MACPHERSON, WILLIAM GUNN (June 18, 1836 — February 04, 1874) Sheep Station Manager Cotton Farmer Store Owner and Hotelier. By Robert H Barrack William Gunn MacPherson, my great grandfather, was the second son of Captain Ewen MacPherson and Catherine Gunn. My great great grandfather, then Captain Ewen Macpherson of the 78th Regiment, married Catherine Gunn on the 30th August 1827 in Colombo, Ceylon. Their first three daughters, Anne Brodie Catherine, Mary and Margaret and … [Read more...] about William Gunn MacPherson
Capt Alexander Barrack
Captain Alexander Barrack spent 30 years in sail and ashore in the South Pacific from 1851 onward. In 1869 he settled with his family at Savusavu on Vanua Levu in Fiji. He had decided to go into the cotton-growing and cotton-buying business. He later was to become the first man in Fiji to use water power and the first to use machinery for manufacturing purposes. He was one of the first to subscribe to the cost of putting a Lighthouse on Namuku Island. He was later appointed a Trade Commissioner … [Read more...] about Capt Alexander Barrack
Capt. William McGowan
McGOWAN, WILLIAM (July 07, 1838 — April 06, 1881) Ship's Master. At the maritime forefront during years of massacres and unrest, bankruptcy, upheaval and jousting for supremacy by Chiefs Maafu and Cakobau. By Robyn Mortimer William McGowan, ship’s captain operating out of Levuka in 1871, was born on the 7th of July, 1838 in the town of Ayr, in south west Scotland. I found only the one William McGowan born in that year, in that place, and he was the son of Captain William McGowan, … [Read more...] about Capt. William McGowan
Shirley Hemming
HEMMING, SHIRLEY CONSTANCE (1923 — January 1, 2019) Widow of Dr. George Hemming, Co-founder of The Bayly Clinic, Suva Volunteer Almoner at the Suva Welfare Centre for 12-years By R A B (Tony) Snowsill Shirley Constance Miller, - Snowsill, - Hemming was first married to Mr Alan "Soot" Snowsill on April 27, 1946. They were married in the Catholic Church at Lawaqa, Nadroga – (That’s now a suburb of Sigatoka) – by the legendary Father T.M. Desbois. Bill Clark of Korolevu fame was the … [Read more...] about Shirley Hemming
Laurier Parham
PARHAM, WILFRID LAURIER (March 18, 1900 — November 13, 1942) Agricultural Officer, Dept of Agriculture, Fiji 1930-1942 2nd Lieutenant, Platoon Commander, Tailevu Company, Home Guard Commended for Introduction of Irrigation in the Central Division, Viti Levu By Phyllis Parham Reeve My father began keeping a journal in 1912. He was the same age as the century, and for him the most significant event of the year was the sinking of the Titanic. The pages are heavy with paste and … [Read more...] about Laurier Parham
Fijian Ex-Servicemen
On this page we acknowledge the service of all Fijians who served their country in WWI; WWII; Malaya; Lebanon; Sinai; and Timor. The Unknown Soldier By Jim Sanday The Unknown Soldier is listed as a "Fijian Scout'. I am guessing he would have been a member of the 1st Commando, Fiji Guerrillas (as they were known), who were the first in action on December 28, 1942 and whose exploits led to other units from Fiji being sent to the Solomon Islands. The Battle of Bougainville - Papua new … [Read more...] about Fijian Ex-Servicemen
Archives On Fiji Families
By Dr. Mike Gosling Bula vinaka, I have had several requests from individual family members for information on their respective "Fiji Father", which they are finding very difficult to source. As Editor of this website I do not do research on Fiji families, relying on family members to research and write their article on their forebear. However, it occurred to me that we could have a webpage where we collate this information for all to access and continue their research. I am seeking … [Read more...] about Archives On Fiji Families
Qaravi Na’i Tavi
Qaravi Na’i Tavi They Did Their Duty Soldiers from Fiji in the Great War by Christine Liava’a ISBN 987 1 877332 62 3 Published: 1 January, 2009 Price: NZ$120.00 plus pack & post Published by Polygraphia Ltd www.polygraphianz.com (NOTE: It appears this book is not currently available. Contact Polygraphia Ltd) At the beginning of the Great War 1914-1918, Lord Kitchener put out a call to arms to the British Empire. Fiji, a small colony in the South Pacific, responded … [Read more...] about Qaravi Na’i Tavi