Have a blessed ANZAC celebration today! I am very proud of Niues contribution as a very small Island. One hundred and fifty young men left the rock bound for New Zealand and later Europe.The main indigenous Pacific contribution to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) came from the Cook Islands and Niue, territories that had been annexed to New Zealand in 1901. The Niuean contingent and 1st Contingent of Cook Islanders provided reinforcements for the New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion in Egypt and then France. The 2nd and 3rd Cooks contingents, known as the Rarotongan Company, served with the British in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns against the Ottoman Turks. All were volunteers. Cook Islanders and Niueans enlisted in their own countries and were sent to New Zealand as a group. Men from other Pacific islands had to make their own way to New Zealand to enlist. Those who arrived when the Niuean or Cook Island contingents were training were attached to them. Those who had the misfortune to arrive at other times were immediately returned home. Uea, a native pastor and teacher, was the oldest member of the Niue contingent that sailed for New Zealand in October 1915. He was a leading figure on the island in encouraging support for the war effort, contributing to the war fund as well as volunteering for service in the Niue contingent. Uea was therefore appointed chaplain to the group and promoted to sergeant and then sergeant-major. Uea played a fatherly role within the Niue contingent and as one of the few who both spoke and wrote English was a vital link for the men. He held regular church services and conducted funeral services for fellow Niueans in Auckland, Egypt, France, England and at sea. After his return to Niue, Uea remained proud of the service he had given and sometimes appeared in the main town of Alofi wearing his uniform. When he died in 1947 he was buried in full uniform.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 21:25:27 +0000
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