UruNIOTAMANU84526 4th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Uru Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) NIOTAMANU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 84526 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Tangauru Tu NIO-TAMANU Date of Birth 09/02/1900 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 22/10/1995 Place of Death Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1995/50838 Headstone/Grave Location Papakura Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand Next of Kin Niotamanu (father), Kimiangatau, Atiu Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19812247 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. Not listed on Atiu cenotaph April 2019. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

MartinMITCHELL60682 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Martin Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) MITCHELL Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 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 Link to 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

WWI GPS Maps. In 2018, our team began recording the GPS coordinates and documenting WWI graves and headstones located in Mangaia (2018 and 2023), Rarotonga (2019 to 2024), Atiu (2019), Aitutaki (2019), and Mauke (2022). We will add more coordinates as we receive new information. GPS Coordinates In 2018, our team began recording the GPS coordinates and documenting WWI graves and headstones located in Mangaia (2018 and 2023), Rarotonga (2019 to 2024), Atiu (2019), Aitutaki (2019), and Mauke (2022). We will be adding more coordinates including WWII Coastwatchers/Local Defence Force as our research continues. Click on a name or a pin on each map to view grave or headstone photos along with other photos of interest. Aitutaki GPS Coordinates Map Atiu GPS Coordinates Map Mangaia GPS Coordinates Map Mauke GPS Coordinates Map Rarotonga GPS Cordinates Map

Explore the Cook Islands' rich military history. Search to uncover the stories of our brave soldiers. Lest We Forget their sacrifices and bravery. NAME SERVICE NUMBER PLACE OF BIRTH PLACE OF DEATH ALSO KNOWN AS View Records Reset LOADING........ No Results Found LAST NAME No Results Found NAME ALSO KNOWN AS PLACE OF BIRTH PLACE OF DEATH SERVICE NUMBER first name also known as placeOfBirth placeOfDeath placeOfDeath View More Last name Last name also known as placeOfBirth placeOfDeath View More Last name Last name also known as placeOfBirth placeOfDeath View More

