I came across this piece and wanted to weep ! ....... The military parade in Auckland's Queen on February 4, 1916 was unusual: among the 1500 men that day were 140 from Niue. The men were part of the 3rd Maori Contingent and, along with 50 recruits from the Cook Islands, they were being sent to make up the numbers needed to maintain the Maori Contingent which had suffered heavily during the Gallipoli campaign the previous year. The Poor Mouth: From Niue to a grave in Hornchurch Name - VASAU Nationality - New Zealand Rank - Private Regiment/Service - New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Age - 22 Date of Death - 11/06/1916 Service No - 16/1177 Additional information - Son of Aitagi, of Alofi, Niue Island, New Zealand. Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference - I. Cemetery - HORNCHURCH (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD Name - MOKI Nationality - New Zealand Rank - Private Regiment/Service - New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Age - 21 Date of Death - 30/06/1916 Service No - 16/1088 Additional information - Son of Pokihega, of Fatian, Niue Island, New Zealand. Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference - I. Cemetery - HORNCHURCH (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD
What a sad story!! Whilst taking photos for Spidge and Sniper (where is he by the way?), I have noticed a few shared graves but assumed that this was expedient to the circumstances of their death or by family request.
And now Niue is in danger of being wiped out by rising sea levels - their vulnerability to the politics of the outside world continues.
How scarey it all is for them Adrian ! .... In Pacific, Growing Fear of Paradise Engulfed - New York Times