First Battle of Vailele
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| First Battle of Vailele | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Samoan Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 German Empire | Mata'afaite Samoans | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 16 marines dead | Unknown | ||||||
The First Battle of Vailele occurred on 18 December 1888 at the German plantation of Vailele as part of the First Samoan Civil War.[1] Sixteen German marines were ambushed and killed by forces loyal to Mata'afa Iosefo.[2]
A memorial for the Germans killed at the battle was erected in a ceremony presided over by the commander of the unprotected cruiser Sperber.[3]