Major Isireli Korovulavula, who was awarded the Military Crosss for bravery during the Solomon Islands campaign, died in Suva at the age of 66.
His passing was reported in The Fiji Times on Wednesday, August 27, 1980. Major Korovulavula was one of Fiji’s most distinguished soldiers.
He also served with the 1st Battalion during the Malayan Campaign from 1952-1956.
He had been living in retirement in Suva after a career with the Prisons Service when he died of a heart attack near his home.
Educated at one of Suva’s early primary schools, the Suva Methodist Boys’ School in Toorak, Major Korovulavula joined the army when World War II broke out.
He was promoted on the field to lieutenant. While he was serving in the Solomons, a Piper Cub spotting aircraft he was being flown in crashed into a tree in dense jungle.
He and the pilot, Lieutenant Charles Cross, were unhurt, and climbed down the tree and began walking. After 10 days, they discovered they had been walking in the wrong direction.
They retraced their steps when they found they were walking towards a Japanese stronghold.
Lt Korovulavula was later found by friendly Bougainville villagers who hid him from the Japanese for five days.
When he regained his strength, they handed him over to a coast watcher.
His efforts to try to save Lt Cross earned him the Military Cross. No search was mounted for Lt Cross because it was considered futile.
After he was demobilised Lt Korovulavula joined the Fiji Prisons Service and in 1952.
He later joined the 1st Battalion for the Malayan Campaign and was promoted to the rank of major when he became Officer Commanding C Company.
He rejoined the Fiji Prisons Service when he returned from Malaya and retured as a Superintendent of Prisons in 1968.
Major Korovulavula later helped to operate Viking Ahoy, a ship bought by his village of Naikorokoro, in Kadavu.
Later the ship was sold. He was survived by two sons, WO II Necani Korovulavula and Manu Korovulavula.
He was accorded a military funeral at the Suva Extension Cemetery.
