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  • Tom, BISHOP | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Corporal First name/s Tom Last name BISHOP Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 5th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as ​ Date of birth 23 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Aitutaki, Cook Islands Date of death 08/11/1947 Place of death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death registration number AITU19471263 Headstone/grave location Arutanga, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Next of kin Tom Bishop (father), Naupoko (mother) Archives New Zealand online service record Additional information Date of death: 08/11/1947 (as per Cook Islands death register) 09/11/1947 ( as per military headstone) No online war service record. The gravesite has been completely restored since our first visit in November 2019. New gravesite images taken November 2024. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Kiro LukeADAM

    WWI Collect ion in alphabetical order of last name on enlistment ​ If you are searching for a person, please use the "Search Cenotaph" button above by entering a name, a service number or an island name.​ ​ The names listed in the heading are the names recorded on enlistment. We have included information such as 'also known as' along with spelling variations. Naming conventions in the Cook Islands at the time of WWl were simple with people having one given name only. This was a problem for the European recruiters from New Zealand who wanted a first name and a surname on enlistment as per western standards. In many cases, soldiers used their given name followed by their father's first name. This can easily be interpreted to "A" (given name) son of "B" (father's given name). In a number of cases, the soldier had evidently been listed in records with the first and last names transposed i.e. father's given name followed by the soldier's given name. Private Kiro Luke ADAM 16/1007 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion Picture 1.png IMG_2367.jpeg IMG_2373_edited.jpg IMG_2376.jpeg IMG_2355.jpeg IMG_2356 (1).jpeg 1/2 Read More Private Vaine Tutai AERENGA 60768 3rd Rarotongan Contingent 1/1 Read More Private Marearai AERENGAMATE 60696 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Picture 1.png Picture 2.png 1/1 Read More Private Makiteiaa AERERUA 84569 4th Rarotongan Contingent Picture 3.png Picture 4.png Picture 2.png Picture 1.png 1/1 Read More Private Apongi AH KEW 19233 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Picture 1.png Picture 2.png Picture 3.png 1/1 Read More Private Mologa AH MU 16/1405 4th Māori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company AH MU_Moronae_ Mologa.jpg 1/1 Read More Private Solomon AH SIN 60750 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Picture 2.png Picture 1.png 1/1 Read More Private Akatea AIAIA 16/1183 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Picture 2.png Picture 1.png Picture 3.png 1/1 Read More Private Atama AKEAU 60685 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Picture 1.png Picture 2.png 1/1 Read More Private No first name on enlistment AKI 19232 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Picture 1.png Picture 2.png Picture 3.png 1/1 Read More Lance Corporal John William ALO 84584 4th Rarotongan Contingent 1/0 Read More Private Teavae AMENE 19235 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Picture 1.png Picture 2.png 1/1 Read More 47

  • https://cwalker645.wixsite.com/cookislandsonlinecen

    Welcome to the Cook Islands Online Cenotaph Kia Orana. This website serves as a repository for the ongoing research our team has undertaken voluntarily since 2016. We are adding further information daily, including service details and images from our vast collection. We hope that our website will encourage all Cook Islanders to take ownership of our research, learn from it, be proud of it, and let it grow. We have included in this online cenotaph service personnel who were living in the Cook Islands on enlistment, those who were posted to the Rarotongan Company/Contingents during WWI or had a connection to the Cook Islands through work or marriage. We have also included service personnel from any country who served during war or peacetime and are buried or memorialised in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Online Cenotaph WWI Content can be found here .​ Apart from our extensive WWI research, we have also researched WWII including Coastwatchers/Radio Operators and those who served overseas. We will be adding this information to the Online Cenotaph in due course, along with all deceased soldiers from the Cook Islands and those who were of Cook Islands descent and served in the Armed Forces in any conflict or during peacetime. If you are searching for a person, please use the Search Cenotaph button above by entering a name, a service number or an island name. If you require any help or further information please send us a message via the Contact Us menu option above. We welcome feedback and corrections along with information or photos to add to this website. Meitaki maata. Lest We Forget 🌺 February 1918. A Platoon of the 3rd Rarotongan Contingent at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand Photo with the permission of Marjorie Seddon & Keith Seddon

