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A tropical paradise standing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Niue lies about a 3.5-hour flight northeast of New Zealand.
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Home to around 1,500 residents, Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. So, they passed their own laws, but Wellington is responsible for Foreign Affairs and Defence.
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In 1915, as war raged around the world, the ANZACs were suffering heavy losses on the hillsides of Gallipoli. So, New Zealand looked to its Pacific colonies to help replenish those casualties.
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It took up an offer from Niue to provide men for the war effort. Pastor Mohelagi Tutoka's ancestor was among the 150 volunteers who left the tropical island to serve in the New Zealand Army during the First World War.
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The soldiers at the time were
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eager to, to volunteer or eager to enlist to enter this war, without any knowledge of the severity
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of what they, what they experience later.
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The 150 recruits left behind their homes and families in Niue to join Rarotongan and Maori reinforcements for labouring and trench digging duties. Their first stop was a training camp in Auckland.
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what they have been through.
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In the beginning when they were to enter Narrow Neck Beach or the training
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place that they're at, it is something brand new to them and also to
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experience severe cold,
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how do they keep warm
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and get sick from the cold is something that is new to them.
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And, actually, one of our
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members of the village that died because of pneumonia in that early stage of their their training in Narrow Neck
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Illness continued to haunt the men on their journey from New Zealand to their next stop in Egypt. This time an outbreak of measles aboard ship. But the men drew strength and resilience from their Niuean culture and Christian faith. As recounted by Tagaloa Matagi - who has two great-grandfathers among the original 150.
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My grandma told me, they,
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they've heard of the Red Sea from the Bible. So, they were, I believe they were like looking forward to seeing that. And I always remember they spoke about the food as well, because they're used to eating fish, so they had to get used to eating meat.
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The journey from Niue to the Western Front in France and eventual hospitalisation in England is the focus of two books written by historian Margaret Pointer.
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There was approximately 4,000 people on the island in those days, and these boys,
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got collected and taken away. And most of them did not speak any English. They had never worn anything on their feet, and so the army boots absolutely crippled them. They had no immunity to European diseases, so many of them became ill with pneumonia.
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with measles, things like that. And when they were put into hospital, they couldn't understand what was happening to them, and nobody could explain it because they couldn't communicate. And so it was really heartbreaking to think of these young fellows in a total, total, you know,
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17 of those young fellows died while on active duty, but many who survived the war succumbed to lingering disease and respiratory illness after they'd returned home. The memories of their sacrifice and inspiration to their descendants like Lily Pavihi-Makani. I
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feel so proud, you know, coming here to Australia, residing here in Australia, I feel.
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So, so proud to represent my great grandfather.
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Emotional, yep, but very proud.
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And and I passed it on to my kids as well, so yeah, so every Anzac service here we
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We will make sure that they're present.
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And for the president of the Niue ANZAC New South Wales, Colin Makani, recognition of the part played by Niuean soldiers in the ANZAC legend is as important as their contribution to the ANZAC legacy.
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Uh, to be able to, uh, travel, uh, to be able to be.
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Doing what we're doing freely and live in.
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Uh, peaceful countries like New Zealand and Australia, and the rest of, uh, the nation, other nations around the region and the world.
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A legacy born of sacrifice.
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shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.
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Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
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At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
