CINXE.COM
Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC</title> <meta name="description" content="The story of Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC. Share your family stories today with For Evermore and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/corporal-sefanaia-sukanaivalu-vc/" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="CWGC Stories" /> <meta name="author" content="CWGC Stories" /> <meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@CWGC" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC | CWGC" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The story of Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC. Share your family stories today with For Evermore and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.cwgc.org/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg" /> <meta property="og:url" content="/stories/stories/corporal-sefanaia-sukanaivalu-vc/" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png?v=PYqQG3J6gr"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png?v=PYqQG3J6gr"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png?v=PYqQG3J6gr"> <link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest?v=PYqQG3J6gr"> <link rel="mask-icon" color="#13294b" href="/safari-pinned-tab.svg?v=PYqQG3J6gr"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico?v=PYqQG3J6gr"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> <link rel="preconnect" crossorigin href="https://fonts.gstatic.com"> <link rel="preload stylesheet" as="style" href="https://use.typekit.net/ktf7kxb.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/dist/css/first-paint_stories-portal.css?v=qwf7uuWz0cIOKv7I-gDbmn2IqnxGziXDG4tQVPUk5sQ"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/dist/css/style_stories-portal.css?v=XMd4-fLk-8vZdsU1ihAub7M5ZPoA34NuvtRt3x6jg2Y"> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-WQW56W8');</script> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <script type="text/javascript">!function(T,l,y){var S=T.location,k="script",D="instrumentationKey",C="ingestionendpoint",I="disableExceptionTracking",E="ai.device.",b="toLowerCase",w="crossOrigin",N="POST",e="appInsightsSDK",t=y.name||"appInsights";(y.name||T[e])&&(T[e]=t);var n=T[t]||function(d){var g=!1,f=!1,m={initialize:!0,queue:[],sv:"5",version:2,config:d};function v(e,t){var n={},a="Browser";return n[E+"id"]=a[b](),n[E+"type"]=a,n["ai.operation.name"]=S&&S.pathname||"_unknown_",n["ai.internal.sdkVersion"]="javascript:snippet_"+(m.sv||m.version),{time:function(){var e=new Date;function t(e){var t=""+e;return 1===t.length&&(t="0"+t),t}return e.getUTCFullYear()+"-"+t(1+e.getUTCMonth())+"-"+t(e.getUTCDate())+"T"+t(e.getUTCHours())+":"+t(e.getUTCMinutes())+":"+t(e.getUTCSeconds())+"."+((e.getUTCMilliseconds()/1e3).toFixed(3)+"").slice(2,5)+"Z"}(),iKey:e,name:"Microsoft.ApplicationInsights."+e.replace(/-/g,"")+"."+t,sampleRate:100,tags:n,data:{baseData:{ver:2}}}}var h=d.url||y.src;if(h){function a(e){var t,n,a,i,r,o,s,c,u,p,l;g=!0,m.queue=[],f||(f=!0,t=h,s=function(){var e={},t=d.connectionString;if(t)for(var n=t.split(";"),a=0;a<n.length;a++){var i=n[a].split("=");2===i.length&&(e[i[0][b]()]=i[1])}if(!e[C]){var r=e.endpointsuffix,o=r?e.location:null;e[C]="https://"+(o?o+".":"")+"dc."+(r||"services.visualstudio.com")}return e}(),c=s[D]||d[D]||"",u=s[C],p=u?u+"/v2/track":d.endpointUrl,(l=[]).push((n="SDK LOAD Failure: Failed to load Application Insights SDK script (See stack for details)",a=t,i=p,(o=(r=v(c,"Exception")).data).baseType="ExceptionData",o.baseData.exceptions=[{typeName:"SDKLoadFailed",message:n.replace(/\./g,"-"),hasFullStack:!1,stack:n+"\nSnippet failed to load ["+a+"] -- Telemetry is disabled\nHelp Link: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2128109\nHost: "+(S&&S.pathname||"_unknown_")+"\nEndpoint: "+i,parsedStack:[]}],r)),l.push(function(e,t,n,a){var i=v(c,"Message"),r=i.data;r.baseType="MessageData";var o=r.baseData;return o.message='AI (Internal): 99 message:"'+("SDK LOAD Failure: Failed to load Application Insights SDK script (See stack for details) ("+n+")").replace(/\"/g,"")+'"',o.properties={endpoint:a},i}(0,0,t,p)),function(e,t){if(JSON){var n=T.fetch;if(n&&!y.useXhr)n(t,{method:N,body:JSON.stringify(e),mode:"cors"});else if(XMLHttpRequest){var a=new XMLHttpRequest;a.open(N,t),a.setRequestHeader("Content-type","application/json"),a.send(JSON.stringify(e))}}}(l,p))}function i(e,t){f||setTimeout(function(){!t&&m.core||a()},500)}var e=function(){var n=l.createElement(k);n.src=h;var e=y[w];return!e&&""!==e||"undefined"==n[w]||(n[w]=e),n.onload=i,n.onerror=a,n.onreadystatechange=function(e,t){"loaded"!==n.readyState&&"complete"!==n.readyState||i(0,t)},n}();y.ld<0?l.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(e):setTimeout(function(){l.getElementsByTagName(k)[0].parentNode.appendChild(e)},y.ld||0)}try{m.cookie=l.cookie}catch(p){}function t(e){for(;e.length;)!function(t){m[t]=function(){var e=arguments;g||m.queue.push(function(){m[t].apply(m,e)})}}(e.pop())}var n="track",r="TrackPage",o="TrackEvent";t([n+"Event",n+"PageView",n+"Exception",n+"Trace",n+"DependencyData",n+"Metric",n+"PageViewPerformance","start"+r,"stop"+r,"start"+o,"stop"+o,"addTelemetryInitializer","setAuthenticatedUserContext","clearAuthenticatedUserContext","flush"]),m.SeverityLevel={Verbose:0,Information:1,Warning:2,Error:3,Critical:4};var s=(d.extensionConfig||{}).ApplicationInsightsAnalytics||{};if(!0!==d[I]&&!0!==s[I]){var c="onerror";t(["_"+c]);var u=T[c];T[c]=function(e,t,n,a,i){var r=u&&u(e,t,n,a,i);return!0!==r&&m["_"+c]({message:e,url:t,lineNumber:n,columnNumber:a,error:i}),r},d.autoExceptionInstrumented=!0}return m}(y.cfg);function a(){y.onInit&&y.onInit(n)}(T[t]=n).queue&&0===n.queue.length?