Sefanaia Sukanaivalu
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Sefanaia Sukanaivalu was a Fijian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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Details
Born on Yathata Island, Fiji, Sukanaivalu was 26, and a Corporal in the Fijian Infantry Regiment during the Second World War, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
June 23, 1944 (World War II). In Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Corporal Sukanaivalu crawled forwards to rescue some badly wounded men. He brought two back successfully, but when he crawled back to rescue the third, he was shot in the thigh and groin and was unable to move the lower part of his body. Several of his soldiers attempted to rescue him, but this only resulted in more deaths. Knowing that his men would never retreat while he was still alive, Sukanaivalu raised himself up and was shot apart by Japanese bullets.
Further information
Sukanaivalu is buried at Bitapaka War Graves Commission Cemetery, Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
The medal
Sukanaivalu's medal is not publicly held.
Reference
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission.