DanielaNIO19283 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Daniela Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) NIO Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19283 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Nio DANIELA Nio WILLIAM Ngakaara Date of Birth 20/07/1900 (to be confirmed) Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 08/07/1939 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19390012 Headstone/Grave Location Headstone located at Tengatangi Village, Atiu, Cook Islands. Grave location unknown. Next of Kin William Kelly (father), Areauri (mother), Taumarama (wife), Miss Maatira (sister), Maka Kea (uncle) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11054261 Additional Information Enlisted on Rarotonga 1 July 1916 and arrived Egypt via SS Malwa 27 December 1916. Served with New Zealand Mounted Rifle Bde Training Regiment and Base Depot and Rarotongan Company. Seriously ill with bronchitis in October and November 1918. Embarked on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and disembarked Fremantle, Western Australia and quarantined 12 January 1919 with influenza. Returned to New Zealand from Sydney 7 May 1919. Discharged 19 July 1919. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records name as 'N. Daniela' Listed on the Atiu Cenotaph as 'N. DANIEL' Headstone records name as 'N DANIELA' Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

AtamaAKEAU60685 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Atama Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) AKEAU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 60685 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Inakana ATAMA Atama INAKANA Date of Birth 25 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Manihiki, Cook Islands Date of Death 27/01/1924 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19240517 Headstone/Grave Location Nikao Cemetery, Nikao, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Akeau (father), Rarotonga, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11148345 Additional Information Enlisted 12 March 1918 and embarked 13 June 1918. Disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918 and transferred to Rarotongan Company 20 September 1918. Admitted to 48th Stationary Hospital with measles and then on 2 November 1918 to Aotea Convalescent Home. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1918. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Only one name recorded on enlistmentPITA16/1193 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Lance Corporal First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Only one name recorded on enlistment Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) PITA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 16/1193 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Pita COWAN Peter COWAN Date of Birth 1889 Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 27/04/1971 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19710034 Headstone/Grave Location Matavera, (next to the old packing shed), Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Mere Ke (sister), Aureka Ke (mother), Ke (father) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE12511339 Additional Information Enlisted 30 September 1915. Disembarked at Suez 15 March 1915 and proceeded to France 9 April 1915. Detached to the Rarotongan Company 14 January 1918 and embarked for Egypt 21 January 1918 and disembarked at Alexandria 4 February 1918. Posted to the Rarotongan Company 15 February 1918 and then to New Zealand Mounted Rifle Bde Training Regiment & Base Depot 7 March 1918 and rejoined the Rarotongan Company 1 July 1918. Embarked on SS Malta 14 December 1918. Discharged 20 March 1919. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

MatePAORA19260 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Mate Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) PAORA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19260 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Paora MATE Paora MATATUI Date of Birth 1896 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 01/08/1919 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19190070 Headstone/Grave Location Areora, Atiu, Cook Islands Next of Kin Paora (father), Atiu, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19865798 Additional Information Enlisted 9 July 1916 and arrived Egypt on SS Malwa. Employed at Moascar between January and March 1917 then to Kantara, Egypt and NZ Mounted Rifle Bde Training Regiment and Base Depot until 11 January 1918. Transferred to the Rarotongan Company and whilst in Palestine was admitted to 24th Stationary Hospital, 45th Stationary and 27th General Hospital for back injury and jaundice. Returned to New Zealand on SS Malta and discharged 20 March 1919. Died 1 August 1919 in Atiu of tuberculosis. Headstone located by our team in an abandoned house May 2025. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

RimaTEIPO5th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Rima Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) TEIPO Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 5th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as T. TEIPO Date of Birth Unknown Place of Birth Aitutaki, Cook Islands Date of Death 24/08/1926 Place of Death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death Registration Number AITU19260399 Headstone/Grave Location Nikaupara, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Next of Kin Unknown Link to Online Service Record Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga. Arrived in Wellington on SS Moana 6 November 1918, five days before the signing of The Armistice which marked the end of WWI. No online war service record. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

AngunaKAINANA60688 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Anguna Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) KAINANA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 60688 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Date of Birth 26 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 19/05/1959 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19590031 Headstone/Grave Location Beside the Hartel Shop, Tupapa, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Kainana (father), Rarotonga. Tekura (mother), Rarotonga Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11061402 Additional Information Enlisted 12 March 1918. Discharged as medically unfit 15 June 1918 and did not proceed overseas beyond New Zealand. Date of death: 19/05/1959 (as per Cook Islands death register) 20/05/1958 (as per military headstone) Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Thomas CharlesWORRALL6/2968 (WWI) 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment 801193 (WWII) Headquarters Company < Back Highest Rank Driver (WWI) Sergeant (WWII) First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Thomas Charles Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) WORRALL Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 6/2968 (WWI) 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment 801193 (WWII) Headquarters Company Also known as Date of Birth 04/12/1892 Place of Birth Middlesex, London, England Date of Death 24/9/1948 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1948/19940 Headstone/Grave Location The ashes were sent from Auckland, were interred at the London Missionary Society churchyard, Rarotonga Next of Kin Mrs Mary Jane Worrall (mother), Lee House, Shibden, Halifax, England and 22 Alderley Rd, Wilmslow Cheshire, England Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE21585474 Additional Information Employed as a salesman with Cook Islands Trading Company on WWI enlistment. Left Rarotonga September 1914 by ship and enlisted at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington 21 June 1915. Wounded in action in the field 16 September 1916 (gunshot wound to left leg and compound fracture). Returned to New Zealand on the hospital ship SS Marama 13 January 1917 and discharged 21 August 1917 as no longer physically fit for war service on account of wounds received in action. Re-enlisted during WWII. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317424629: "FUNERAL OF THE LATE T. C. WORRALL From Our Own Correspondent RAROTONGA, May 20. The ashes of the late Mr. T. C. Worrall, which were sent from Auckland, were interred at the London Missionary Society churchyard, Rarotonga, on May 13. A number of European friends attended the service. Mr. Worrall was an Englishman. He first settled in Rarotonga in 1912. In World War I he served with the NZ forces and was severely wounded. Returning to Rarotonga he established a motor repairing business. At the outbreak of World War II he again enlisted with the N.Z. army. Mr. Worrall was 56 at the time of his death." Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Only one name recorded on enlistmentPIAPO19348 2nd Rarotongan Contingent  < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Only one name recorded on enlistment Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) PIAPO Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19348 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Piapo TAPUTU Date of Birth 1886 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 24/09/1923 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19230179 Headstone/Grave Location Areora, Atiu, Cook Islands Next of Kin Taputu (father), Atiu, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19522662 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 1 July 1916. Embarked at Wellington 16 January 1916 and disembarked Suez from SS Malwa. Had a significant number of admissions to medical facilities, and embarked 21 May 1917 to return to New Zealand. Admitted to the Waikato Sanatorium in Cambridge for treatment. Discharged 20 September 1917 and returned to the Cook Islands. Died 24 September 1923 in Atiu of tuberculosis. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records name as 'P. Taputu'. Listed on the Atiu cenotaph as 'PIAPO TAPUTU'. Grave photos take 2019 & 2025. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

TuaiviKOKAUA60722 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Tuaivi Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) KOKAUA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 60722 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Date of Birth 22 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 24/03/1961 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19610020 Headstone/Grave Location Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Vaine Matangaro (wife) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19317845 Additional Information Enlisted 12 March 1918 at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand. Assessed as medically unfit and discharged 15 June 1918. Date of death: 24/03/1961 (as per Cook Islands death register & private headstone) 25/03/1961 (as per military headstone) Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

TNUI5th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) T Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) NUI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 5th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Date of Birth Unknown Place of Birth Unknown Date of Death Unknown Place of Death Unknown Death Registration Number Unknown Headstone/Grave Location Unknown Next of Kin Unknown Link to Online Service Record Additional Information No online war service record Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

TimotiKITA5th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Timoti Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) KITA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 5th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Kita TIMOTI Date of Birth Unknown Place of Birth Pukapuka, Cook Islands Date of Death 19/05/1944 Place of Death Pukapuka, Cook Islands Death Registration Number PUKA19440352 Headstone/Grave Location Undelivered military headstone is at the RSA Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Unknown Link to Online Service Record Additional Information The 5th Rarotongan Contingent disembarked in Wellington 6 November 1918 and were discharged 13 November at Trentham Military Training Camp due to the signing of the Armistice on November 11 1918 that ended World War One. No Online war service record. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Only one name recorded on enlistmentUPOKOKEU19341 2nd Rarotongan Contingent  < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Only one name recorded on enlistment Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) UPOKOKEU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19341 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Poea UPOKOKEU Upokokeu POEA Date of Birth 1896 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 29/03/1960 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19600006 Headstone/Grave Location Teenui, Atiu, Cook Islands Next of Kin Ngaetu (wife), Atiu, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE21358670 Additional Information Disembarked from SS Malwa at Suez on 27 December 1916 and posted to the Rarotongan Company 30 November 1917. Injured his hand at Jaffa on 23 February 1918. Embarked on SS Malta for New Zealand and discharged 20 March 1919. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records name as 'U. POEA'. Listed on the Atiu cenotaph as 'UPOKOKEU'. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

ApongiAH KEW19233  2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Apongi Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) AH KEW Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19233 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Apongi AKIU Date of Birth 23/06/1894 Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 09/05/1951 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19510012 Headstone/Grave Location Takuvaine Valley Cemetery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Ah Kew (brother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9884907 Additional Information Enlisted 1 July 1916 in Rarotonga. Disembarked SS Malwa at Suez 16 November 1916 and posted to the Rarotongan Company 22 January 1917. Admitted to various hospitals at Jaffa, Gaza, Abbassia, Heliopolis and Ismailia and discharged to duty 20 October 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1914 and discharged 20 March 1919. Date of death: 09/05/1951 (Cook Islands death register) 10/03/1951 (as per war service documents and headstone) Military headstone records name as 'A. AKIU'. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Only one name recorded on enlistmentTANEAO16/1201 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Only one name recorded on enlistment Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) TANEAO Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 16/1201 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Taneao KIRITAKAU Date of Birth 10/1894 Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 16/08/1969 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1969/31180 Headstone/Grave Location Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand Next of Kin Kiri (father), Matavera, Rarotonga Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18386496 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 25 September 1915. Disembarked Suez 15 March 1916 and embarked at Port Said for France 9 April 1916. Mid and late 1916 he was admitted to a number of medical facilities for sickness as a result of aggravation to an old break in his arm. Mid 1917 again admitted to New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, and then medically downgraded and classified as unfit for further service on 29 October 1917. Embarked for New Zealand at Liverpool on SS Ruahine and discharged in New Zealand 16 March 1918. His grave is unmarked. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

TiraaMAU84509 4th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Tiraa Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) MAU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 84509 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Date of Birth 20 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Aitutaki, Cook Islands Date of Death 23/10/1946 Place of Death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death Registration Number AITU19461193 Headstone/Grave Location Vaipae, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Next of Kin Naoari Mau (sister) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE13551580 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. Embarked on SS Paloona for Rarotonga, and arrived in Rarotonga 15 December 1918. We were told about this headstone by a descendant when we were at the Aitutaki, Cook Islands airport preparing to fly back to Rarotonga on November 13th 2019. The descendant sent the headstone photos to us after we had left Aitutaki. Grave location unknown. Date of death: 23/10/1946 (as per Cook Islands death register) 26/10/1946 (as per military headstone) Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records his name as 'T. NAU'. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

ManuelANTHONY16/1182 New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Corporal First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Manuel Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) ANTHONY Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 16/1182 New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Anthony MANUELA Anthony MANUERA Date of Birth May 1895 Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 10/05/1917 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1917/1739 Headstone/Grave Location Devonport (O’Neill’s Point) Cemetery, Bayswater, Auckland, New Zealand Next of Kin Luka Manuera (father), Avarua, Rarotonga Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10207503 Additional Information Enlisted 30 September 1915 in Rarotonga. Disembarked at Suez 15 March 1916 and embarked for France 9 April 1916. Admitted to 7th General Hospital, St Omer with German measles. Admitted to 8th Casualty Clearing Station 13 August 1916 and then to 35th General Hospital Calais 15 August 1916 and transferred to UK on Hospital Ship Newhaven and admitted to the 2nd London General Hospital 1 September 1916. 2 November 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames with tubercle on the neck. Had three operations before being returned to New Zealand on the Hospital Ship Marama departing UK 3 January 1917. Died 10 May 1917 of tuberculosis at Auckland Hospital and is buried at Devonport (O’Neill’s Point) Cemetery, Auckland New Zealand. Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/642907/manuel-anthony/ Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Commemorative certificate image courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves Commission Further Links N/A Previous Next

George PearceBALDWIN3/4015 New Zealand Medical Corps < Back Highest Rank Lieutenant Colonel First Name/s (as per enlistment record) George Pearce Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) BALDWIN Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 3/4015 New Zealand Medical Corps Also known as Date of Birth 10/05/1856 Place of Birth Wolverhampton, England Date of Death 22/05/1930 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1930/2730 Headstone/Grave Location Ashes interred at Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand Section 34, Block E, Lot 37 Next of Kin Florence Helen Baldwin (wife) Doris Pearce Russell (daughter) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10317858 Additional Information Appointed Surgeon Captain New Zealand Militia until transferring to the NZ Medical Corps on its formation in 20 September 1910. In 1906 was living in Waikar, Canterbury, New Zealand. On 30 October 1915 was promoted to Major in the New Zealand Medical Corps in Rarotonga. Appointed as a member of a special medical board on his return to New Zealand. Posted as the Assistant Director of Medical Services at Christchurch from 7 April 1919 to 8 September 1919. Posted to the Retired List 8 September 1919. His obituary in the Evening Post dated 26 May 1930 stated "The death occurred in Auckland last week after an operation of Dr George Pearce Baldwin, who during the war was assistant Director of Medical Services in Christchurch. He was a cousin of Stanley Baldwin and Sir Rudyard Kipling and a nephew of the late Sir Burne-Jones and Sir Edward Pointer." Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Image source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221244715/george-pearce-baldwin Further Links N/A Previous Next

MareRUAVAI19274 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Mare Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) RUAVAI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19274 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Mareraki Date of Birth 15/03/1897 Place of Birth Mangaia, Cook Islands Date of Death 24/12/1949 Place of Death Mangaia, Cook Islands Death Registration Number MANG19490020 Headstone/Grave Location Inland from Karenga, Mangaia, Cook Islands Next of Kin Manavakino (mother), Ruavai (father), Uaongo (wife) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18329537 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 1 July 1916. Disembarked ex Malwa at Suez 27 December 1916 and posted to the Training Units and Depot at Moascar. Posted to the Rarotongan Company 7 April 1917. Admitted to the 24th Stationary Hospital at Kanatara, the 27th General Hospital at Abbassia and the 66th Casualty Clearing Station from 31 August 1917 to 3 September 1917. Transferred to Aotea Convalescent Home at Abbassia 12 September 1917. Again admitted to the 27th General Hospital 12 September 1917 and discharged to duty 26 September 1917. Transferred to Rarotongan Company 27 September 1917. Admitted to hospital from 4 September 1918 to 26 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand per SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at the RSA Nikao Rarotonga records his name as 'R. Mare'. In February 2022, the headstone was located by Lydia Karena, Oki Karena and Tarerea Kimitaunga inland from Karanga Mangaia beside the Armstrong family orchards. We documented this grave in April 2023, however there was no satellite signal to capture the exact GPS coordinates. The following information was sent to us in January 2019 by Sue McGreal, a descendent of Private Mare Ruavai: "Mare returned to the Cook Islands at the end of WW1 having left his homeland in November 1916. The story is told of his being mighty lucky to return and the name ‘Mareraki’ was used from then on. He married Uaonga Paia in 1921 at Oneroa, Mangaia. They had 4 daughters and 3 sons and lived the first part of their life in Mangaia, then lived in Titikaveka in Rarotonga. He was a planter and sometimes took work in the outer islands like Makatea to have an income. He returned to Mangaia for a few years whilst his family remained in Rarotonga. Mare died in 1949 and is buried on Mangaia. Fondly remembered by his surviving daughter, Mrs Tuku Campion, Nelson, NZ and all of his descendants in the Cook Islands, NZ and Australia." Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next