Second Lieutenant Henelē Taliai was amongst war heroes remembered at a dawn Anzac Day ceremony in Nuku’alofa this morning.
Held at the Pangai Lahi Cenotaph, the service was attended by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Princess Pilolevu Tuita, and Lord Tuita. High Commissioners from Australia and New Zealand delivered speeches, and leaders from government, churches, and NGOs joined in prayers and wreath-laying.
Among those who laid wreaths were Reverend Ikani Tolu, General Secretary of the Tongan National Council of Churches, and ‘Ikani Taliai, former Chairman of the Tonga Sports Council, who travelled from Australia to pay his respects. Both are named after Lt Taliai, who was killed in action on 12 July 1943 during a patrol on the Munda Trail in the Solomon Islands.
Lt Taliai served with the First Commando Fiji Guerrillas, known to American forces as the South Pacific Scouts. These units, comprising Tongans, Fijians, and Samoans, played a major role in the Allied campaign, providing reconnaissance and flanking support. Historian Amanda Lee noted that Taliai was “a loved and admired young officer” by his troops.
Despite his sacrifice, Lt Taliai’s remains have never been returned to Tonga. His nephew, ‘Ikani Taliai, expressed hope for repatriation, stating, “One day we will get him back home.” In 2018, then-Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva acknowledged a formal request from the Taliai family and pledged to address it urgently, but no progress has been reported since.
Taliai Camp, Tonga’s main military base, bears his name, as does the commemorative song “Taio,” written in memory of him and New Zealand Lt Ben Masefield, who died a day earlier.
Seven Tongans died in World War II, including Lt Taliai. Their names are inscribed on the cenotaph commissioned by the late Queen Sālote on 11 November 1923, a lasting reminder of Tonga’s contribution to the Allied effort in both world wars.
