FIJIAN HEROES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24972, 15 August 1944, Page 6

FIJIAN HEROES

COOLNESS UNDER FIRE LIVES GIVEN FOR FRIENDS A vivid tale of heroism and devotion to duty by Fijian soldiers during a recent operation on Bougninvillo has been described by one of their New Zealand oflicers in a letter received in Auckland. Likening the soldiers' behaviour to that of Guardsmen, he said "the people of Fiji should be as proud of their men as we are to lead them." The Fijiaus, in battalion strength, in co-operation with artillery, engineers and a naval force, were engaged on a coastal raid. This was in country where the Japanese had been soundly defeated a few weeks before, hut the enemy's rather poor anti-tank corps of the former occasion had now been replaced with a regular battalion of infantry. After early adventures, the raiding force was moving forward cautiously when the enemy struck, and two companies of the Fijians ran into a wall of machine-gun firo from prepared positions and strong pill-boxes. Honour to Leave Last For various reasons, including the approaching darkness and the unsuitable defensive position, the raiding force decided to evacuato by sea. The several companies gradually broke contact and retired to the beachhead, hut reinforcements had to he sent to one company to help it withdraw its dead and wounded. It was almost dark when men of this company came down the trail "with all their arms, some walking wounded, others staggering along a.s they helped one another, sumo wounded carried on the men's backs. "There was no Inirry or rush," the oflieer added. "'The wounded were patched ui) by a doctor and the worst given plasma on the beach. These then went on board, and, at long last, an officer came out with the last man to report all in, including tho reinforcements,. who had one dead and eight wounded. I heard of three officers haying had a heated argument on the trail as to who was to have the honour fit coming out last and, not arguing hut equally determined, Lance-Corporal I'cnii. from Übu.n, standing by with a Bren gun to cover their rear. Tales of Gallantry "Then we had to get the beachhead troops in. They came in, section by section and platoon by platoon, in the same unhurried manner as their officers told them to go. The Japanese did not press his attack, as he had had a had mauling and, J think, suspected a trap, but they pushed forward snipers and Xaushu light guns, and bullets were beginning to ping down the beach. At last every man was on hoard. "There were plenty of tales of gallantry to be sifted out, but to me it was not the outstanding few but the great fact that not a man in the whole battalion flinched or failed in his duty," the officer said. "Here is an outstanding ease. Corporal Suka, from Cakandrove, when bringing in the wounded, was shot in the groin and thigh at short range. After a bit he called out to his platoon not to try to get him out as he was too near the enemy and could not move.

"The Nadronga men called back to him to wait, and that they would never leave him, knowing that to he taken alive meant death and probably torture. The issue was clear to .Suka. I lis friends would not go until he was dead, and to get to him would be death to his friends. Our men saw him rai«e himself up on his hands in front of the Jap. machineguns and take a hurst right in the chest. Now you see why we are so proud. "Never a Man Flinched"

! "We are proud of Williams, from Ra, | who. to create a diversion, to get two 1 wounded in, charged a machine-gun ! post on his own with his tommy-gun mazing, silenced the gun. hut was shot down himself. The wounded he died to [save were got out. thanks to his gal--1 Inntry. Apisai. tioiri Ra. brought two wounded men in. watched their wounds i being dressed for nearly 20 minutes, land only then pointed out that he himI self was hit through the hip. "It is so close that we are still sifting lout the facts, but the whole operation showed the Fijian in an entirely now light. We knew that he was good in the open, with plenty of room in which to manoeuvre, so that he could use the cover of the hush for surprise and ambush. But here we have them behaving like Guardsmen, on an open bench, under a hail of fire, and never a man flinched from his duty." SERVICEMEN RETURN MIDDLE EAST DRAFT The following personnel of the Second X.Z.E.F. (Middle East) recently returned to Xew Zealand: Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. McElroy. T).S.O. and bar (Auckland), Maior J. W. Moodie (Hamilton), Major Ji. B- McQueen (WhatiKarei). Lieutenant 1 M. Ferguson (Cambridge). Lieutenant It. C. T. Gardiifer (Whakapara). I Second-Lieutenant P. 11. Kdmomls (Auckland). I Second-Lieutenant N. !!. Wrisht (Auckland). ! Private X. V. Adams (Auckland). Private 1 [•:. K. Ashby (Olahulni). W. 0.1 11. O. \V Bennett (Auckland). Driver <"!. L. Dean (Auckland). Private T. C. Donkin (Thames). Serjeant J. X. Donobue (Auckland), Private C. 11. Fitch (Tauranca). Private J. FitzPatrick (Papakura). Lancc-Corporal W. ,7. J. C.allatrher (Auckland). Sapper F. .1. Caraway (Ohinewai), Private V. K. A. Coodall (Thames). Private T. W. Ilunnhunu (Rotorna). Private A. G. Ingham (Te Kntvn), Private II Kitiyi (Te Kalia), Driver JI. C. D. Kirkness (Auckland), Private 'l'. J. K, Mnddox (Hamilton), Private L Moore (Hamilton). Corporal K \V. K. Morris (Auckland). Private \V. J. N'icol (Silverdalc). Lance-Corporal Ti. Itapann (Pipiwai), Private S. J. liobinnon (Auckland), Private ,1. AV. Tiowlands (Watkino). Private I''.. A. Sevi (Auckland), Gunner C. S. Shan (Warkworlh). J'rivate J. T. Swihhoiirn (Pukekohe). Private G. W. Thomas j (Auckland). Private W, D. Walsh (Auckland), Temporary-Corporal A D. Whitehead ;Katikati). Private G A. Woods (Kitur Country). | Private A. D. Wright (lluntly). ! COMMISSION GAINED | Advice has heeu received by Mrs (•. Healy, of 21 Parry Street, Sandringliittii, that her brother. Albert V. Moldcroft. lias gained a commission in the lI.N'.ZA'.V.II. in Britain. Sub-Lieut-j pnaiit. Molderoft was formerly a seeondlieutcnant in the Xew Zealand Army, i He volunteered for naval service under I Scheme B. and left for Britain in November, 19 111. During his training , period at sea. ho was in one of the ships which took part in the attack on the Tirpitz. Sub-I,ieutenant Molderoft is 21. and was educated at St. Thomas', Melbourne, and Sacred Heart College,