Samoa will pay tribute to Australian, New Zealand and Samoan soldiers who lost their lives over a hundred years ago at Anzac Cove on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I on Sunday.  

A small ceremony will be held in front of the Clock Tower on Beach Road in Apia early Sunday at 6 am to commemorate Anzac Day. The tower was built by Public Subscription in Samoa in commemoration of the Samoa-born boys who fought in the Great War. 

In Samoa, Anzac Day is normally marked with a parade held on Beach Road, which culminates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Clock Tower in the centre of town. 

However, the president of Samoa’s Returned Services Association (R.S.A.), Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, said that there won’t be a parade this year.

“Anzac Day will go ahead, it is unusual that it has fallen on a Sunday but we will not go on full-on like we used to, so we are scaling it down,” he told the Samoa Observer.

He added that they are still observing the restrictions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic and confirmed that they extended an invitation to the Head of State and the diplomatic corps.

“We still want to pay our respect to our fallen heroes. The R.S.A. will definitely be there but there won’t be a parade.

“The guests will be arriving from 5:30 am onwards but the ceremony will begin at 6:00am.

“Anzac Day is a very notable day in the calendar of the world, it is a day we commemorate and show respect for our fallen heroes of the First World War.”

It is also to also remember the services of our New Zealand and Australian army corps as well as all the servicemen and women even up to now,” he added.

“In the First World War, there was a significant contribution of pacific island soldiers in the New Zealand army including Samoan soldiers whose names are encrypted in front of the town clock.”

Malietoa Fa'amausili Moli is the former president of Samoa’s R.S.A. and its current patron. 

Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa, Sara Moriarty, encouraged people to conduct private commemorations of Anzac day. 

She explained that sadly, as a result of COVID-19, there will be no government-led public overseas Anzac Day services this year.

However, she encouraged people to commemorate privately as we come together in spirit to reflect upon the service and sacrifice made by Australians in all wars and on operations.

“Amongst the ‘Anzacs’ were soldiers from the Pacific—from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and the Cook Islands. 

“Together, they all wore the same uniform and shared the same terrible experience of war. Their story, the Anzac story, is one that unites us.”

Ms. Moriarty encouraged people in Samoa, Australia, and the world to take time at home or online to pause for a moment to honour those who served so that others might live peace.