Talaiasi Labalaba

Sgt. Talaiasi Labalaba - BEM & MiD
B Squadron 22nd. Special Air Service Regiment.

17th. July 1972

Laba fell mortally wounded in a Gun Pit at Mirbat in southern Oman during the Dhofar Insurgency Campaign whilst defending the town from an invasion of nearly 400 communist insurgents.

Laba repeatedly loaded the 25 Pounder and kept firing over open sights until a bullet hit him in the neck.

His action and that of the other members of the B Squadron BATT team kept the Adoo pinned at the Towns perimeter defences whilst a relief force from G Squadron was on the way by helicopter from Salalah.

MI.Net support the Campaign to recognise this action for an award of the Victoria Cross!

I agree that Laba's efforts should have been rewarded more. Doesn't seem right that just because of a political necessity to keep the government's activities in the region under wraps, a brave man was denied his rightful recognition. One of the best descriptions I have read of this action was in 'Soldier I, SAS', written by someone who was actually there. Unfortunately, I lent my copy of it out & never got it back, now I can't remember who it was.