Learn about the 1919 disturbance involving returned WWI soldiers from the Cook Islands. Learn about their struggle for recognition and justice. The 1919 Returned Soldiers Disturbance The following has been reproduced with the kind permission of Mr Howard Weddell, author of the book “Soldiers from the Pacific”. Published 2015. ISBN 978-0-473-33830-5. Pages 112 - 118. Rarotongans Arrive Home The home coming was no doubt a joyous occasion for the soldiers, their families and the Cook Islands communities. For some, the 1st Contingent, their separation had been three and a half years. During their absence things had changed not only within their personal life but within their families and communities. The soldiers who returned to the Cook Islands in March 1919 were not the men who had earlier left for New Zealand. They had been trained, paid and treated as New Zealand soldiers. They had travelled to the other side of the world. Some had enjoyed Paris and England, all had seen the sights of the land of the bible and others the less salubrious sights of the Wazza in Cairo. They had seen and felt the pressures of war. They were proud of their victory, their achievements, their uniforms and themselves. They were changed. There were many welcomes. The welcomes both traditional and formal provided feasts and bush beer was plentiful. After their final pay the men were wealthy. Disturbance The political administration of the islands had been altered in 1916 which reduced the level of self-governance and consultation with native Cook Islanders and strengthened the direct administration from New Zealand. This had a tendency to disenfranchise the local native islander from the Cook Islands Administration and assisted in the creation of a 'them and us' society. Within the Cook Islands an established business cartel of traders had attempted to control the supply of produce from the Cook Islands and control production costs. Whilst profitable to them, the financial impact upon the islands was severe as costs had increased significantly over the years and the Cook Islands' internal inflation was higher than New Zealand's. The traders were aggressive in maintaining this level of control and resentment was evident within the Cook Island population, especially with those growing fruit and crops. The exploitation of growers by the traders was formally reported upon by the Resident Commissioner, Mr FW Platts. (Reference: Dick Scott, Years of the Pooh-Bah , Hodder & Stoughton, 1991, p145.) As part of the army's discharge procedure each soldier was given a voucher for £5 5s to be used to buy clothing such as a civilian suit. When these were presented in Rarotonga a few of the local traders attempted to require soldiers to spend the entire value of the voucher in their shop and refused to transfer any uncashed balance. The soldiers, who had experienced trading in the bazaars of Egypt and Palestine, took umbrage at this attempt to profit at their expense. Manifested from a number of grievances and circumstances, the umbrage grew into a disturbance that for some, was a demonstration of semi-political activism, frustration, revenge and outright hooliganism. However they were still under martial discipline. In his report to the Commandant of the New Zealand Forces on 16 March 1919 Captain Bush described the situation and the result: Sir, I beg to report the arrival at Rarotonga of my unit on the afternoon of 3 inst [March]. During the voyage there was no sickness, and instructions as to spraying and inhalation were carried out daily. The troops were given a very hearty reception by the residents, both white and native, and the whole week was spent in attending native welcomes at the different villages. I regret very much to say that at all these gatherings there was ample evidence of bush beer drinking, among both the returned soldiers and civilian natives. The men were paid up on Wednesday and Thursday 5th & 6th and the sum of £4711 was distributed, out of which there was only about £1000 lodged in the Savings Bank. Up to Saturday 8th inst., the behaviour of the men was very good, and there was not the slightest evidence of trouble brewing. On Sunday 9th we had a large Church Parade when the unit's colours were blessed and handed to the custody of the Church. After the service myself and officers went to a picnic at the invitation of some of the white residents. On returning to Avarua we heard that some shops had been looted by soldiers and civilians and I immediately went to Jagger & Harvey's store and found that it had been burgled. Corporal Kaitara Toto informed me that he had tried to prevent the crime but could not owing to the numbers opposing him, but was able to identity the leaders, or at least some of them. of them. I immediately placed a Guard on Jaggers store and then sent messages to all the villages warning the men to parade first thing next morning. Corporal Kaitara was rather brutally assaulted by two men, a soldier and a civilian native and had to be taken to the hospital. On Monday morning there was a very good muster of the Unit and several men were identified and brought before the Court charged with burglary and breaking and entering, and theft. So far six men have been tried and in three cases there was sufficient evidence to convict. Two men have received terms of five years imprisonment to be served in New Zealand, one man has been found guilty and remanded for sentence, while the man who assaulted Corporal Kaitara was fined £10 and six months imprisonment. There are still several more cases to come before the Court, and when these are dealt with I hope to have all the leaders roped in. The situation on Sunday night was critical, but since the matter has been taken in hand by the Military there has been no further disturbance except a broken window, caused by a single man on his way home under the influence of drink. Thursday 13th inst saw the Atiu and Mauke portion of the unit away and this relieved the situation considerably as there were several very bad characters among them, but with no evidence against them. I really do not anticipate any further organised outbreak. I understand the natives have several grievances against the white traders, but these are matters for the Resident Commissioner to deal with, and I have been concerned purely with the Military aspects of the case and maintaining the Law and Order. I have taken all orders from the Resident Commissioner and feel that he is satisfied with what we have done up to the present. The great majority of the men have responded loyally to the call to duty and we have had ample numbers for Patrol purposes and for guarding the Gaol which was threatened on Monday last. Lieutenants Tangney and Gibbons have rendered me every possible assistance and have carried out their duties in a loyal and untiring manner. I would respectfully bring to your notice the loyalty of Corpl. Kaitara Toto, through whose gameness and devotion to duty we have found it possible to bring at least some of the offenders to justice. There are two Rarotongans in Wellington, one 19293 Pte. Raki Punoua at present in Featherston hospital, and 19306 Pte. Pani Turua who was absent without leave when the Paloona sailed. As both of these men are very bad characters I would strongly recommend that they be discharged in New Zealand, and so keep them out of the islands where they could make trouble with little or no Police interference. The Resident Commissioner has instructed me to remain here with my officers in the meantime. I trust there will be no further trouble. I do not anticipate it. In addition to our returned soldiers about 30 native 'specials' [Special Constables] and about 35 white 'specials' have been sworn in for duty. I should like to say Sir, that there were native civilians as well as returned soldiers concerned in these troubles. (Reference: Archives New Zealand, AD1, 770, Record 22/239. Courts Martial & Courts of Inquiry - Discipline - Rarotongans.) As described by the Resident Commissioner: In the evening of Sunday a crowd of about 70 men, nearly all returned soldiers, attacked one of the largest stores on the Island. They burst open the doors and windows, smashed the shop fittings, and looted or destroyed the contents. They indicated their intention of looting the remaining stores and spirit bond. For twenty four hours the settlement was at the mercy of the rioters. By Monday night however we had formed a strong body of Native special constables, a number of better behaved soldiers had placed themselves under their officers and practically every white man on the Island had offered their services and was sworn in as a special constable. (Reference: Report on the Rarotonga Riots by Resident Commissioner Mr FW Platts to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 10
