Fiji Guerrillas

The first Fiji Commandos.

 

The first Fijian force to undertake service in the Solomons was a special party of 23 guerrillas, commanded by Capt. D.E. Williams, which was drawn from commando units formed as part of the New Zealand 3rd Division and retained in Fiji after the division’s departure.  Williams had Lt. D. Chambers as his second-in-command and sergeants S.I. Heckler, L.V. Jackson, F.E. Williams, R.H. Morrison and M.V. Kells as section leaders.

They reached Guadalcanal via the New Hebrides and disembarked at Lunga Beach on 23 December 1942.  The Japanese garrison was then still fighting desperately along the Matanikau River/Koli Point line and the American command employed the Fijians to probe the wooded country behind the enemy garrison.

Fiji Commandos with their New Zealand commander.

The first patrol, led by Heckler on Christmas Day, was uneventful, but on the 28th, a small patrol led by Sgt. Williams, acting as scouts for the 182nd US Infantry Regiment, wiped out a Japanese patrol at short range – without loss or injury – on the left bank of the Lunga River.  This action was fought with grenades, rifles and revolvers on sloping ground round the massive, tangled roots of a banyan tree.  This was a characteristic of swift individual action which spelled victory in a type of warfare these men were fighting for the first time.

The Ol’ Officer’s Mess

The guerrillas wore camouflaged American jungle suits, the green and blotched material to make it difficult to spot the soldier among the tangled growth of the jungle.  New Zealand Army boots were preferred to the soft rubber-soled jungle boot and had a longer life span.  Arms were varied and consisted of Owen guns, rifles, revolvers and hand grenades.  The men carried sufficient rations to last them for at least 5 days.

To remain mobile, these men carried as little personal gear as possible, consequently suffering from the unmerciful attention of the mosquitoes.  Patrols sometimes worked only 100 yards apart but were unaware of the existence of each other.  Malaria played havoc with these parties, especially during a period of heavy activity.

As the Japanese force fall back in January and February of 1943, we will once again pick up the information on brave men, who continue to produce vital intelligence while they create havoc among the enemy.  Their contributions become so valuable, MGen. Alexander Patch, commander of Guadalcanal,  would request additional Fiji troops.

I thank Gallivanta (Ann) at Silkannthreades for sending the link of NZETC.victoria.ac.nz so that we could acquire the information.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Military Humor – when all else fails – 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

Paul Bobitz – Lake Worth, FL; US Army, 82nd A/B, Army Band

Donald Connett – Mulalla, OR; US Navy, WWII, Admiral, USS Columbia; Shangri La

Benjamin Fisher – Vancouver, CAN; RC Army, WWII, ETO

Mae Glassbrenner – Pittsburgh, PA; US Army WAC/USMC Medical Corps, WWII, ETO

Wyatt Martin – Mesa, AZ; US Army, Afghanistan

Henry Myles – Auckland, NZ; RNZ Army # 48702, WWII, Sgt.

George Poulos – Chicago, IL; US Army, WWII

Robert Shiffner – Warton, NJ; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, Med.Co./221st Reg.

Edward Slaga – Flint, MI; US Army, Korea, 187th RCT

Robert Wilkinson – Andover, MA; US Air Force

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