  • Adolphe, MULLER | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Adolphe Last name MULLER Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 16/1538 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion Rarotongan Company Also known as Adolph MULLER Date of birth 28/07/1895 (as per service record) Place of birth Tonga Date of death Unknown Place of death Unknown Death registration number Unknown Headstone/grave location Unknown Next of kin Philipp Gotthard Muller (born Zug Switzerland) and Lauititi O Manono Filomena (Laukiki) (born Samoa), (parents) Miki Muller (brother), Nuku'alofa, Tonga Mel Tatafu Fotofili (wife) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE20475900 Additional information https://kavafarm.com/kava-family-tradition/ "Philipp and Lauititi (Laukiki) married on the 6 April 1889. They had two children in Vava’u, Michael Maria and Johanna. The family then moved to Tongatapu on the 24 October 1891 where the remaining 7 children were born; Robert, Franz, Adolph, Carolina, Michaela, Johann Friedrich and Ana. Of the 9 children, 7 were sent to Switzerland and the remaining 2 were Franz and Adolph. Adolph also planted kava in his residence in Fatai and they were much larger than the average Kava plants. Adolph’s Kava were mainly used as offerings for the royal family of Tonga." https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2018/04/tongans-remember-volunteers-from-the-islands-who-served-in-first-world-war/ Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references ​ ​ Further links ​ Previous Next

  • Divit, MOHENOR | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Divit Last name MOHENOR Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 27933 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Tevita Tonga MOHENOA David MOHENOA Date of birth Three different dates in service record Place of birth Nukualofa, Tonga Date of death Unknown Place of death Unknown Death registration number Unknown Headstone/grave location Unknown Next of kin Esefe (Esafe) Mohenor (father), Nuku'alofa, Tonga Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE20466775 Additional information https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2018/04/tongans-remember-volunteers-from-the-islands-who-served-in-first-world-war/ Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references ​ ​ Further links ​ Previous Next

  • Iako, PIRA | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Iako Last name PIRA Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 84502 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Iako Date of birth 19 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Samoa Date of death 09/06/1920 Place of death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death registration number AITU19200141 Headstone/grave location Tautu Road, Tautu, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Next of kin Tokari Pira (brother), Pukapuka. Iako (father, born Samoa) and Pira (mother, born Pukapuka) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19527236 Additional information Born in Samoa and living in Aitutaki at time of enlistment. Enlisted 12 June 1918 and discharged 7 December 1918. Died of tuberculosis in Aitutaki on 9 June 1920 however his death was not attributed to war service. He is also commemorated on the Pukapuka Roll of Honourl board as his mother was from Pukapuka and his father was Samoan. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • No first name on enlistment, TARA | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s No first name on enlistment Last name TARA Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 84575 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Tara TEAIOITI Teaioiti TARA Date of birth 28 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Mangaia, Cook Islands Date of death 04/11/1954 Place of death Mangaia, Cook Islands Death registration number MANG19540025 Headstone/grave location Vaitotara, Tavaenga Rd, Oneroa Village, Mangaia, Cook Islands Next of kin Teaioiti (father), Rakiki (mother) Rimaonga (wife) is named on the death register Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10418849 Additional information Enlisted in Rarotonga 12 June 1918 and discharged 7 December 1918. Date of death: 04/11/1954 (as per Cook Islands death register) 05/11/1954 (as per military headstone) Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Toki, TEARIKI | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Toki Last name TEARIKI Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 84529 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Teariki TOKI Paulo Teariki Taurakira TOKI Date of birth 31/08/1899 Place of birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of death 08/11/1978 Place of death Atiu, Cook Islands Death registration number ATIU19780002 Headstone/grave location Catholic Cemetery, Atiu, Cook Islands Next of kin Tokerau Toki (father), Tapapa (mother), Verokura (wife, as per headstone inscription) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10865087 Additional information Attested in Rarotonga 12 June 1918. Enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand 10 July 1918. Discharged 7 December 1918 due to the signing of the Armistice that ended WWI. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Rarotonga records name as 'T TOKI'. Listed on the Atiu cenotaph as 'TEARIKITAURAKIRA TOKI'. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Francis Ernest, TIMOTHY | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Francis Ernest Last name TIMOTHY Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 20890 10th Māori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company Also known as ​ Date of birth 25/04/1889 Place of birth Norfolk Island Date of death 9/06/1921 Place of death Hamilton, New Zealand Death registration number NZ1921/10739 Headstone/grave location Ngāruawāhia Cemetery, Ngāruawāhia, Waikato, New Zealand Unmarked grave Next of kin Mrs Evelyn Lethart (aunt), Graham Street, Green Lane, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand John Timothy (father) Maria Angelina Laura Evans (mother) Louisa Timothy (wife) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE14536041 Additional information Employed in New Zealand prior to enlistment on 1 August 1916 at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand. Embarked on HMNZT No.69 Tahiti at Wellington 15 November 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, United Kingdom 29 January 1917. Joined New Zealand Pioneer Battalion in France 25 May 1917 and was transferred to the Rarotongan Company 14 January 1918. He embarked at Marseille 21 January 1918 to disembark at Alexandra 4 February 1918. Posted to the Rarotongan Company 5 March 1918. Returned with Rarotongan Company on SS Malta. On his return to New Zealand difficulty was found in obtaining a passage to Norfolk Island due to Sydney port being closed as a result of the influenza epidemic. As a result he was not discharged but on 26 March 1919 was sent to Trentham Camp for employment until passage was found. On 28 April 1919 he applied for discharge in New Zealand and this was approved 9 May 1919. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references ​ ​ Further links https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169289439/francis-ernest-timothy Listed on the British and European Nobility Register: https://peerage.org.uk/codex/peerage-record-15574/#i155734 Previous Next

