Anzac Websites
Pacific Islanders in WW1 Pacific Islander
participation in WW1
Pacific Islander participation in WW1
Pacific Islanders in the NZEF (nzhistory.govt.nz) ●
The Cook Islands and Niue (two New Zealand territories) were the
main Pacific islands contribution to the New Zealand Expeditionary
Force (NZEF). ●
Fiji and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (both British colonies at the time)
offered ethnically mixed contributions to the NZEF towards the end of
the war, and were accepted, but the war finished before they could
be sent overseas for active service. For more information, see: -
Pacific Islanders in the NZEF page 5 (nzhistory.govt.nz)
- Fiji
in World War 1 (freewebs.com)
●
The Gilbert
and Ellis Islands later split up and today are known as
Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Samoan soldiers in WW1 (samoaww1.webs.com)
German-controlled Samoa was seized by the Australians, New
Zealanders and French at the beginning of World War 1.
●
Some Samoan-born men living in Australia
and New Zealand joined the armed forces of those countries in 1914
and fought at Gallipoli.
●
In 1915 and 1916 a number of Samoans joined the New Zealand forces
and fought on the Western Front.
Tonga in World War 1
(tongainworldwar1.webs.com)
Although Tonga was not a British colony, it maintained a formal
friendship with Britain. However, most of the Tongans who wished to
enlist to fight in the war joined the New Zealand forces.
Gallipoli
Were there Pacific Islanders at
Gallipoli in 1915?
(blog.tepapa.govt.nz)
Yes. George Tuaine (Tuainekara Tinirau Tamatoa) from the Cook
Islands (see image below) and Bernard Stanley Gurr from the
island of Tutuila in American Samoa served at Gallipoli.
Individuals
Francis
and Basley Leger
(nzhistory.govt.nz)
Brothers Francis (left) and Basley (right) Leger from Tonga joined
Niueans and Cook Islanders in the 3rd Maori Reinforcements in 1915.
They served in Egypt and France.
George
Tuaine
(aucklandmuseum.com) Also known as Tuainekara
Tinirau Tamatoa. George Tuaine came from Aitutaki Island in the
Cook Islands and served at Gallipoli and in Egypt.
Difficulties faced by Pacific
Islanders (nzhistory.govt.nz) Apart from the fact many did not speak or
understand English (which made following instructions or explaining
symptoms of an injury or illness very difficult), many Pacific
Islanders faced a range of problems away from their island homes:
- they were not used to wearing boots - their communities had not
built up an immunity to European diseases - they were completely
unused to cold climates.
Impact of WW1 on Pacific Islanders
Pacific aftermath (nzhistory.govt.nz) ●
When Pacific
Islanders returned home after World War 1 they expected to be
treated as fairly and equally as they had been treated in the NZEF
(New Zealand Expeditionary Force). ●
Political, social and economic impact(nzhistory.govt.nz): Although the Pacific Islanders had learned
English and acquired leadership skills as soldiers there were
few employment opportunities for them when they returned home. Many moved to New Zealand or Western
Samoa. ●
Note the links to other pages at the bottom of the page.
Were there Pacific Islanders at
Gallipoli in 1915?
(blog.tepapa.govt.nz)
In this blog, note the paragraph commencing with the words "The
First World War was a turning point for Pacific Islanders..." The
writer makes the point that successfully serving on the world stage
in the armed forces had made Pacific Islanders aware of
opportunities that they previously did not know existed.
●
The Cook Islands and Niue provided soldiers for
the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War 1. The Cook Islands
commenced holding Anzac Day commemorations in the 1920s but Niue did
not commemorate Anzac Day until after World War 2.
●
Samoa was controlled by the Germans until the First World War
began but later became a New Zealand mandated territory, with Anzac Day
being commemorated from the 1920s.
●
Tonga also commemorated Anzac Day.
●
Fiji focused its commemorations on Armistice Day because it
was more formally linked to the United Kingdom during World War 1.
●
Note the links to pages 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the bottom of page 1
Pacific Islanders urged to
remember their Anzac tradition (abc.net.au)
25 Apr 2013 The role that volunteer soldiers from the Cook
Islands and Niue played in the Gallipoli campaign, and their losses,
must always be remembered, the Cook Islands Returned Services
Association says.
Anzac Day: Pacific Islanders' contributions not forgotten (newshub.co.nz)
24 Apr 2013 This story reminds us of the World War 1
contributions of the soldiers from Niue, but draws attention
to the strong anti-conscription feelings that divided the community
at the time.
First World War - Pacifica
involvement
(christchurch.bibliocommons.com) List of book suggestions from the
Christchurch City Library on Pacific Islanders and the First World
War.
More resources
Teaching resources: Pacific Islander
involvement in WW1
(my.christchurchcitylibraries.com) Books and other information sources
on Pacific Islander involvement in the First World War. (Acknowledgment:
We have made use of the Christchurch City Library's list in
selecting links for this page.)
George
Tuaine
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