The heroism of Corporal Sukanaivalu
16 November 2024
NEWS DESK
| Academia Nomad
PORT MORESBY - The remains of the late Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, who received the Victoria Cross after fighting against the Japanese in Bougainville in 1944, will be repatriated from East New Britain to Fiji next year.
The Victoria Cross is the highest British and Commonwealth military honour.
The citation for Corporal Sukanaivalu’s Victoria Cross tells a story of great heroism.
On 23 June 1944, at Mawaraka, Bougainville, in the Solomon Islands, Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu crawled forward to rescue men who had been wounded when their platoon was ambushed.
After two wounded men had been successfully recovered, Corporal Sukanaivalu, who was in command of the rear section, volunteered to go forward alone to rescue another man in spite of machine gun and mortar fire.
But on the way back he was seriously wounded in the groin and thighs and fell to the ground, unable to move.
Several attempts were made to rescue Corporal Sukanaivalu but without success owing to heavy fire encountered on each occasion causing further casualties.
This gallant NCO then called to his men not to try and rescue him as he was in a very exposed position. They replied that they would never leave him to fall alive into the hands of the enemy.
Corporal Sukanaivalu realised his men would not withdraw as long as they could see he was still alive and knew they were all in danger of being killed or captured as long as they remained where they were.
Well aware of the consequences, he raised himself up in front of the Japanese machine gun and was riddled with bullets.
Corporal Sukanaivalu, at the age of 26, after rescuing two wounded men with the greatest heroism and being gravely wounded himself, deliberately sacrificed his own life.
He knew it was the only way the remainder of his platoon could be persuaded to retire from a situation in which they would have been annihilated had they not withdrawn.
When I lived on Bougainville I became very interested in the activities of the Japanese during WWII.
I learned of the bravery of Corporal Sukanaivaluthe when he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Some years later I came across his name again and realised that I had, by chance, a photo of his grave in Torokina War Cemetery.
I was aware that after the war his remains had been moved to the Commonwealth SWar Graves Commission cemetery in Rabaul.
The 31/51st Battalion served on Bougainville after the Americans moved on. I live in Townsville and after my arrival here I made contact with a lot of the ex-Diggers who lived here.
It was interesting to ask them how many Victoria Cross medals were won on the Island. The same answer was received from them all - two. They had not heard of Corporal Sukanaivaluthe.
The 3Bn of the Fiji Inf Rgt arrived with the Americans so they had no knowledge at all of his VC.
Posted by: John Feltham | 21 November 2024 at 09:18 PM
Keith - Yours is a wonderful site for reminiscing.
I wonder if there are any reminiscences about Cyril from the Lorengau Lodge.
A great character who, I heard was the son of brewers in Brisbane but sent away.
Also the formidable Sister Margaret at Papitali. Any recollections?
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Hi Michael - There were plenty of 'Cyril sent-aways'. Known as 'remittance men' to signify the stipend they received so long as they remained in PNG and away from home. In my experience they were a wild breed - KJ
Posted by: Michael Buss | 20 November 2024 at 04:56 PM