British Honours and Awards System
When Fiji became a British colony in 1874, it was included in the British Honours and Awards system. Many Fijians won decorations and awards under this system until Fiji was declared a sovereign democratic republic on 7 October 1987 (113 years), following the second military coup of that year. Notable was the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu (1918 – 1944), who died on 23 June 1944, at just 26 years of age, he was serving in the 3^ Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment in the Solomons.
The following details are given in the London Gazette of November, 2nd, 1944:
On June, 23rd, 1944 at Mawaraka, Bougainville, in the Solomon Islands, Cpl. Sefanaia Sukanaivalu crawled forward to rescue some men wounded when their platoon was ambushed. After recovering two men this N.C.O. volunteered to go alone through heavy fire to try and rescue another – but on the way back was seriously wounded and fell to the ground unable to move further. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to rescue him; and realising that his men would not withdraw while he was still alive Cpl. Sukanaivalu raised himself up in front of the Japanese machine gun and was riddled with bullets. This brave Fiji soldier, after rescuing two wounded men with the greatest heroism and being gravely wounded himself, deliberately sacrificed his own life knowing that in no other way could his men be induced to retire from a situation in which they must have been annihilated (CWG, 2003).
His Victoria Cross citation reads: “The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:-No. 4469 Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, Fiji Military Forces. (Bjornstad, 2003)
Other military honours won by Fijians includes The Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, and Queen’s Gallantry Medal. In the field of service to the nation and humanity, such awards were bestowed on Fijians including Knighthoods in the Orders of Saint Michael and Saint George and the British Empire honour.
The National Order of Fiji
When Fiji was declared a Republic, its citizens could no longer be honoured or decorated by the British sovereign as it had its own Head of State, the President of the Sovereign Democratic Republic of the Fiji Islands. On 8 March 1995, His Excellency Ratu Sir Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ, MSD gave his Presidential Assent to Act No. 7 of that year establishing the Honours and Awards of Fiji. Fiji HONOURS AND AWARDS ACT, 1995 (ACT No.7 of 1995) PDF
Brigadier Thorpe has a long association with the Fiji Military Forces. He was Adjutant of the Ist Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment in Malaya (later Malaysia) when the late Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO, KStJ, MSD was a Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the Battalion in 1955-1956. He was later contracted to command the Royal Fiji Military Forces from 1979 to 1982 after retirement from the New Zealand Army, and was recalled to establish the Fiji Military Forces Officers’ School after all foreign military assistance was cut off as a result of the military coups of 1987. The idea of a National Order system was proposed by Brigadier Thorpe while he was the Commandant of the Officer Training School.
The Insignia
Chancellor of the Order of Fiji. The President of the Republic is the Chancellor of the Order and wears the Chain of the Order, made up of two gold chains interspersed evenly with circular tagimaucia wreaths and the monogram of the initials of the Republic. (Above Image)
The central wreath is joined by ring clasps to a suspended monogram, also joined by ring clasps to the main eight-pointed gold star with the basic Order insignia of a four-quartered shield with a central red cross dividing the quarters, surrounded by a tagimaucia wreath. The top left quarter is a Fijian canoe signifying the traditional maritime nature of the islands, the top right contains sugar cane stalks signifying the importance of agriculture, The bottom right quarter contains the ‘dove of peace that was a part of the flag of the short-lived Kingdom of Fiji prior to Cession in 1874, and, the bottom left contains a crossed pick and shovel reflecting the significance of mineral resources, particularly gold mining, in Fiji’s history.
Above the shield is a replica of Ratu Cakobau’s war club, now the current mace of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji (Image Above). An important historical artefact in its own right. The Mace represents the authority of the Speaker in the House. It is carried into the chamber by the Mace Bearer whenever Parliament meets. Ratu Seru Cakobau gave the war club as a gift to Queen Victoria of Great Britain in 1874 when Fiji became part of the British Empire. The war club stayed in Great Britain until 1932 when it was returned to Fiji by King George the 5th. (Fiji Government, 2018).