(n.queue.push(a),n.trackPageView({})):a()}(window,document,{ src: "https://js.monitor.azure.com/scripts/b/ai.2.min.js", // The SDK URL Source crossOrigin: "anonymous", cfg: { // Application Insights Configuration connectionString: 'InstrumentationKey=7af394f3-bfd9-41f7-9c89-47de6be2e17b;IngestionEndpoint=https://uksouth-1.in.applicationinsights.azure.com/;LiveEndpoint=https://uksouth.livediagnostics.monitor.azure.com/' }});</script></head> <body class="page"> <a class="skip-to-content" href="#main-content"> Skip to content </a> <header class="stories-portal-site-header" data-controller="site-header"> <div class="stories-portal-site-header-container stories-container"> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__mobile-toggle" aria-haspopup="true" aria-controls="main-menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Mobile Navigation Button" data-target="site-header.mobileToggle"> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__mobile-toggle__icon"> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> </div> <span id="label-mobile-menu">Menu</span> </button> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__backdrop"></div> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__logo stories-portal-site-header__logo--main" href="//www.cwgc.org/stories/"> <img src="/assets/dist/images/Evermore-Logo.svg" alt="For Evermore - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Logo"> </a> <nav class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-items" id="main-menu"> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item__link" href="//www.cwgc.org/stories/" > Home <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item"> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item__link stories-portal-site-header__nav-item__link--secondary" aria-controls="stories-portal-site-header__section--1" aria-expanded="false" data-target="site-header.subMobileToggle" data-depth="2"> Browse stories <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </button> <section class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav" id="stories-portal-site-header__section--1"> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__content"> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section"> <h3 class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--heading"> By Conflict <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </h3> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--button" aria-controls="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0" aria-expanded="false" data-target="site-header.subMobileToggle" data-depth="3"> <span>Open</span> By Conflict <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </button> <ul class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__links" role="menu" id="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0"> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/conflict/first-world-war/" role="menuitem"> First World War <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/conflict/second-world-war/" role="menuitem"> Second World War <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__all-link" href="/stories/conflict/" title="Browse all" role="menuitem"> Browse all <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section"> <h3 class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--heading"> By Job / Role <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </h3> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--button" aria-controls="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0" aria-expanded="false" data-target="site-header.subMobileToggle" data-depth="3"> <span>Open</span> By Job / Role <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </button> <ul class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__links" role="menu" id="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0"> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/roles/army/" role="menuitem"> Army <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/roles/air-force/" role="menuitem"> Air Force <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/roles/navy/" role="menuitem"> Navy <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/roles/civilian-war-dead-1939-1945/" role="menuitem"> Civilian War Dead 1939-1945 <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/roles/merchant-navy/" role="menuitem"> Merchant Navy <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__all-link" href="/stories/roles/" title="Browse all" role="menuitem"> Browse all <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section"> <h3 class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--heading"> Nationality <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </h3> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--button" aria-controls="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0" aria-expanded="false" data-target="site-header.subMobileToggle" data-depth="3"> <span>Open</span> Nationality <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </button> <ul class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__links" role="menu" id="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0"> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/nationality/united-kingdom/" role="menuitem"> United Kingdom <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/nationality/canadian/" role="menuitem"> Canadian <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/nationality/australian/" role="menuitem"> Australian <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/nationality/new-zealand/" role="menuitem"> New Zealand <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/nationality/non-commonwealth/" role="menuitem"> Non-Commonwealth <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__all-link" href="/stories/nationality/" title="Browse all" role="menuitem"> Browse all <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section"> <h3 class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--heading"> Themes <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </h3> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__title--button" aria-controls="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0" aria-expanded="false" data-target="site-header.subMobileToggle" data-depth="3"> <span>Open</span> Themes <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-open"></use> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-accordion-close"></use> </svg> </button> <ul class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__links" role="menu" id="stories-portal-site-header__section-1-0"> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/themes/pre-war-sportsmanwoman/" role="menuitem"> Pre-war sportsman/woman <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/themes/victoria-cross-holder/" role="menuitem"> Victoria Cross holder <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/themes/d-day-and-invasion-of-normandy/" role="menuitem"> D-Day and Invasion of Normandy <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/themes/women-at-war/" role="menuitem"> Women at war <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__link" href="/stories/themes/the-italian-campaign/" role="menuitem"> The Italian Campaign <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__secondary-nav__section__all-link" href="/stories/themes/" title="Browse all" role="menuitem"> Browse all <svg aria-hidden="true" height="32" width="32"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item__link" href="/stories/create-a-story/" > Submit a story <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item"> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__nav-item__link" href="https://foundation.cwgc.org/donate/" > Donate <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-chevron-right"></use> </svg> </a> </div> <a class="stories-portal-site-header__logo stories-portal-site-header__logo--mobile-nav stories-container" href="/"> <img src="/assets/dist/images/cwgc-logo.svg" alt="Commonwealth War Graves Commission Logo"> <span>For Evermore</span> </a> </nav> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__search"> <button class="stories-portal-site-header__search__button" data-target="site-header-search.open"> <div class="stories-portal-site-header__search__button__icon"> <div></div> </div> <span>Open search</span> </button> </div> </div> </header> <dialog class="site-header-search stories-container" data-controller="site-header-search"> <div class="site-header-search__search"> <button class="site-header-search__search__button" data-target="site-header-search.close"> <div class="site-header-search__search__button__icon"> <div></div> </div> <span>Close</span> </button> </div> <div class="site-header-search__form"> <h2>Search our stories</h2> <form action="/stories/search/" class="search-input"> <label class="search-input__input"> <input class="search-input__input__control text-input__control text-input__control--search" type="text" placeholder="Search stories by Name, Role, Conflict..." name="term" value="" required="required"> </label> <button class="search-input__submit" type="submit"> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="22" width="22"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-search"></use> </svg> <span>Search</span> </button> </form> </div> </dialog> <main class="page__main" id="main-content"> <div class="story-detail"> <div class="story-detail__hero"> <div class="story-hero stories-container"> <picture><source media="(min-width: 1921px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=2560&height=700&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=5120&height=1400&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=7680&height=2100&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 1921px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=2560&height=700&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=5120&height=1400&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=7680&height=2100&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/jpg" /><source media="(min-width: 1367px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1920&height=700&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=3840&height=1400&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=5760&height=2100&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 1367px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1920&height=700&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=3840&height=1400&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=5760&height=2100&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/jpg" /><source media="(min-width: 1025px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1366&height=800&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=2732&height=1600&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=4098&height=2400&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 1025px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1366&height=800&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=2732&height=1600&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=4098&height=2400&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/jpg" /><source media="(min-width: 602px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=800&height=800&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1600&height=1600&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=2400&height=2400&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 602px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=800&height=800&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1600&height=1600&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=2400&height=2400&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/jpg" /><source media="(min-width: 0px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=414&height=600&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=828&height=1200&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1242&height=1800&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 0px)" data-srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=414&height=600&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 1x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=828&height=1200&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 2x,/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&width=1242&height=1800&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30 3x" type="image/jpg" /><img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 2560 700'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-src="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?rmode=max&v=1d9f6cde11a5c30" class="story-hero__image" alt="" /></picture> <div class="story-hero__main-content"> <div class="story-hero__title"> Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC </div> <div class="story-hero__date"> 04/10/2023 </div> <div class="story-hero__tags"> <a class="story-hero__tag" href="/stories/conflict/second-world-war/"> Second World War </a> <a class="story-hero__tag" href="/stories/roles/army/"> Army </a> <a class="story-hero__tag" href="/stories/nationality/united-kingdom/"> United Kingdom </a> </div> <div class="story-hero__author"> <a class="story-hero__author-name" href="/stories/authors/cwgc/"> By CWGC </a> </div> <div class="story-hero__casualty"> <div