Book Review - The History of the Fiji Military Forces 1939–1945
Written by: RA Howlett
Crown Agents for the Colonies on behalf of the Government of Fiji , 1948, 267 pp
Reviewed by: Sonya Russell and Atonio Nagauna
In the years since former Prime Minister Morrison’s ‘Pacific Step-up’ foreign policy shift, the Australian Army has enhanced its engagement with security forces across the Pacific. As engagement continues and combined operational deployments become regular, The History of the Fiji Military Forces 1939–1945 is essential reading for any personnel seeking to engage with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF). It is an excellent introduction for readers wishing to understand the genesis of the modern RFMF, its early operational experiences, and the Pacific campaign from the perspective of Pacific islanders.
When the news came of the attack on distant Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the entire brigade of the then Fiji Defence Forces was bunkered down overnight, trialling defensive positions under war conditions across the islands. Blocked from service in the European theatre, Fiji had nonetheless spent two years diligently preparing for conflict. As the threat in the Pacific crystallised and the nation went into full emergency procedures, it was with the knowledge that the war had come to Fiji. Over the following four years, the renamed Fiji Military Forces hosted military forces from New Zealand and the United States using Fiji as a launch point, before joining the fight themselves, specialising as jungle reconnaissance forces, commandos and ships labour as Allied forces worked their way north from Florida Island to Bougainville.
Compiled from official records and diaries, Lieutenant RA Howlett’s 1948 book was one of several published shortly after the end of the war detailing the service of Fijian forces. Like Sergeant Colin Larsen (Pacific Commandos) and Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Gillespie (The Pacific), Howlett served in the New Zealand forces associated with the Fijians. His work, however, is the only one that focuses on the entirety of the Fiji Military Forces and their wartime service. Asesela Ravuvu’s later work Fijians at War gives a greater voice to Fijians in the narrative but is derivative of Howlett’s publication.
The History of The Fiji Military Forces 1939–1945 recounts the formation of Fiji’s forces under New Zealand command and their combat service alongside US forces until the gradual demobilisation of units following Japan’s surrender. Howlett structures the work into two parts: a chronological description and brief unit histories. The current structure of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces can be traced to this configuration. A small number of black-and-white photos are included throughout, as well as a pull-out map of Bougainville Island.
It is in the chronological narrative that Howlett’s publication truly shines. Focused on the deployment of the Pacific Commando units and then the expeditionary 1st and 3rd Infantry battalions into the Solomon and Bougainville campaigns, Howlett narrates a fast-paced journey with emphasis on tactical exchanges. The 1st Battalion’s Ibu operation and retreat from Kameli Outpost and the 3rd Battalion’s Mawaraka actions, during which Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu was awarded his Victoria Cross, are highlights.
As a New Zealander serving with the Fiji Military Forces 1st Battalion, Howlett rightly acknowledges the critical role New Zealand contributed to the defence of Fiji and the development of the Fiji Military Forces. Unfortunately the book can focus too keenly on New Zealand personnel serving as officers, to the detriment of the over 6,000 Fijians who served. Few Fijians are named throughout the narrative.
A product of its time, The History of the Fiji Military Forces 1939–1945 does not seek to analyse the Fijians’ service through any critical eye. The language can border on flowery. Howlett does not contextualise the Fijian efforts within the wider Pacific campaign; but the book does not suffer for it, instead showing the Fijian Military Forces operations as but one snippet of the multitude occurring throughout the war. He also only touches on the social and political dimensions occurring on the home front—for example, unsympathetically describing the requested mass discharge of the Indian platoon, 2nd (Territorial) Battalion due to pay inequality in 1941. This approach disregards the complexity of ethno-relations in the then colony.
In a curious departure from accepted history, Howlett claims that the Fijians, as a people, had little martial tradition prior to the war. The effusive, and at times florid, praise he heaps upon the military prowess of the Fiji Military Forces as soldiers loyal to the Empire likely contributed to the growing argument that the wartime service of Fiji should provide greater indigenous social, political and economic rights.
Despite these shortcomings, The History of The Fiji Military Forces 1939–1945 is the only comprehensive and contemporaneous account of Fiji’s World War II service. It is essential reading for those wishing to understand the military history, structure and martial values of Australia’s Pacific partner.
About the Reviewers
Major Antonio Nagauna is an Infantry officer in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. He has deployed to United Nations Mission in Iraq and Egypt. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College (Duntroon) and the Australian Command and Staff Course. He holds a Master of Defence and Military Studies from ANU and a Master of Training and Development from Griffith University. Major Nagauna is currently Second-in-Command Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment.
Ms Sonya Russell is a career public servant with the Australian Department of Defence. She was the International Policy Liaison Officer to Headquarters Joint Operations Command in 2017 and Policy Advisor on Operation HIGHROAD in Afghanistan from late 2017 to 2018. She posted Port Moresby as the inaugural Strategic Policy Advisor to Papua New Guinea’s Department of Defence. Ms Russell is currently the Director of International Policy Division’s Pacific East section.
