page break

Written for the Historical Committee of Southern Independent
Commando and First Commando Fiji Guerrillas.

The Southern Independent Commando became the nucleus of First Commando Fiji Guerrillas and the histories of these two units are inseparable. Tlie independent and individual nature of commando operations, and the varied nationalities of the members, makes an exhaustive account impossible: some important work was carried out by men who were killed in action and their exploits can never be fully recorded.

It was therefore decided that a story, or unofficial history, should be published from the facts at the disposal of the author. Official records are very limited in scope and the author has had to draw upon his personal experience, to a great extent, to give an adequate picture of commando life. The Committee wishes to point out that the author was a member of the unit from its inception and that, as intelligence sergeant, he was in a unique position to view the commando activities from all angles. However, he spent several months in hospital in 1943 and could not take part in every action. Chapters X, XV, and XVI have been written entirely from records and the verbal reports of others, but the other fourteen chapters are mostly an eyewitness account. The opinions expressed in this book are those of the author, based on his experience.