British Western Pacific Territories
 

1880 - 1905  High Commissioners' Flag

1905 - 1953  High Commissioners' Flag

1953 - 2 Jan 1976  High Commissioners' Flag

Map of the British Western Pacific Islands and Eastern Pacific Islands  Hear National Anthem  "God Save the King/Queen"  Capital: Suva (Fiji) (3 Jul 1952-2 Jan 1976 Honiara, Solomon Islands) Population: N/A (1950) British Western Pacific Territories Chronology 13 Aug 1877                British Western Pacific Territories (composition:                              Fiji [1878-1952]; New Hebrides [1906-1973];                              Pitcairn Islands [1898-1952]; Cook Islands                              [1893-1901]; Niue [1900-1901]; Union Islands                              (Tokelau)[1889-1948]; Phoenix Islands [1892-1939];                              Tonga [1900-1952]; Gilbert and Ellice Islands                              [1892-1971]; Canton and Enderbury Islands [1939-                              1972]; Solomon Islands [1893-1976]; and Nauru                              [1914-1921]) is created, with the governors                              governors of Fiji (from 3 Jul 1952, the High                              Commissioners of Solomon Islands) as High                              Commissioners for the British Western Pacific                              (WPHC). The jurisdiction of the WPHC included all                              islands in the Western Pacific not within the                              limits of the colonies of Fiji, Queensland, New                              South Wales, or New Zealand, or within the                              jurisdictions of any formal European government                              (by the 1877 Western Pacific Order in Council,                              effective 4 Feb 1878). 11 Jun 1901                Cook Islands and Niue become territories of New                              Zealand. 10 Jun 1921                Nauru becomes a League of Nations Mandate under                              Australia-New Zealand-U.K administration.  6 Apr 1939                Canton and Enderbury Islands added. 1942 - 1945                British military administration (parts of Solomon                              Islands, Gilbert Islands, and Phoenix Islands                              are occupied by Japan). 30 Dec 1948                Tokelau leaves the High commission territories.  3 Jul 1952                Fiji, Pitcairn Islands, and Tonga leave the High                              commission territories following a reorganization.  1 Jan 1972                Gilbert and Ellice Islands leave the High commission                              territories.  1 Dec 1973                New Hebrides leave the High commission territories,                              leaving only the Solomon Islands.  2 Jan 1976                Dissolution.

High Commissioners in, over, and for the Western Pacific Ocean 
(also governors of Fiji to 3 Jul 1952; exercising direct administration at Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 1 Jan 1953)
 4 Feb 1878 -  3 Jul 1952  the governors of Fiji
 3 Jul 1952 -  7 Jul 1955  Robert Christopher Stafford Stanley(b. 1899 - d. 1981)
                             (from 1 Jan 1954, Sir Robert Christopher Stafford Stanley)
 7 Jul 1955 - 26 Sep 1955  Robert John Minnitt (acting)       (b. 1913 - d. 2000)
26 Sep 1955 -  4 Mar 1961  John Gutch                         (b. 1905 - d. 1988)
                             (from 13 Jun 1957, Sir John Gutch)
 4 Mar 1961 - 16 Jun 1964  David Clive Crosbie Trench         (b. 1915 - d. 1988)
                             (from 2 Jun 1962, Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench) 
16 Jun 1964 -  6 Mar 1969  Sir Robert Sidney Foster           (b. 1913 - d. 2005)
 6 Mar 1969 - 28 Sep 1973  Sir Michael David Irving Gass      (b. 1916 - d. 1983)
28 Sep 1973 - 10 Oct 1973  Thomas "Tom" Russell (acting)      (b. 1920 - d. 2016)
10 Oct 1973 -  2 Jan 1976  Donald Collin Cumyn Luddington     (b. 1920 - d. 2009)