First Fiji Reinforcements in the 1914-18 War
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
This old photograph, sent to the “P.1.M.” by Rev. Harry K. Bartlett, of the Methodist Mission, Misima Island, Eastern Papua, shows the Ist Fiji Rein forcements (June, 1916), before they left the Colony to serve overseas in the Great War.
It has an interesting history. When Mr. Bartlett arrived at Misima, 10 years ago, he found the picture hanging in the mission house, having been left there by Rev. J. R. Andrew, now of South Australia. It appears that the photograph was left in Mr. Andrew’s care many years ago by a visitor to
Misima, and has not since been claimed.
Most of the men in the photograph were well-known in Fiji 20 years ago, and some of them are still in the Paci fic. The officer sitting in the centre of the group, Captain C, A. Swinbourne (who later rose to the rank of Major) is now Senior Administrative Officer in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.
Around the cardboard mounting of the picture are written the now-faded signa tures of the soldiers, and they read as follows (left to right):— Back Row. —S. F. Marlow, W. A, Wil son, Colin Leith, W. D. Lord, J. Walker,
Arthur O’Connor, Joseph D. Mills, Clar ence Leembruggen, Hedley P. G. Smith.
Middle Row.—W. J. Maloney, Lloyd E.
Ambler, W. H. Statham, C. A. Swin bourne (Captain), L. Philpott, J. Fraser Bremner, Wm. Murray.
Front Row. —Sydney D. Horne, G. H.
Stockdale, E. Mathews, Geo. W. Cock burn, J. Mansfield Allen.
Mr. Ramroop, one of the best known Indian merchants in Fiji, died early in March at the age of 60. Before opening his own business in Suva, he was for many years employed on Naitasiri Estate, Rewa, and was with the firm of J. P.
Maharaj and Co., of Suva.
Mr. W. E. Grose, a well-known planter of New Guinea, who is a member of the New Guinea Legislative Council, has been in Australia during the past month and has taken the opportunity to make strong representations to Commonwealth Ministers and departmental officials re garding the shortage of shipping for the carriage of New Guinea copra to the world markets.