September 1919.) The effect of the disturbance upon the Cook Island Administration was profound. On the morning after the disturbance the Resident Commissioner cabled the Governor of the French Colonies of Oceania and Papeete asking if they could assist the Cook Islands by providing the French Dispatch Boat Kersaint . This support did not occur as the Kersaint had accidentally run aground in the French Territories and was not available. The French Consul General based in Auckland formally apologised to the Governor General of New Zealand that this support was unavailable. In order to maintain order the Resident Commissioner FW Platts swore in some of the white residents and soldiers as Special Constables, 40 in total, and agreed to pay 10s per night as well as provide their rations. These special constables were on duty from 10 through to 27 March 1919. Their role was to provide a presence and guard sensitive areas such as Government buildings and locations such as the Bond Store and Jagger & Harvey's general store. Detachments of this Constabulary were maintained at Titikaveka, Avarua, Arorangi and Tiniraus. In providing these special constables the Island Administration incurred additional costs which totalled £515 14s 8d which the Cook Islands Administration had not budgeted for. A special sitting of the Cook Islands Courts was held and on 19 March 1919 20 men were charged with 12 found guilty of a variety of crimes. The Resident Commissioner advised Wellington that as well as convictions and sentences to be served in Rarotonga, some of the ring leaders of the disturbance had been convicted, and due to the length of their sentence would be transported to New Zealand to serve their sentences. The news of the incident reached the public of New Zealand and was widely reported in exaggerated form. As reported in the Wellington newspaper Evening Post : Rarotongan Soldiers - Men Wreck Shops and Stores, News from Rarotonga stated that three hundred returned Native soldiers broke into the shops and stores, which were wrecked, and took away or damaged goods to the value of 1,000. The sergeant of police quelled the disturbance with his revolver. The steamer Flora was commandeered to convey the soldiers to their homes in the various islands. (Reference: Evening Post, 24 March 1919, p11) Two of the ring leaders were quickly transported to New Zealand. On 25 March 1919 the New Zealand Provost Marshall advised the assistant Provost Marshall in Wellington that he would be required to have military police meet the vessel SS Moana . They were to take in to custody John Ropu and Metua Paitai who had been each sentenced to imprisonment in New Zealand for burglary by night and breaking and entering Jagger & Harvey's store in Rarotonga. The military police escorted them to HM Prison in Wellington prior to being moved Invercargill. The Provost Marshall also instructed that the military escorts should be armed. (Reference: Archives NZ, AD1, 770, Record 22/239. Letter to AMP Wellington from Provost Marshall, 25 March 1919.) Two further rioters were identified, Mouturi and Iona Toroa, who were sentenced to serve imprisonment in Rarotonga jail for rioting and damaging property. A month later the Resident Commissioner advised Wellington that the conduct of the returned soldiers was satisfactory. The Administration had completed all the prosecutions and a further four more prisoners had been dispatched on SS Paloona to serve their sentence in New Zealand. He also noted that a number of the soldiers had married since their return and that this should "help steady them" and he expected no further trouble. Tellingly he identified a cause of the grievances that led to the disturbance as: One grave mistake that led to a lot of trouble, was the issue here of some 240 Mufti-orders for civilian clothing to the value of £5 5s in each case. The idea was to supply one good suit to each man. These orders certainly should have been issued in New Zealand. Anyone who has seen the men's clothing stocked in the island stores here, know how difficult it would be to find even half a dozen decent suits in the whole lot. But there were 240 five guinea suits orders. Some stores supplied a few articles and gave the soldiers change for the balance unexpended. Others refused to give any change, and, having once got the order, insisted that the soldiers should take the full value of the order in clothing. Naturally there was a great deal of waste and much dissatisfaction amongst the men. (Reference: Archives NZ, AD1, 770, Record 22/239. Memorandum to Minister in Charge Cook Islands Administration from Resident Commissioner, 17 April 1919.) The Resident Commissioner obviously identified the issues surrounding a very limited number of traders vying for vouchers that could only be cashed through traders for clothing. The amount was not insignificant as in 2015 inflation figures the value for the 240 clothing vouchers approximates to $125,000. A total of £1,230 was paid to traders whose stores were looted. Initially the military was reluctant to take responsibility for the cost as it was suggested that it was a civil disturbance however it was quickly pointed out that the soldiers were in fact on disembarkation leave until their final formal discharge on 20 March 1919. This damage was paid from the New Zealand Defence 1919 and 1920 Treasury supplements. In 1920 the Island Administration was still faced with unbudgeted expenditure of £515 14s 8d. As a number of individuals had been convicted on various charges or who were suspected of crimes resulting from the disturbance, it was proposed to Defence that these men should not be paid their war gratuity. Instead the gratuity should be transferred to the Island Administration as recompense for the costs incurred by the disturbance. This was agreed and the money, which had just been deposited into the soldiers Post Office accounts in Auckland, for the seven convicted ex-soldiers totalled £326 7s 9d and their accounts were frozen. However before this could be completed, both Mauturi Metuamate and Toroa Tongia had withdrawn all money deposited in their names which totalled £98 38 9d. It was not until July 1922 that Defence finally credited the Post Office with this loss. On board SS Paloona on the voyage to Rarotonga in 1919. L to R, Lieutenant Tangney, Captain Bush and Lieutenant Gibbons. Photo with the permission of Keith Sedon & Marjorie Sedon. Rarotongan Company Officers after being formally welcomed onto the Island March 1919. L to R, Lieutenant Gibbons, Captain Bush and Lieutenant Tangney. Photo with the permission of Keith Sedon & Marjorie Sedon.

