Sergeant Talaiasi “Laba” Labalaba BEM, MID (1942–1972) was a British‑Fijian SAS soldier who became one of the Regiment’s most celebrated heroes.
Here is all you need to know about the SAS soldier.
Early life and army career
Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba was born on July 13, 1942, in the village of Vatutu, near Nadi in western Fiji.
In 1961, he was one of 212 Fijians recruited into the British Army and was posted to the Royal Ulster Rifles, later serving with the Royal Irish Rangers.
He passed SAS selection in 1966 and joined B Squadron, 22 SAS.
Battle of Mirbat, July 19, 1972
On July 19, 1972, Labalaba was part of a nine-man SAS training team (BATT – British Army Training Team) based in a small fortified house just outside the port of Mirbat in Dhofar, Oman, supporting the Sultan’s counter-insurgency against the Marxist PFLOAG guerrillas.
At dawn, an estimated 250–400 heavily armed PFLOAG fighters attacked the position, vastly outnumbering the SAS detachment and their Omani allies.
Realising the gun pit at nearby Wali Fort was critical, Labalaba ran several hundred yards across open ground under fire to reach a World War II-era 25-pounder field gun, normally crewed by four to six men.
Single-handed defence of the gun
For around two to two and a half hours, Labalaba operated the 25-pounder almost alone, firing repeatedly at close range to break up enemy assaults and prevent the gun from being captured.
He continued to fire even after being seriously wounded, with reports describing his jaw blown away by a bullet yet still trying to bring the gun to bear on the attackers.
Another Fijian SAS trooper, Sekonaia Takavesi, later ran across to assist him, and together with Omani gunners they maintained a desperate but effective defence until the enemy withdrew.
Death and burial
During the final phase of the battle, as Labalaba attempted to reach a 60mm mortar to continue the fight, he was shot in the neck and killed instantly.
He was 30 years old.
He is buried in the SAS cemetery at St Martin’s Church, Hereford, the Regiment’s spiritual home.
Decorations and honours
Labalaba had previously been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his role in undercover operations in Aden in the late 1960s.
For Mirbat, he received a posthumous Mention in Despatches (MID), the lowest formal gallantry recognition, despite widespread belief among his comrades that his actions warranted the Victoria Cross.
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Legacy and memorials
Within the SAS, the Battle of Mirbat is often described as the Regiment’s "finest hour", and Labalaba is remembered as one of its greatest soldiers.
In 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan unveiled a bronze statue of Labalaba at Nadi International Airport in Fiji, honouring him as a national and military hero.
A memorial illustration by Ray Kirkpatrick hangs in the Royal Artillery Museum in London, and his name is commemorated on plaques and markers in Fiji, Oman, and Hereford.
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