50 Years in the British Army...courtesy of the Fiji Musuem

This is from a post that ran on the Fiji Museum's Facebook page. The FM had a terrific exhibit recently about the history of Fijians fighting in the British Army.

A FORMER SAS hero who continued to fire against the enemy despite being seriously injured is to receive a special honour. 
A statue will be erected of Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba at the specialist regiment’s Credenhill camp for the bravery he showed fighting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLOAG) guerrillasin 1972. 
Known as the Battle of Mirbat, Sgt Labalaba was part of a team of nine SAS soldiers who were ordered to open fire when the opposition attacked their base. Most of them used SLR 7.62mm assault rifles, but Sgt Labalaba realised that more firepower was needed. 
Despite the dangers, he made a run for a 25 pounder artillery piece and started using it, even though at least three people are usually needed to man the huge gun. 
Sgt Labalaba, a Fijian, still managed to fire a round a minute at the guerrillas and managed to direct them away from the SAS base. 
But a bullet skimmed his face and he was struggling to operate the machine alone. 
Sgt Sekonaia Takavesi, another Fijian, gave aid to his injured comrade. But shortly afterwards, Sgt Labalaba died after he was shot in the neck when he crawled across a small space to reach a 60mm infantry mortar. 
His bravery did not go unnoticed and many people are campaigning for him to be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. 
“Talaiasi was much loved and respected in the regiment, but he was also a real life hero and a great family man,” said his cousin Steven Ratu. 
“It is a great honour that he is to have a statue and, even though it won’t bring him back, it is a lovely gesture.” 
Mervyn Wynne Jones, press officer for the Ministry of Defence, said that he could not confirm when the statue will be unveiled in Credenhill. (" Statue honour for genuine SAS hero, Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba" (From Hereford Times) Friday 30th October 2009.