TPAKO5th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) T Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) PAKO 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

MitiakarerePE84556 4th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Mitiakarere Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) PE Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 84556 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Pe MITIAKARERE Date of Birth 24 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Mangaia, Cook Islands Date of Death 16/09/1964 Place of Death Mangaia, Cook Islands Death Registration Number MANG19640010 Headstone/Grave Location Tavaenga Rd, Oneroa, Mangaia, Cook Islands Next of Kin Pe (father) and Taokete (mother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10808770 Additional Information Enlisted 12 June 1918. Discharged 7 December 1918 due to the signing of the Armistice that ended WWI. Pte MAKIRU 19261 has the same service number on his headstone which is incorrect. Name is spelt as MAITIAKARERE on headstone which is also incorrect. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Find the graves of WWI soldiers in Atiu using our detailed GPS map. Pay tribute to their bravery and remember their contribution to our history. Click on the tab below left to expand the list of names, or click on the tab below right to view a larger map

Explore the Cook Islands' rich military history to uncover the stories of our brave soldiers. Lest We Forget their sacrifices and bravery. < Back Final rank: Title First name/s Title Last name Title Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps Title Also known as Title Date of birth Title Place of birth Title Date of death Title Place of death Title Death registration number Title Next of kin Title Headstone/grave location Title Archives New Zealand online service record Title Additional information Title Images and documents Image credits and references Heading 1 Further links Title

Find more in-depth information on Cook Islands WWI history. WWI - Further Information WWI Rarotongan Contingent numbers The service numbers below only reflect soldiers who enlisted in the Cook Islands. Cook Islands soldiers who enlisted in New Zealand or elsewhere have different service numbers: 1st Rarotongan Contingent : Service numbers have prefix 16/1… 2nd Rarotongan Contingent : Service numbers have prefix 19… 3rd Rarotongan Contingent : Service numbers have prefix 60… 4th Rarotongan Contingent : Service numbers have prefix 84… 5th Rarotongan Contingent : No service numbers as they arrived in New Zealand just before WWI ended. Only a few have service records. The soldiers who enlisted in the 4th & 5th Rarotongan Contingents did not leave New Zealand due to the armistice. We have documented the names of next of kin from their service records, and also family names from various research sources. The International Date Line was established in 1884 and passes through the mid-Pacific between the Cook Islands and New Zealand. This may explain why many of the headstones record the date of death as per the date in New Zealand when the notification of death was received by New Zealand authorities who were the administrators of the Cook Islands at the time. Cook Islands NZEF WWI ex-serviceman's headstones Initially, the cost of manufacturing granite headstones in New Zealand along with shipping costs to the Cook Islands and erecting the headstone on the grave was shared between the New Zealand Government and the Cook Islands Administration. Later, headstones for the Cook Islands ex-servicemen who were in receipt of a war pension and whose death was attributed to their war service were supplied free of charge by the New Zealand Government while the Cook Islands Administration paid for the remainder. Many of the ex-servicemen who died from the late 1960’s onwards have a non military (private/civilian) headstone or are buried in an unmarked grave. Today, Veterans Affairs New Zealand will contribute up to NZD$1000 toward the cost of manufacturing, shipping and installation of a military headstone or plaque (if eligible). You can read more about this here and here . There was a considerable delay in the ordering, production and shipping of ex-servicemen's headstones. For example, in 1957 an order for 56 headstones was placed with the New Zealand Department of Island Territories/New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington. Although most had died between 1949 and 1957, the headstone order included a headstone for an ex-serviceman who had died in Mangaia in 1938. The previous order for 65 headstones was placed in 1949 at a cost of £585 (£9 per headstone). By the time the headstones were received (particularly in the Outer Islands) the burial location was unknown and explains why a number of military headstones were placed in church grounds as memorials. In the early 1960’s a new style of headstone was introduced. These were made of a pre-cast composite/aggregate material with a bronze plaque set into the stone. The intended outcome of the change was a reduction of the cost and timeframe of manufacturing for the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. These headstones have proven to be of far inferior quality to the granite headstones previously supplied, and the bronze plaques have not weathered well in the marine environment of the Cook Islands. Later, Veterans Affairs New Zealand reverted to granite for their military headstones. Since the first headstones were manufactured in the 1920’s, there has been ongoing confusion and discussion about the last Unit inscribed on headstones issued by the New Zealand authorities for the Cook Islands ex-servicemen. The most common confusion is surrounding the use of the wording Rarotongan Contingent , Rarotongan Company , Cook Islands Contingent , Cook Islands Company, Māori Battalion and Māori (Pioneer) Battalion .

