Commonwealth Day 2022 : Fijiian Troops at Britain’s Christmas Island Tests
The role of Fiji as part of the British Commonwealth in the Cold War
Nic Maclellan was kind enough to send me a copy of the book Kirisimasi at the end of 2021 and most information is obtained from this wonderful bi-lingual book.
Approximately 300 Fijiian sailors and soldiers witnessed the development of the hydrogen bomb at both Malden Island and Christmas Island but their story was only first told in Kirisimasi, despite various books having been written about the British tests most of which do not mention the participation of Pacific Islanders.
Fijian military personnel were serving under British command as members of the Royal Fiji Military Force (RFMF) also The Fiji Royal Naval Reserve (FRNVR). Fiji only achieved independence in 1970.
Along with HMS Warrior, HMS Messina, HMS Alert and HMS Narvik also the survey ship HMS Cook and the two New Zealand frigates HMNZS Pukaki and HMNZS Rotoiti, Thirty-nine sailors of the FRNVR were present between March and July 1957, departing from Suva on 19 March 1957 on the two RNZN frigates and were transferred to HMS Warrior and were then commanded by Lieutenant Commander Black with Chief Petty Officer Ratu Inoke Bainimarama and Petty Officer Viliame Raikuna. The Fijian troops witnessed the tests on the decks of HMS Warrior.
Fijian dignitaries also visited to witness Grapple 2 and a full ceremonial welcome was held aboard HMS Warrior during which a whale’s tooth was presented to the warship’s captain.
From August 1957 RFMF worked as engineers, labourers and stevedores on Christmas Island in preparation for the next tests.
An interesting story is told of two sailors who were flown to Christmas Island in late 1957 in order to collect MV Ramarama from Singapore, which was to act as the Governor’s vessel in Fiji. However on 3 February 1958 they were transferred back to Fiji without the boat and without witnessing any tests.
As an aside it is noted that Fijian troops were paid less than the British counterparts and were also not permitted to buy beer from the mess. A Scottish veteran describes how he remembers buying them two cases of the “Operation Grapple, Christmas Island” beer.
The humility of the Fijian troops comes over clearly and is perhaps best expressed in comments such as the following of Malakai Niubasaga (RFMF Engineers):
“I’m very thankful to God for giving me time to relate my experiences because I’m old now. Nothing has been done, but we are thankful that you have decided to take our story”.
The following tune may be familiar to some of our veterans:
