WHEN Ratu Meli Vesikula left Fiji for Great Britain in 1961, the British Army recruit didn’t know what to expect. He was just 18 years old and was one of the 212 Fijian men and women who passed the recruitment test.
The journey was not easy.
“The British Army life was a tough one and many people did not know that,” he said quietly.
“All we knew about London was the notes we took with us during Geography and History classes. We did not know the challenges that awaited us. We didn’t know about the freezing British winter where days were very short and the nights very long—it upsets all your rhythm. We had to grasp the English language including the different accents and it was hard to understand our mates. We did not know that being so far away from home we could develop homesickness and loneliness.”
Added to these, the young soldiers did not know about the British way of life and its culture. It was until they had their first Christmas leave that year that the young recruits decided to do something about it.
“The army sent us to the Union Jack club in London where we were to be stationed – the whole lot of us. It was there we shared all our problems and listened to one another.
We thought that we didn’t need to face these challenges alone; we could face it together by hanging in there, caring for one another and looking out for one another; help those who were not coping or lagging behind.
Ratu Meli comes from a chiefly family in Ucunivanua Village in Verata. The eldest son of ten children, he showed academic proficiency in school (he was dux of Lelean Memorial School) and was assessed by the British army recruiting team as one of the most promising candidates.
He would progress steadily through the ranks and spent his last years of service as a Regimental Sergeant Major, or RSM, of DWR (The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment). He was the only one of the ‘212’ to reach that appointment and was thus the RSM for the “Fijian Farewell” parade held at Dortmund, Germany, and attended by the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Fiji’s PM in 1983.
“My father gave his blessings to me before I left and I have no regrets. This is history and because of our success doors were opened for more young Fijians to take part in the defence of the free world,” he said.
“I have no regrets about the army – I’d do it again tomorrow if it’s possible. I mean I was travelling the world, something I’ve always wanted and getting paid for it.”
- Read more in The Sunday Times
