Citation

Muckle A. History Compass 2008; 6(5): 1325-1345.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00553.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Kanak, the indigenous Melanesians of New Caledonia, experienced the First World War as tirailleurs, auxiliaries and ‘rebels’. As volunteer tirailleurs, in 1916–18, Kanak fought and died in France and New Caledonia in the service of the French colonial administration. As ‘rebels’ many Kanak also died fighting against the French army and its Kanak auxiliaries in the north of New Caledonia in 1917–18 (the ‘1917’ revolt). Until the end of the twentieth century these varied experiences were largely ignored in local (New Caledonian), regional (Pacific islands) and international (French colonial) historiography. However, as New Caledonia acquires greater political autonomy and seeks to develop a local citizenship incorporating Kanak and New Caledonian identity within the French Republic, interest in New Caledonia's participation in the Great War has grown. A central issue is the extent to which recent writing and commemorations adequately take into account Kanak experiences and acknowledge the war fought in New Caledonia and its legacy.