Sefania Sukanaivalu
Corporal, 3rd Battalion. Fijian Infantry Regiment
- Register No.
- 1193 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal all Corporals →
- Unit
- 3rd Battalion. Fijian Infantry Regiment (register: Fiji Infantry Regiment) all Fiji Infantry Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 June 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- the 2nd November 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Died
- in action on 23rd June 1944 at Bougainville in the Solomon
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Rabual War Cemetery, New Britain, Papua, New Guinea. Also on a Memorial in the Civic Buildings at Suva
- Medal held by
- unknown
Digest of citation
Corporal Sukanaivalu crawled forward in order to rescue some wounded men on 23rd June 1944 at Bougainville, Solomon Islands. After successfully bringing in two men, he went to bring in a third, but on the return journey he was seriously wounded in the groin and thigh, making it impossible for him to move his lower body. Several attempts were made to rescue him, but these only resulted in further casualties. In the full knowledge that his men would never withdraw and leave him as long as he lived. Corporal Sakanaivalu raised himself as high as he could, in full view of the enemy. He met his death, riddled with bullets
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SUKANAIVALU, Sefania. (reg No. 1193).
Corporal. 3rd Battalion. Fijian Infantry Regiment.
London Gazetted on the 2nd November 1944.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown. Birth date unknown. Born on Yathata Island, Fiji.
Killed in action on 23rd June 1944 at Bougainville in the Solomon Islands.
Memorial on grave at Rabual War Cemetery, New Britain, Papua, New Guinea. Also on a Memorial in the Civic Buildings at Suva.
Digest of Citation reads: Corporal Sukanaivalu crawled forward in order to rescue some wounded men on 23rd June 1944 at Bougainville, Solomon Islands. After successfully bringing in two men, he went to bring in a third, but on the return journey he was seriously wounded in the groin and thigh, making it impossible for him to move his lower body. Several attempts were made to rescue him, but these only resulted in further casualties. In the full knowledge that his men would never withdraw and leave him as long as he lived. Corporal Sakanaivalu raised himself as high as he could, in full view of the enemy. He met his death, riddled with bullets.
Birth date unknown. Born on Yathata Island, Fiji.
Islands.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Rabual War Cemetery, New Britain, Papua, New Guinea. Also on a Memorial in the Civic Buildings at Suva
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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