In the SWW 8,000 Fijians fought mainly as scouts and light infantrymen against Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands campaign, 1943-1945.
Their knowledge of tropic environments and a skill for ambushing made them feared by the enemy and much respected by the Allies.
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First Fijians to see action were 30 Commandos sent to Guadalcanal for guerrilla operations in support of the American forces there.
They also saw action on the nearby island of New Georgia in 1943, tasked to locate and destroy a party of IJA's 13th Regt defending the island.
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On New Georgia at Munda Point the Fijians suffered their first death in action when Lieutenant B. Masefield was killed when a his patrol was caught in a Japanese artillery barrage.
The First Fiji Commandos also served on Florida Is. (aka Nggela Island) and Vella Lavella Is.
4/ In November 1943 the 2nd Commandos, Fiji Guerrillas, replaced the 1st Commandos.
Due to the Fijians’ success as forward scouts with the US forces, in Dec 1943 the entire First Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment (1FIR) was assigned to join the US Army’s XIV Corps on Bougainville
In Bougainville’s mountainous jungles, aerial surveillance was inadequate.
Scouting for enemy locations was crucial.
There were frequent deathly jungle skirmishes.
The Fijians were selected to establish a forward post at Ibu in the remote mountains, 55km NE behind Japanese lines.
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The track to Ibu took five arduous days.
It was tortuous: into rugged mountains, broken by ravines, valleys, and highlands altering between sweltering heat, torrential rain, and icy gusts.
The Fijian patrols provided invaluable information on enemy positions and movements.
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Supplies had to be airdropped.
The Fijians rapidly hacked out a small airstrip from the jungle so that wounded and sick could be evacuated.
They named the airstrip Kameli, in honour of their mate, Private Kameli Rokotuiloma, first Fijian killed in action during the Ibu mission.
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On 15 Feb 1944, the Fijian Battalion became surrounded and was ordered to withdraw.
In small silent groups they disappeared into the jungle.
Following natural features and using local tracks, 400 Fijians made it safely to the western coast four days later with only one wounded.
9/ The Japanese launched numerous attacks through March ’44.
The Fijians again patrolled beyond the besieged American lines, and for months harassed enemy areas to relieve American forces.
They established and held another forward base for several weeks, conducting daily patrols.
25th March 1944: 1st Battalion FIR left the American perimeter to make a reconnaissance in force in front of the US 129th Regiment.
Information from the Fijian scouts enabled the hidden enemy forward base area to be totally destroyed by heavy artillery barrages and dive-bombing.
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The excellent results and bravery shown by the First Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment led to a decision to send the Third Battalion to join them from March to August 1944 on Bougainville.
1 Fijian Docks Company also served on Bougainville 12 March 1944 to 23 February 1945.
As the Fijians’ jungle warfare skills had built a strong reputation with American Command, the 3rd Battalion’s first task was to wipe out the remaining Japanese forces surrounding Torokina.
They conducted long range raids into jungle terrain, ambushing remaining Japanese forces.
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This task complete, the 3rd Battalion were directed south beyond the southern Torokina perimeter, to remove resistance across the Jaba River.
The Japanese used this area to harass Allied troops.
Instead of scout patrols, these Fijians would conduct an amphibious landing.
The 3rd Battalion conducted two missions in the Mawaraka area – the first occurred over a period of five days and saw the five Companies establish a firm beachhead via landing craft.
Then they conducted fighting patrols over 8 kilometres, crisscrossing swamps, rivers and ridges.
Both of the Fijian Battalions received US Army “Commendations for Meritorious Service” in combat and in support.
If there’s enough interest, I’ll later conclude the story of the Fijians on Bougainville, including the awarding of a Victoria Cross and two Military Crosses.
END
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New Guinea is a huge island, second only to Greenland in the world.
From 1942 to 1945, war raged over most of the northern part of the island.
Due to the island’s incredibly rugged terrain and almost complete lack of any infrastructure, military logistics was a nightmare.
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During the SWW in New Guinea, an obscure Australian infantry officer, Captain Ronald Isherwood of the 24th Battalion (at left), in 1944, received one of the highest awards possible at that time for Australians – the MBE.
How did this unusual feat come about?
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The MBE, “Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”, is the third highest ranking level of the Order of the British Empire.
