Niue’s wartime contribution recognised at UK Armistice Day ceremony

The Western Front Association has remembered the small Pacific island of Niue’s wartime contribution for the first time at their Armistice Day ceremony on 11 November 2025. This year’s Armistice Day ceremony marks the 111th anniversary of the start of The Great War.

Niuean Dr Dean Rex, the grandson of Niue’s first post-independence Premier, was invited to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, to remember the service of his countrymen.

Above: Dr Dean Rex, representing the people of Niue, following the laying of the first wreath on behalf of the islanders at the Cenotaph in London, UK. Image credit: Western Front Association.

During the First World War when all territories of the British Empire were called upon to support the war effort, citizens from Niue answered the call. In 1915, around 150 volunteers sailed from the Pacific island for training as labourers in the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion before continuing to Egypt then northern France. Several suffered from disease on the journey and in the terrible conditions in the wet trenches of the battlefield.

In May 1916, a decision was made to begin the withdrawal of Niueans from the front. They were sent to Hornchurch, Essex, to join other hospitalised soldiers and await their return to New Zealand. When the Niueans departed for New Zealand nearly 80% of the 150 were hospitalised at some point during their service. A further four soldiers died on the way home, bringing the total Niuean deaths from disease to fifteen.

The Western Front Association was formed to maintain interest in the period 1914-1918, and to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of those on all sides who served during the Great War. For more information please click here.

The connection between the Western Front Association and the Niue Assembly was made as the result of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) staff member, Fraser McIntosh connecting the two organisations following a CPA Democratic Benchmarks visit to Niue.

Above: Representatives of the Niue community together with the Western Front Association and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association ahead of the wreath laying.

-ENDS- 

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of 180 Parliaments at national, state, provincial and territorial level working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.  

The CPA Small Branches network represents the Parliaments in the small jurisdictions of the Commonwealth to identify their particular needs and requirements in parliamentary strengthening, development and cooperation. CPA Small Branches are classified as those jurisdictions (national and sub-national) with populations of up to 1 million inhabitants.