class="story-hero__casualty__name"> Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu </div> <div class="story-hero__casualty__id"> 2166745 </div> <div> <a class="story-hero__casualty__link" href="/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2166745/sefanaia-sukanaivalu/" title="Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="16" width="16"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-link"></use> </svg> View record on CWGC </a> </div> <div> <a class="story-hero__casualty__donationLink" href="https://foundation.cwgc.org/donate-now/"> Make a Donation </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="story-detail__content stories-container"> <div class="story-detail__content__item"> <div class="story-text"> <div class="story-text__text"> <p>Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu worked as a carpenter before enlisting in 1942 with his older brother. His name Sukanaivalu means “return from war”, as he was named after his island chief, whose return from fighting in France during the First World War in 1918 coincided with Sefanaia’s birth.</p> <p>In June 1944, a patrol of Commonwealth troops was ambushed near Mawaraka on the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.</p> <p>Under heavy fire, Sefanaia crawled forward along a jungle track to rescue two wounded men before crawling on to a third. On his return Sefanaia was hit and fell to the ground unable to move further. Several attempts were made to rescue him despite Sefanaia’s protests as to the danger. Realising that the men would not withdraw without him, Sefanaia raised himself up in front of the Japanese machine gun and was killed, deliberately sacrificing his own life to preserve those of his men.</p> <p>For his heroism and self-sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.</p> <p>The following details are given in the London Gazette of November, 2nd, 1944: <em>On June, 23rd, 1944 at Mawaraka, Bougainville, in the Solomon Islands, Cpl. Sefanaia Sukanaivalu crawled forward to rescue some men wounded when their platoon was ambushed. After recovering two men this N.C.O. volunteered to go alone through heavy fire to try and rescue another - but on the way back was seriously wounded and fell to the ground unable to move further. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to rescue him; and realising that his men would not withdraw while he was still alive Cpl. Sukanaivalu raised himself up in front of the Japanese machine gun and was riddled with bullets. This brave Fiji soldier, after rescuing two wounded men with the greatest heroism and being gravely wounded himself, deliberately sacrificed his own life knowing that in no other way could his men be induced to retire from a situation in which they must have been annihilated.</em></p> <p>After the war his grave was brought to CWGC Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea. He is one of 117 Fijian servicemen of the Second World War Commemorated by the CWGC.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="story-detail__content__item"> <figure class="story-image"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=85&rmode=min&width=1060&format=webp, /media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=50&rmode=min&width=2120&format=webp 1.5x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(min-width: 980px)" srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=80&rmode=min&width=1060&format=jpg, /media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=50&rmode=min&width=2120&format=jpg 1.5x"> <source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=85&rmode=min&width=775&format=webp, /media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=50&rmode=min&width=1550&format=webp 1.5x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=80&rmode=min&width=775&format=jpg, /media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=50&rmode=min&width=1550&format=jpg 1.5x"> <source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=85&rmode=min&width=480&format=webp, /media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=50&rmode=min&width=960&format=webp 1.5x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=80&rmode=min&width=480&format=jpg, /media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg?quality=50&rmode=min&width=960&format=jpg 1.5x"> <img class="story-image__image story-image__image--landscape" src="/media/y5ghjjxy/cpl-sefanaia-sukanaivalu.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> </picture> <figcaption class="story-image__caption"> Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu (photo: Republic of Fiji Military Forces Archive). </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="story-detail__social-share stories-container"> <div class="share-options" data-controller="share-options"> <h2 class="share-options__title">Share</h2> <div class="share-options__links"> <a class="share-options__link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/corporal-sefanaia-sukanaivalu-vc/&title=Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu VC&summary=See the new story" target="_blank" data-target="share-options.button"> <span>Share on LinkedIn</span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-linkedin"></use> </svg> </a> <a class="share-options__link" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/corporal-sefanaia-sukanaivalu-vc/" target="_blank" data-target="share-options.button"> <span>Share on Facebook</span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-facebook"></use> </svg> </a> <a class="share-options__link" href="https://www.twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/corporal-sefanaia-sukanaivalu-vc/&text=Read this story&hashtags=cwgc,story" target="_blank" data-target="share-options.button"> <span>Share on Twitter</span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-twitter"></use> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="donate-bar stories-container"> <div class="donate-container"> <div class="donate-text"> <h3>DONATE TO OUR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION </h3> <div class="desc"><p class="MsoNormal">Your donation supports projects like this one, which educate and involve future generations in remembering those who fell in the two world wars. Your support helps us keep their stories alive. Thank you.