Talaiasi Labalaba

Talaiasi LabalabaBEM (13 July 1942 – 19 July 1972), who initially served in the British Army in the Royal Irish Rangers,  was a British-Fijian Sergeant in B Squadron 22nd British SAS unit involved in the Battle of Mirbat on 19 July 1972.

Mirbat Castle, site of the Battle of Mirbat

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SAS Hero: Tribute To Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba

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Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba with Omani children in Oman

Labalaba, aged 30, was shot dead whilst firing a 25-pounder gun at the attacking guerrilla forces.

He displayed notable bravery by continuing to fire the 25 pounder single handed in spite of being seriously wounded when a bullet hit him on the jaw, after his Omani loader was seriously wounded early in the battle.

Captain Mike Kealy, fellow troopers Tommy Tobin and Sekonaia Takavesi ran a gauntlet of enemy fire but arrived too late to save Labalaba. Both…