  • Taria, TEARII | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Taria Last name TEARII Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 84513 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Tearii TARIA Date of birth 18 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Aitutaki, Cook Islands Date of death 19/09/1919 Place of death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death registration number AITU19190101 Headstone/grave location Headstone memorial at Aratea, Aitutaki, Cook Islands. The original grave location was cleared in 1967 to make way for road infrastructure. Next of kin Naomi (mother), Taria (father) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11177079 Additional information Enlisted 10 July 1918 at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp. Discharged 20 March 1919. His burial site was cleared in the 1960’s however our team located his memorial headstone in Aitutaki in November 2019. Added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and New Zealand Rolls of Honour, announced by the NZDF October 2019: https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/116716348/forgotten-wwi-war-dead-honoured-100-years-on “On Friday, on the basis of research done by Cate Walker, Howard Weddell, Paula Paniani and Bobby Nicholas, the names of six Cook Islands soldiers were added to the New Zealand and Commonwealth War Graves Commission's official rolls of honour.” https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/75463732/taria-tearii/ Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Aura, TERA | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Aura Last name TERA Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 60646 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as ​ Date of birth 22 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Rurutu, Society Islands (French Polynesia) Date of death 27/04/1925 Place of death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death registration number RARO19250612 Headstone/grave location Matavera, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of kin Tera Aura (father), Rurutu, Society Islands (French Polynesia) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE14334200 Additional information Enlisted 12 March 1918 at Narrow Neck Camp and disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918. Posted to the Rarotongan Company 20 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918. On discharge the medical board identified tuberculosis. Died in Rarotonga 27 April 1925 of tuberculosis. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Martin, MITCHELL | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Martin Last name MITCHELL Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 60682 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as ​ Date of birth 06/05/1897 Place of birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of death 23/12/1949 Place of death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death registration number RARO19490084 Headstone/grave location Panama Catholic Cemetery, Panama, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of kin Taitapu Mitchell (wife), Avatiu, Rarotonga, Allen Mitchell (father) born New York, USA, Maria (mother) born Mitiaro, Cook Islands Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19783543 Additional information Enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp 12 March 1918. Disembarked in Suez 4 August 1918 and was posted to the Training Regiment. Transferred to Rarotongan Company 18 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Tunu, PARAU | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Tunu Last name PARAU Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 60668 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Teuru PARAU TeUnu PARAU Date of birth 30 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of death 06/04/1955 Place of death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death registration number RARO19550002 Headstone/grave location Tupapa, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of kin Tumataiapo (brother), Tupapa, Rarotonga Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9985564 Additional information Enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand 12 March 1918 and was posted to the Rarotongan Company 18 September 1918. He was sick on SS Malta and was quarantined for medical treatment at Fremantle, Australia on 12 January 1919. Returned to New Zealand via Sydney 7 May 1919 and discharged on 9 July 1919. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Makakea, PEPE | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Makakea Last name PEPE Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 19349 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Pepe MAKAKEA Pepe MAKA KEA Date of birth 1897 Place of birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of death Unknown Place of death Unknown Death registration number Unknown Headstone/grave location Unknown Next of kin Unknown Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10550741 Additional information Enlisted 1 July 1916. Was found to be medically unfit after 48 days of service and discharged. Listed on the Cook Islands Roll of Honour Board as “Pepe” without his service number. Not listed on the Atiu cenotaph April 2019. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Motuiti, KERAITI | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Motuiti Last name KERAITI Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 84562 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as MOTUITI Date of birth 32 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Mangaia, Cook Islands Date of death 09/04/1921 Place of death Mangaia, Cook Islands Death registration number MANG19210012 Headstone/grave location Poeaiai Rd, behind Babe’s Hotel, Tavaenga Rd, Oneroa, Mangaia, Cook Islands Next of kin Putaiterangi UA (sister), Keraiti (father), Mareva (mother) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE21825348 Additional information Enlisted in Rarotonga 12 June 1918 and discharged 7 December 1918. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Makuru, MATAPO | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Makuru Last name MATAPO Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 60774 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as ​ Date of birth 20 years of age on enlistment Place of birth Mauke, Cook Islands Date of death 02/06/1945 Place of death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death registration number RARO19460213 Headstone/grave location Beside the Cook Islands Christian Church, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of kin Matapo (father) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11183889 Additional information Enlisted 12 March 1918 at Narrow Neck Training Camp Auckland New Zealand. Embarked from Wellington 13 June 1918 and disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918. Posted to the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Bde Training Regiment and Base Depot 4 August 1918. Embarked for New Zealand per SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