</p></div> <a href="https://foundation.cwgc.org/donate-now/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Make a Donation</a> </div> <div class="donate-image"> <picture><source media="(min-width: 1200px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=531&height=326&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1062&height=652&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1593&height=978&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 1200px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=531&height=326&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1062&height=652&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1593&height=978&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/gif" /><source media="(min-width: 980px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=496&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=992&height=608&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1488&height=912&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 980px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=496&height=304&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=992&height=608&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1488&height=912&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/gif" /><source media="(min-width: 414px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=922&height=565&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1844&height=1130&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=2766&height=1695&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 414px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=922&height=565&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1844&height=1130&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=2766&height=1695&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/gif" /><source media="(min-width: 0px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=356&height=218&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=712&height=436&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1068&height=654&format=webp&quality=80&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/webp" /><source media="(min-width: 0px)" data-srcset="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=356&height=218&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 1x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=712&height=436&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 2x,/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&width=1068&height=654&v=1d9f14bad1c6220 3x" type="image/gif" /><img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 531 326'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-src="/media/tusjgn14/for-evermore-foundation-pod-image.gif?rxy=0.34908391584666637,0.4748685843296545&v=1d9f14bad1c6220" class="cover cover-height" alt="DONATE TO OUR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION " /></picture> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="stories-portal-site-footer stories-container"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__logo" href="/"> <img src="/assets/dist/images/Evermore-Logo.svg" alt="For Evermore - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Logo"> </a> <div class="stories-portal-site-footer__links"> <h2 class="stories-portal-site-footer__links__title"> Visit our other sites </h2> <ul class="stories-portal-site-footer__links__items" role="menu"> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__links__item" href="/" title="Commonwealth War Graves Commission" target="_blank" role="menuitem"> Commonwealth War Graves Commission </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__links__item" href="https://foundation.cwgc.org/" title="Commonwealth War Graves Foundation" target="_blank" role="menuitem"> Commonwealth War Graves Foundation </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links"> <h2 class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__title"> Follow us </h2> <ul class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__items" role="menu"> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__item" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/commonwealth-war-graves-commission" role="menuitem"> <span> Via LinkedIn </span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-linkedin"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__item" href="https://www.facebook.com/commonwealthwargravescommission/" role="menuitem"> <span> Via Facebook </span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-facebook"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__item" href="https://twitter.com/CWGC" role="menuitem"> <span> Via Twitter </span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-twitter"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__item" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuyv7WCJv_NYL04eKG3oyVA" role="menuitem"> <span> Via YouTube </span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-youtube"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li role="none"> <a class="stories-portal-site-footer__social-links__item" href="https://www.instagram.com/commonwealthwargraves/?hl=en" role="menuitem"> <span> Via Instagram </span> <svg aria-hidden="true" height="40" width="40"> <use href="/stories-svg-spritesheet.svg#sprite-icon-instagram"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-footer__support-message"> <p>©2023 Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Read our <a href="/cookies-policy/#\"" title="Cookies Policy" data-anchor="#\"">Cookie Policy</a>, <a href="/terms-and-conditions/" title="Terms And Conditions">Terms & Conditions</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cwgc.org/terms-and-conditions/acceptable-use-policy/" target="_blank">Acceptable use policy</a> and our <a href="/data-protection-and-privacy/#\"" title="Data Protection and Privacy" data-anchor="#\"">Data Protection</a> & <a href="/data-protection-and-privacy/privacy-policies/#\"" title="Privacy Policies" data-anchor="#\"">Privacy Policy</a>.</p> </div> <div class="stories-portal-site-footer__copyright-message"> <p>This project has been generously supported by the Post Office Remembrance Fellowship.</p> </div> </footer> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/dist/js/storiesPortal.bundle.js?v=87n23OXGGJJ8H0bPEXZ-9fGUTF8qAFRzXTUKDAxyhgQ"></script> </body> </html>