It is made of a type of hardwood called “gadi”. Ratu Seru Cakobau named the war club Ai Tutuvi Kuta I Radini Bau translated as “The Kuta (water reed) coverlet of Radini Bau (wife of the Roko Tui Bau)”. The club was embellished with silver palm leaves and doves as symbols of peace and tranquillity when Ratu Cakobau converted to Christianity. At the start of each sitting day in the Chamber, the Mace is carried into the House by the Mace Bearer where it is placed on the central table. The crown of the Mace always points to the Government side of the chamber. The Mace sits on the central table as long as the House is officially sitting and the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker presides (Fiji Government, 2018).
The Military Classes Military personnel are also entitled to be recommended for the award of any of the classes in the Order. The military insignia differ in that the star incorporates two crossed swords replacing the diagonal points of the star, and the ribbon includes a thin red stripe in the middle of the white stripe in the centre (Image Below)
Fiji College Of Honour And Awards
The Fiji Honours System was created in 1995 by an Act of Parliament to provide for the establishment of Honours and Awards in Fiji. Therefore, the Fiji Honours System is governed by the “Honours and Awards Act 1995, 1997 and 2016 amendments”. It is a system whereby the citizens of Fiji recognise the contribution of individuals to the enhancement of Fijian society and its people (OP, 2022).
| Companion of the Order of Fiji | Officer of the Order of Fiji |
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| For eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Fiji or to humanity at large. The star in a silver metal is suspended from the ribbon by two ring clasps and carries the same tagimaucia wreath and shield design as the Chancellor insignia. This is a’neck’ order worn with a 1.25 inch wide ribbon on investiture and subsequently with a miniature ribbon in normal wear. Companions of the Order are entitled to the post-nominals ‘CF’. | For distinguished service of a high degree to Fiji or to humanity at large. This smaller star insignia is worn on the left breast suspended from the normal ribbon by a ring clasp. Officers of the Order of Fiji are entitled to the post-nominals ‘OF’. |
| Member of the Order of Fiji | Member of the Order of Fiji |
| |
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| For meritorious service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group. The star is the same size and design as that of the Officer insignia, but wholly of silver colour. It is worn on the left breast with the usual ribbon. Members of the Order of Fiji are entitled to the post-nominals ‘MF’. | The Order has an associated medal to be awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. The insignia for this class is an enlargement of the circular design in the star of the senior classes as a round medal of silver metal suspended from the ribbon with a bar clasp. This also is worn on the left breast. Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Fiji are entitled to the post-nominals ‘MOF’. |
| Medal of the Order of Fiji | Medal of the Order of Fiji |
| President’s Cross | Presidents Medal | Bravery Medal |
|---|---|---|
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| Companions of the Order are entitled to the post-nominals ‘PC’. | Companions of the Order are entitled to the post-nominals ‘PM’. | Companions of the Order are entitled to the post-nominals ‘BM’. |
| Ribbon | Service | Orders – Decorations – Medals |
|---|---|---|
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Presidents War Cross (PWC) – Operational Gallantry Awards Sub-Category |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Battle Commendation – Operational Gallantry Awards Sub-Category |
| Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Commendation for Leadership – Leadership Awards Sub-Category |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Service Decoration |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Cross of Gallantry (CG) – Operational Gallantry Awards Sub-Category |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Distinguished Command Cross (DCC) – Leadership Awards Sub-Category |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Meritorious Service Decoration |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Service award |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Medal for Gallantry (MG) – Operational Gallantry Awards Sub-Category |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Command Medal (CM) – Leadership Awards Sub-Category |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | Meritorious Service Awards |
 | Republic of Fiji Military Forces | General Service Medal |
| Prison Service Division | Efficient Service Decoration |
 | Prison Service Division | Fiji Prisions Long Service and Good conduct Medal |
 | Prison Service Division | Distinguished Service Award |
 | Fiji Police Division | Fiji Police Medal |
 | Fiji Police Division | Police Overseas Service Medal |
| Fiji Police Division | Fiji Police Service Medal |
 | Fire Services | Fire Services Meritorious Service Medal |
 | Fire Services | Fiji Civil Service |
 | Fire Services | Fiji Fire Service Long Service Medal |