Jale Bainisika

Jale Bainisika
Born	1914 or 1915 Tailevu Province, Fiji
Died	February 2020 (aged 105)[1] Fiji
Allegiance	Fiji
Service / branch	Royal Fiji Military Forces
Years of service	1944–1945
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	1939–1945 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939–1945

Jale Bainisika (1914/1915 – February 2020) was a Fijian military officer and the oldest and the last surviving veteran of World War II from Fiji. He was also the only surviving officer of Fiji to have fought in Malayan campaign, the Solomon Islands campaign, and the Bougainville campaign.

He was one of the 30 military personnel who voluntarily became a part of the 1st Commando Unit to work with the United States Army for spying on opponents during World War II in Guadalcanal. Bainisika was also one of the first Fijian to be assigned by Fiji Commandos with duties on spying on opponent.^[2]

Biography

Bainisika was born in Tailevu Province. He joined the Fiji Infantry Regiment in 1942 and became a member of the 3rd Battalion.^[1] After enlisting in the army, his duty begun in March 1944 until he returned on 7 September. He was discharged from the service on October 17, 1945.^[3]

References

1. "Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2021-12-28 – via PressReader.
2. "WW2 Veteran laid to rest". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
3. "Meeting a was veteran". FijiTimes. Retrieved 2021-12-28.

Further reading

• "War haunts veteran". FijiTimes. Retrieved 2021-12-28.