Kapiu Masi Gagai

Kapiu Masi Gagai (c. 1894 – 21 August 1946) was a Torres Strait Islander man who worked as a pearler, boatman, mission worker and Australian soldier during World War II.

Biography Gagai was born in around 1894 or 1895, on Mabuiag Island, which sits within the Torres Strait Islands. He was the second son of Newa Gagai and Kubi and he belonged to the Kodal (crocoldile) clan and the Badu Tribe and he grew up speaking Kalaw Lagaw Ya. As a child he was adopted through kupai omasker, a traditional practice of Torres Strait Islanders, by Nomoa and Kaidai.

From the age of 15 he worked on the pearling luggers active in the area and worked as a swimmer-diver for the Islander-owned pearling company Wakaid. On 22 December 1915 Gagai married Laina Getawan who was also from the Island; they would go on to have three children.

Gagai's wife and children joined him there and later, at the mission he married Mujerambi (Marjorie) who was the daughter of Alfred Joseph Voules Brown. They would have ten children together.

On 27 October 1941 Gagai enlisted in the army and joined the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit despite being 'over-age' and considered to be medically unfit. This unit, commanded by Thomson, was an irregular warfare unit that patrolled the coast of Arnhem Land. Within this unit he was placed in charge of the Aroetta between 1941 - 1943. During this period he was also twice placed in charge of an outpost at Caledon Bay, became an expert Vickers gunner and was promoted to being acting sergeant.

In late 1943 Gagai was seconded to the 11th Brigade (Australia) where he took part in an expedition to New Guinea, alongside six other Toress Strait Islander soldiers, where he was cut with a machete on the neck. Of this period of service Thomson stated:

He recovered from his injuries at Merauke and then returned to Australia where he continued to serve, until he was discharged on 28 March 1946. During his wartime service Gagai, as a Torres Strait Islander man, did not receive the same pay of benefits received by his 'white counterparts'.

Gagai died on 21 August 1946 a few months after his return.

Legacy In 1993 Gagai was featured in an exhibition held at the Australian War Memorial called "Too dark for the light horse" which was designed to draw attention to the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who served in World War II.

Collections Several photographs and other documentation about Gagai sit within the Donald Thomson Collection at Museums Victoria.