Constable Joseph TENGERIA QGM
Constable Joseph TENGERIA QGM (TANGIRIA)
The late Constable Tangiria, normally stationed at Hutjena Police Station at Buka Passage but as a result of the State of Emergency Declaration was mobilized for Active Duty and took over as escort guard on board the motorized pontoon landing barge operating between Buka Island and the mainland of Bougainville, at Kokopau. This landing barge had been requisitioned under the existing state of Emergency, just before lunch on the morning of 1st March 1991.
His partner sick, he was on lone duty as guard against infiltrating Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) insurgents, when the Pontoon Barge was attacked as it docked on the main island by a 5 member BRA section armed with pump shotguns and an automatic assault rifle.
Constable Tangiria, positioned on a raised steering platform at the rear of the barge, with the Coxwain and his 15 year old nephew, returned fire when the boy was hit by rifle fire and fell into the swiftly flowing Buka passage. (The gravely wounded boy was quickly washed away, to be rescued minutes later, further down the passage, by watchers who bravely swam out into the shark infested water).
Constable Tangiria wounded one of the insurgents (who was promptly evacuated to Honiara, the only survivor of the clash) but was then shot by the BRA rifleman. He hurled his shotgun into the Passage and then himself fell, mortally wounded, into the sea, where he was shot again and sank into the depths, his body never recovered.
The BRA hit squad attempted to land on Buka Island in canoes that same night, but were intercepted by alert sentries and machine gunned. One wounded survivor was rescued before he too passed away.
Former Kiap and Constabulary Field Branch Officer, Police Legacy Treasurer Peter Turner, who had been resident at Buka Passage for several years, witnessed the clash in which Constable Tangiria was killed and submitted a report, which upon verification, was processed as a recommendation for a decoration for gallantry.
On 24th January 1994 and as a result of the above recommendation the following was announced in the London Gazette;
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the advice of Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ministers, to approve the posthumous award of the Queen's Gallantry Medal to the undermentioned:
(To be dated 24th June 1993)
AWARDED THE QUEEN'S GALLANTRY MEDAL
Joseph TENGERIA (Deceased), lately Constable, Royal
Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
‘For great gallantry, leading to his death, while acting in the execution of his duty’.
Image www.gov.uk/government/news/civilian-gallantry-list-2013
Instituted on 20th June 1974 the Queens Gallantry Medal (QGM) is awarded for specific acts of bravery and is intended for awarding to civilians, although it may be awarded to members of the armed forces for actions which would not be deemed suitable for a military decoration (Medal Year Book, Token 2011). To date this is the only award of the Queens Gallantry Medal to be awarded to a Papua New Guinean and there have only been a little over 1000 medals awarded worldwide since its creation. Arrangements were never made at the time for the family of Constable Tangiria to receive the medal, however in 2013 the medal was located and arrangements made for its presentation to the family at Government House. Better late, than never, as the old saying goes.