Between the ages of 18 and 30, three brothers from Fiji were recruited by the New Zealand Pioneer Maori Battalion to serve in World War I. Originating from the copra farms of Lovonisikeci Estate in Cakaudrove, and military training students at Levuka Public School, William Wilson Andrews (late 20s), Phillip Tui Andrews (18), and Joe Andrews (early 30s) embarked on a journey to fight in a foreign land they knew little about. With little understanding of the repercussions of their choice, they traveled to New Zealand for training before being sent to France, far from the shores of their home country.
Maryann Whippy, 87, the daughter of Phillip Tui Andrews, shared that her father and his brothers were quickly enlisted and did not return home to say goodbye before heading off to war. “They left straight from Levuka to New Zealand and then to battle. My grandparents, Walter—known as Lota—and Florence Andrews didn’t get to see them again before they departed for France,” she recounted. During their journey, Joe got off in the USA, deciding against going to war, while William and Phillip continued to France, unaware that it would be their last journey together.
Tragedy struck when William was wounded during a German attack while he and Phillip were traveling by train in France. Records indicate that William was killed in action. “My dad, in a desperate attempt to shield his brother, jumped to protect him from the gunfire but ultimately lost William,” Maryann shared. “My father was heartbroken to carry his brother’s lifeless body after the incident.”
Despite surviving the war, Phillip returned to Kasavu carrying the weight of his experiences, including the loss of his brother. He often spoke of the hardships faced during combat, such as going without food and water for weeks and sharing meager rations among many soldiers. “He clutched his Bible tightly, believing it to be more powerful than any weapon,” Maryann said.
Phillip shared personal memories of his time in the military, including encounters with notable figures like Ratu Sukuna, who looked after the Fijian soldiers under the New Zealand military. After the war ended, Phillip returned to New Zealand and later moved to Samoa, where he found his wife, starting a family before ultimately returning to Fiji.
Phillip’s war experiences did not end with World War I, as he was called to assist the Samoan government during World War II, warning his family to keep a low profile while he served.
Recently, a great-granddaughter, Christine Whippy-Dunn, visited the grave of William in France, marking the first family visit since his burial. Reflecting on her emotional experience, Christine said it was a meaningful act after more than a century, providing a sense of closure for the family regarding their ancestor’s sacrifice in the war.