Fijian

Archives-November 1944

Fijian soldier wins Victoria Cross

Posthumous award for sacrifice on Bougainville

TO a native of Fiji has gone the hon our of becoming the first non-European British soldier to win the VC in this war.

The award was made posthumously.

The soldier’s name was Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu. He was a member

of a Fiji Infantry Battalion which fought on bougainville. He heroically sacrificed his life in order that his comrades should escape.

The full story of Sukanaivalu’s sacri fice was told in the September issue of the “PIM” by a New Zealand officer of the same battalion.

The Fijians, in battalion strength, were engaged in a coastal raid, and they ran into a wall of Jap machine-gun fire from prepared pill-boxes and positions.

As darkness drew on, it was decided

to evacuate the area by sea. “There were plenty of tales of gallantry to be sifted out,” records this officer. “Here is an out standing case. Corporal suka, from Cakaudrove, when bringing in the wounded, was shot in the groin and the thigh, at short range.

After a while he called out to his pla toon not to try and get him out, as he was too near the enemy and could not move.

“The Nadroga men called back to him to wait, and that they would never leave him, knowing that to be taken alive meant death, and probably torture.

“The issue was clear to Suka. His friends would not leave him unless he were dead and to get to him would be death for his friends. “Our men saw him raise himself up on his hands in front of the Jap machine-guns, and take a burst right in the chest.” ■

pacific Islands Monthly

Establishing 1930