of Fiji received the award posthumously for his bravery at Mawaraka on 23 June 1944; he was the first, and is currently only Fijian to have received the award. Corporal Reg Rattey received the award for his actions during the fighting around Slater's Knoll on 22 March 1945, while Private Frank Partridge earned his in one of the final actions of the campaign on 24 July 1945 during fighting along the Ratsua front. Partridge was the only member of the Militia to receive the VC which was the last of the war awarded to an Australian. Namesake The U.S. Navy escort carrier , in commission from 1944 to 1946, was named for the Bougainville campaign. Notes Footnotes Citations References Further reading Autonomous Region of Bougainville 1943 in Papua New Guinea 1944 in Papua New Guinea 1945 in Papua New Guinea Territory of New Guinea Battles and operations of World War II involving Papua New Guinea Battles and operations of World War II involving Australia Battles and operations of World War II involving Japan Battles and operations of World War II involving the United States Conflicts in 1943 Conflicts in 1944 Conflicts in 1945 Operation Cartwheel Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II South West Pacific theatre of World War II United States Marine Corps in World War II