It is awarded to an individual for an outstanding achievement, or service to the community that has had a long-term, significant impact.
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Muschu Island is an idyllic Pacific setting; 16km long, 13km wide.
It is located 13km off the northern coast of PNG near Wewak.
In 1945 it was occupied by the 27thJapanese Naval Base Force, commanded by Rear-Admiral S. Sato.
The Australian forces were advancing, 40km away.
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April 11 1945:
Eight commandos of Z Special Unit landed on Muschu Island.
Unexpected tidal movements on the moonless night & strong currents carried their collapsible kayaks off course.
Surf on the encircling reef capsized them.
Most signal equipment and weapons were drenched.
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In total darkness, the motor launch remained offshore for over three hours in case the team made a sudden return.
But all of the torches and radios were now saturated and useless.
Operation Copper’s leader was Lieutenant Thomas J. Barnes, 26, now into his sixth year of the war.⤵️
Radios of the 1940s did not work very well in the remote terrain of Papua and New Guinea.
The thickly vegetated, rugged trackless mountains and the high tropical humidity of the lowlands created havoc with wireless systems.
Radios were so bulky that their use was problematical.🧵
In the Papua New Guinea campaigns of 1942-45 military communications by wireless were seriously hampered by the extremely rugged terrain, the humid climate and the dense jungle foliage.
As a result, whenever possible, landline communications via copper cables were relied upon.
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Allied units in New Guinea were widely dispersed.
It is incredibly rough country, with steep mountains, dense jungle, and seemingly incessant rain.
In 1943 a permanent telegraph “jungle carrier line” began to be established between Port Moresby and the forward base at Lae.
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From 1942 to 1945 the war in New Guinea consisted mostly of small actions in almost inaccessible locations.
One such action occurred in July 1943.
Lt. Usui of the Japanese II/66th Regt had withdrawn remnants of his company (3 officers, 46 men) from Mubo to ‘Timbered Knoll’.
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Timbered Knoll was a Japanese stronghold on the slopes of Bobdubi Ridge near Salamaua on New Guinea’s coast.
Major George Warfe's 50-man Independent Company attacked at 4pm on 29 July 1943.
Unusually, this attack was well documented by cameraman D. Parer and artist Ivor Hele.
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Two parties assaulted the knoll from north to south but were pinned down by machine-guns.
They began taking casualties.
The third unit moved silently downhill and along the east side of Timbered Knoll, assembled, and then attacked, yelling and screaming, from south to north.
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25 May 1944.
Sturdy recruits of the Papuan Infantry Battalion listen attentively to instruction on the safe handling and use of the Mills grenade.
Corporal Dangoro instructs (LtoR) Privates Omar, Tabunguna (centre), ToPuipui (kneeling), Kai-io, Kabuna & Chikikama (squatting).
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After an ambush at Gona, the PIB recovered a dead Japanese officer's diary.
He described the PIB: "Moving silently in the jungle, inflicting casualties on us - and then gone, like green shadows..."
The PIB proudly adopted that nickname.
Emblem of the Papuan Infantry Battalion:
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Papuan Infantry Battalion recruits drill:
LtoR: L/Cpls Gamari, Kiko & Gido; Privates Tapae, Koina, Wagigal.
The PIB fought in most Papua New Guinea campaigns; were feared by the Japanese and named "Ryokuin" (Green Shadows) due to their ability to conceal, & emerge from jungle.
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Cape Wom Tragedy:
On 7th May 1945 nine American P-38s set off from Nadzab to strafe Wewak Point.
On nearby Cape Wom, to the west, 44 25-pdr guns of 6th Australian Division were emplaced —plus tanks of 2/4 Australian Armoured Regt and the 19th Australian Infantry Brigade HQ.
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By May 1945 the Japanese 41st Div. base area of Wewak was isolated.
Australians had captured Madang to the east and the Americans had captured Aitape to the west.
Enemy strength at Wewak was reduced to approx 1000 men concentrated in the town & caves situated on a small point.
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The familiar drone of the Lockheed P-38 Lightnings grew louder as the squadron approached from the south.
2,000 Australians relaxed as familiar American aircraft circled.
They stood to watch the attack on the headland 4km away.
Here, Australian gunners clean their 25-pounders.
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