TIGHAR Bones Search II

Walter Lindsay Isaac/Verrier, MD (died 1981)

Entered the colonial service in 1939.
Held up shipment of bones in Tarawa en route from Gardner to Fiji. Seems to have coveted the tarawa box. Not at all interested in the mystery of the Gardner castaway.
In 1941, Tarawa was the main port and the location of the Central Medical Authority (Isaac/Verrier), but the headquarters were on Ocean Island.
Escaped from Tarawa just ahead of Japanese invasion. Lost three cameras.
5 Aug 1942: WLIV is Medical Officer in Rewa.
6 Jan 1944: Steenson and Verrier to Fiji. VWTMcG wants to observe Verrier, who wants to work in CMS and the laboratory.
May 1944: Verrier in Taveuni. Must not have gotten CMS post that he wanted.
October 1944: VWTMcG to Vaskess: Verrier is good with stats. "The memorandum [on 'statistics and vital statistics'] is breezily written and is very interesting."
15 Nov 1945: Memorandum about Verrier's misappropriation of funds. He has been paying an engineer 8/5/-- per month to look after a launch that hasn't yet been returned to the water after being renovated.

"Odd in every way."
Sponsored Ratu Mara in Fiji School of Medicine.
Adopted Trevor Whippy.
Hated by many factions on the island (active in politics).
Did research on history of the native Fijian tribes and communities; donated research to the Native Land Commission that settles land disputes.
- Margaret Patel had said that Verrier's papers went to the Native Land Commission. I stopped there on the way home from USP. They vehemently denied (without checking any records) that there would be any such thing in their care. "We keep nothing but the evidence book in the locked room. It is for natives only." They sent me to the Native Land Trust Board across the street, who said that any old records they would have had have gone to the Archives. I trust Margaret more than the folks I met in the NLC.
Probate #17753.
Died April 19, 1981. Death record #80/81.
Verrier was the founder of the Liberal Party. It is said to have had a membership of one.
Verrier was a collector (island art? historic materials?). "Had an attic full of native stuff" (Ron Gatty).
Trevor Whippy broke the will, sold the house (and the collections?), retired from the police force, and moved to Australia. Roger Kelley may have a bead on his whereabouts. The Chairman of the Fiji Broadcast Corporation (in 2003) was a close relative of Trevor and may know his whereabouts. The house was torn down. "The old guard were rather dismayed by the way that Trevor Whippy sold most of Verrier's collections, especially his extensive library" (Parkinson).
"A good doctor; intelligent" (Ron Gatty).
One person said Verrier was a tyrant. Interesting and amusing, but hell to work for. He never had an important administrative job. He was a medical officer in various districts.