fijians famous jungle-fighters go into action against the Malayan Communists. They have first to complete their training in Malaya.

During training in Fiji, the battalion was inspected by Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (hatless), Honorary Colonel of the Fiji Infantry Regiment. With Sir Lala is the CO of the battalion, Lieut.-Col. R. Tinker, and behind them, Major Fisher-Hoch, of the Ist Suffolk Regiment, who has spent two years in Malaya and who is Liaison Officer with the Fiji Battalion. Photo by Fiji Public Relations Office.