Momi and Vuda’s place in WWII
THE gun batteries at Momi and the lesser-known Vuda site, located outside of Nadi and Lautoka respectively, are not just part of Fiji’s historical sites.
They are a stark reminder of the powerful influences of World War II, its impact on life in the Pacific and Fiji’s special place in military history.
The two western batteries were operational from May 1941 until February 1944, during which time they were tasked with the seaward defence of Navula Passage (Momi) and Nadi Bay (Vuda), the main sea access points for the western part of the island.
It was believed Japanese forces were likely to breach these areas during their invasion of Fiji’s western coast.
Prior to WWII, the Fiji Defense Force (FDF) which evolved to today’s Republic of Fiji Military Forces, was established in 1914 to help protect the colony from German raiders during the rage of WWI. Fiji’s involvement at the time was minimal. However, things changed when World War II broke out. In the early years of WWII, between 1939 and 1941, the principal threat in the Pacific came from armed German merchant cruisers that targeted supplies from New Zealand and Australia to the United Kingdom, via the Panama Canal.
The threat to Fiji was only upgraded when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941 and captured parts of Southeast Asia in their quest to expand the empire.
Subsequently, Governor of Fiji Sir Harry Luke warned of a potential Japanese threat when he addressed the Legislative Council.
“The war … has have now been carried most treacherously into the very heart of the Pacific ... we must be prepared for other ‘incidents’ in this ocean…,” Sir Harry told the Council. As the war progressed, the Japanese Navy planned to capture Midway, the US outpost in the
middle of the Pacific and occupy New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa “to cut off Australia as the new rearward base for an allied counter-attack”.
Fiji and other Pacific Islands were crucial during this period. They acted as communications and supply link between Australia and the Americas, hence they inevitably became targets.
This impending threat led to the deployment of defence and military forces from New Zealand and later the United States, on Fiji soil.
As for the western gun batteries, there is very little information available on the Vuda site, located on the hill behind Lomolomo Public School, just before the Queens Rd intersects Vuda Back Rd. Nevertheless, remnants of two guns remain there, away from public view and only known to local residents.
On the contrary, the Momi gun battery, looked after by the National Trust of Fiji, is carefully maintained and well documented.
The Momi site was erected by the NZ Expeditionary Forces’ 30th Battalion between October 1940 and April 1941.
It is understood materials used in its construction were transported there using the country’s existing sugarcane
tramline and a road built by NZ soldiers to connect the tramline to the Momi area near the coast.
When construction ended, the site was guarded by the 14th battalion of the NZ Army for one year before the United States 283 Coastal Artillery Battalion took over in August 1942 and took Fiji’s contingent under its command.
Literature shows that a shot was fired from the site only once in November, 1943 when officers at Momi detected an unidentified vessel approaching the entrance of the bay and believed it was a potential enemy submarine.
After some discussion, the battalion commander gave the order to fire a couple of rounds at sea to ascertain whether there would be any response, but no further sounds were ever reported.
Places like Momi and Vuda (like their Suva counterparts – Bilo and Muanikau) were not involved in the battle. Nevertheless, they served as a base for troops and supplies, and in some places in Suva medical facilities were set up here for recovering injured troops from the Solomons campaign.
Momi was closed in 1944 after the Japanese retreated following their loss at the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomons. But before this, a Fijian infantry brigade was formed with the primary objective of deploying a force overseas to play an active role in the war. As a result Fiji had to commit to sending units to battle in the Solomons.
A meeting of the 1877-established Great Council of Chiefs in September 1942, agreed that a detachment of Fijians should be sent overseas, launching a recruitment of military personnel from among the villages.
Almost three years after formation, 1 Battalion of the FMF, sailed for the Solomons campaign on April 15, 1943.
On July 26, 1944 the battalion sailed back to Fiji reaching Suva on August 4. 3 Battalion left the Solomons on August 23 and reached Suva on September 6.
By March 1945 all Fiji units had returned from the Solomons. Amongst those who did not return was Sefanaia Sukanaivalu from Yacata Island in Cakaudrove.
Corporal Sukanaivalu died under Japanese fire on 23 June 1944, at Mawaraka, Bougainville while he made an attempt to rescue two of his comrades. He was later decorated with the Victoria Cross.
Today, Momi’s cement structures have been painted with traditional military camouflage colour and is well maintained by the National Trust of Fiji.
It has been developed as a tourist site and admission can be paid for visiting the site and its accompanying museum.
It has two 6” naval guns, each within separate defensive bunkers. Structures around the site include an observation and command post, a fire control room, a restroom, two ammunition storage rooms, a range finder and a magazine room.
The Momi gun battery was restored by the National Trust of Fiji and the new look site officially opened in August 2017.
WWII not only left behind a collection of coastal batteries like those at Momi and Vuda.
It played a role in influencing the construction of two landing fields in Nadi and Nausori, which later developed to become the country’s two international airports.
Also during the war, the New Zealand Base Hospital, the 71st Station Hospital, and the 142nd General Hospital were based in Tamavua which received some casualties from the Solomons campaign.
The hospital had a functional underground sector during the war to protect from bombing raids. Some of the physical structures of this wartime hospital still stand today.
(Key Sources: World War II Archaeology in Fiji, The Official History of NZ in the Second World War)
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