Anybody knows the story of the brave Fijian in the SAS by the name of Labalaba?

Question

He was one of the 9 men of the SAS who defeated 1000's of Communist rebels in the Battle of Mirbat,17th of July 1972.He died firing the 25 Pounder alone and in that action held back the enemies before backups arrived.He should have given the VC..but because it's a secret mission he was only Mention in Dispatch.Should he be given the VC?

Answer 1

Yes;he certainly should be considered for the VC,but consider also the C.O. at that action,Maj Mike Kealy,who,at 23 years old,was responsible not only for the 10 SAS soldiers in the compound,but also the 30 Omani tribesmen,or Askaris, as well.Plus 25 men of the parmilitary Dhofar gendarmerie,in a frontal defence fort,just inside the wire
An attack by some 250 guerillas,launched at 5,30 in the morning.A hill fort,800 yards outside the wire,came undar concerted attack from mortars,AK47`s,84mm Carl Gustav rockets,and grenades.As the guerillas approached the fort,they were potted,and the Gendarmerie opened fire.
4 were killed,but 4 escaped,to the compound and raised the alarm.
At this,the compound now came under a very heavy barrage,and an SAS trooper,not Labalaba,gave covering fire,to suppress an assault on the fort inside the wire.
As the compound was surrounded on 3 sides,with only the sea on the 4th,a major initiative was needed.
Kealy radioed for help,and began organising defence moves.
Labalaba and Trooper Ti,with an Omani gunner,hit back firing an ancient,but useful 25-punder gun.
The guerillas were beginning to approach the perimeter,and
began to fire RPG and 84mm rockets at the fort.
During this phase of the fighting,Labalaba radioed that he`d been hit in the face,but was continuing to return fire.The guerillas had crossed the perimeter,but not taken the fort.
Kealy ran across open ground,nder heavy fire,with Trooper Tobin,to assist the soldiers in the fort,
When he arrived,the sight that met him was atrocious;the Omani gunner was badly wounded,Trooper Ti was wounded in the head,and Labalaba was bleeding from a chin wound.
Stll reloading the gun,he dressed Trooper Ti`s wounds,and relising that the situation was becoming critical,Kealy radioed for an air strike,which arrived 10 miutes later.
By that time,the guerillas were onlt 30 yards away,and in this final phase of the battle for thr the fort,Corporal H,had to aim the mortar by holding it between his legs,Trooper Ti was wounded in the back and hand,and sadly,LABALABA was shot dead.Kealy ran back again to a Land Rover,to evacuate casualties,but it was hot to pieces,and a worsening situation was retreived by the arrival of the Strikemasters of the Omani air force. Trooper Tobin,who had supported Kealy,during tha attack,was also killed in this final phase of the battle.
Kealy,who received the DSO,later died of exposure during a training excercise on the Brecon Beacons in1979.
Labalaba received a Mention in Dispatches.

Answer 2

The mission being secret has nothing to do with it.I served in that particular conflict and a number of SAS troops were awarded the VC.The fighting in the Gulf at that time was most probably the most unpublicised military action British troops ever served in though it is now openly discussed in the media and novels.

Answer 3

There is no way to upgrade awards, especialy after 30 years, if he got a M.I.D then thats it, and contary to your belief V.C. and Gallantry awards can be made for undercover / covert opps, but you will never read about them in the papers until many years afterwards.

Answer 4

Yes.

Answer 5

yes, but government will not give it because they officially were not involved in Oman

Answer 6

i heard he pretty much had his jaw shot of and still continued fighting

Answer 7

Yeah OK.

Answer 8

But he wasn't alone. He was brave though, they all were.