  • Parker, SKEEN | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s Parker Last name SKEEN Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 16/1539 5th Māori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company Also known as Parker Stout SKEEN Date of birth 10/05/1896 Place of birth Apia, Tuamasaga, Upolu, Samoa Date of death 04/08/1985 Place of death Auckland, New Zealand Death registration number NZ1985/39430 Headstone/grave location Mangere Lawn Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand Next of kin Robert Lowis Skeen (father), former Chief Justice of Tonga Eliza Fruean (mother) Winifred O'Neill Skeen (wife) Mrs Jessie Tarr (sister) Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE24551932 Additional information Attested in Tonga 8 April 1916. Embarked 29 July 1916 and disembarked Devonport, UK, on 28 September 1916. Embarked for France 10 October 1916 and posted to New Zealand Pioneer Battalion 21 October 1916. Transferred to the Rarotongan Company 14 January 1918, joined New Zealand Mounted Rifle Bde Training Regiment & Base Depot in Moascar, Egypt 5 February 1918 and was again posted to the Rarotongan Company on 2 April 1918. Returned to New Zealand on SS Malta and discharged 10 March 1919 in New Zealand. Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references Headstone image source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226347882/parker-stout-skeen ​ Further links https://malotonga.com/1HohokoSkeensofTonga. Previous Next

  • No first name on enlistment, TAKAROKA | Cook Islands Online Cenotaph

    < Back Final rank: Private First name/s No first name on enlistment Last name TAKAROKA Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps 16/1198 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Takaroka OPINI Opini TAKAROKA Takaroka AUPINI Date of birth 10/08/1893 Place of birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of death 26/12/1964 Place of death Auckland, New Zealand Death registration number NZ1965/23859 Headstone/grave location Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand Next of kin Takaroka (father), Matavera, Rarotonga (deceased); Vaine Parekore (sister), Ngatangiia, Rarotonga Archives New Zealand online service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19443781 Additional information Enlisted in Rarotonga 28 September 1915. Served with New Zealand Pioneer Battalion until wounded in action with severe shrapnel wounds to both thighs 22 November 1917. Evacuated to 3rd New Zealand field Ambulance and then 53rd General Hospital, Boulogne. Evacuated to England on Hospital Ship St David 4 December 1917. Treated at 2nd London General Hospital from 4 December 1917 to 4 February 1918 then to NZ General Hospital Brockenhurst until 8 April 1918. Returned to France 7 May 1918 and to New Zealand Base Depot in Etaples 9 May 1918. Posted to the Rest Camp and then to Base Supply Depot Marseille for passage to Egypt 16 May 1918. Transferred to Rarotongan Company 1 July 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Two service records online: https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE14607865 https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19443781 Images and documents (click on images to enlarge) Image credits and references N/A ​ Further links N/A Previous Next

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