The former commander of the RFMF, the late Brigadier Retired Ian Thorpe played a significant role in the development of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces.

This was stated by Opposition and SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka as he was one that served under Brigadier Thorpe’s leadership.

Rabuka says Thorpe was also instrumental in moulding many senior officers of the RFMF.

“I wanted to go on my own on a personal level because he is a friend of mine, he was my commander and then I asked him to come back and start the officer’s coat and write up the orders of Fiji papers.”

Rabuka is expected to leave the country this morning to attend the funeral of Brigadier Thorpe in the afternoon.

Thorpe’s initial involvement with the Fiji Army was during the Malayan Emergency Campaign in 1954 to 1956 when he was on secondment as a Lieutenant to the 1st Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment.

Upon his retirement from the New Zealand Army in 1979, Brigadier Thorpe was then seconded to the Royal Fiji Military Forces and appointed Commander on 23 February 1979.