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In November 1944 it was announced that Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment, had been awarded a posthumous VC.- His was the first VC won in this war by a non-European soldier from the colonies. -
Sukanaivalu was born on Yacata, Fiji, on 1 January 1918, and joined the Fiji Infantry Regiment during World War II. By mid-1944 he was a Corporal in the 3rd Battalion, which was taking part in the Bougainville campaign.-
He died under Japanese fire on 23 June 1944, at Mawaraka during an attempt to rescue his comrades.-
The action in which he died has been called a "small-scale Dunkirk" and took place when his battalion was fighting with the Americans at Mawaraka, Bougainville, on 23 June 1944.-
The US/Fijian force had penetrated deep into Japanese territory, ran into overwhelming opposition and had to withdraw. During this withdrawal Corporal Sukanaivalu deliberately sacrificed his life. His unit was ambushed and he had set out alone to rescue men who had been wounded.-
On the way back he himself was severely wounded and was left stranded on ground exposed to heavy fire. He ordered his men not to try to rescue him, but they replied that they would never leave him to fall alive into the hands of the enemy.- Realising 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, he deliberately raised himself up in front of the Japanese and was riddled with machine gun bullets.-
Corporal Sukanaivalu's home was on the Island of Yathata in the Fiji group.- He enlisted in 1942.-
Sukanaivalu was born on Yacata, Fiji, on 1 January 1918, and joined the Fiji Infantry Regiment during World War II. By mid-1944 he was a Corporal in the 3rd Battalion, which was taking part in the Bougainville campaign.-
He died under Japanese fire on 23 June 1944, at Mawaraka during an attempt to rescue his comrades.-
The action in which he died has been called a "small-scale Dunkirk" and took place when his battalion was fighting with the Americans at Mawaraka, Bougainville, on 23 June 1944.-
The US/Fijian force had penetrated deep into Japanese territory, ran into overwhelming opposition and had to withdraw. During this withdrawal Corporal Sukanaivalu deliberately sacrificed his life. His unit was ambushed and he had set out alone to rescue men who had been wounded.-
On the way back he himself was severely wounded and was left stranded on ground exposed to heavy fire. He ordered his men not to try to rescue him, but they replied that they would never leave him to fall alive into the hands of the enemy.- Realising 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, he deliberately raised himself up in front of the Japanese and was riddled with machine gun bullets.-
Corporal Sukanaivalu's home was on the Island of Yathata in the Fiji group.- He enlisted in 1942.-
