Employed as Assistant Harbour Master in Nukualofa. Enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand 24 May 1916. Embarked from Wellington 19 August 1916 on SS Aparima and disembarked at Devonport, UK. Posted to Sling Camp until 25 October 1916 and then to Etaples on 12 December 1916. Joined New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion 16 January 1917. On 14 January 1918 he was transferred to the Rarotongan Company in Palestine. He embarked on SS Hydaspes at Marseille 21 January 1918. Arrived in Egypt 5 February 1918 and posted to Rarotonga Company 15 February 1918. Returned to New Zealand on SS Malta departing Egypt 14 December 1918 and put into isolation on Somes Island in Wellington harbour from 28 January 1919 to 7 February 1919. Discharged 7 February 1919. His name is recorded on the Tongan War memorial as ‘V. Lomu’.