Charles OwenHODGINS18463 Dental Details Australian Imperial Force < Back Highest Rank Staff Sergeant First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Charles Owen Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) HODGINS Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 18463 Dental Details Australian Imperial Force Also known as Date of Birth 20/07/1889 Place of Birth Wellington, New Zealand Date of Death 06/01/1936 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19360177 Headstone/Grave Location Panama Catholic Cemetery, Panama, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Michael Hodgins (father) Rose Hodgins (mother) Eileen Mary Young Hodgins (wife) Link to Online Service Record Additional Information National Archives Australia link to war service record: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5283613 The service number as per the headstone is 10463 however his service number in his war service record is listed on different documents as 10463 and 18463. We have contacted a few departments in Australia to confirm the correct number and the Australian War Memorial have said "On the fourth page of the service record, the third last entry reads 'Allotted Regimental Number 10463'. As such, it appears he was originally allotted number 18463. This is reflected on the embarkation roll held by the Memorial: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1937648 In 1917, he was allotted a new regimental number and served under this number for the remainder of the war, reflected on the Memorial's Nominal Roll: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2446321 It was not uncommon for soldiers to have multiple regimental numbers, especially in the First World War, as the numbers were not unique to an individual, only to the regiment or unit. As such, there were many occurrences of soldiers transferring into a unit where someone else was already allotted the same regimental number (eg. 12345). In these cases they would assign them a new regimental number, sometimes just adding a letter to the end (eg. 12345a). In regard to AIEF, this stands for Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force, but AIF is more commonly used." Staff Sergeant Charles Owen Hodgins 18463, was born in Wellington 20 July 1889 and was working as a dentist in Australia when WWI broke out. He enlisted in Perth, Western Australia February 1916 and was discharged in August 1919. Following the war he was living in Masterton New Zealand and requested his war medals be forwarded to his address there. In 1936, had been working as a dentist in Rarotonga for two years when he tragically drowned at the Avarua Wharf. Headstone voluntarily relettered by our team September 2024. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Document source: Pacific Islands Monthly http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-311751765 Further Links https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19360109.2.20 Grey River Argus, 9 January 1936, Page 4 RAROTONGA TRAGEDY THE LOCAL DENTIST DROWNED. Previous Next

TangataMAUKE84551 4th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Tangata Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) MAUKE Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 84551 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Tangata Tutai MAUKE Date of Birth About 21 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 07/08/1924 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number Unknown Headstone/Grave Location Teenui, Atiu, Cook Islands Next of Kin Mauke, Cook Islands (father), Moetai (mother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE12474757 Additional Information Enlisted 12 June 1918 in Rarotonga by Mr Platts, Resident Commissioner. Discharged 7 December 1918. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

BeniBANABA19236 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, Rarotongan Company < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Beni Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) BANABA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 19236 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, Rarotongan Company Also known as Date of Birth 1890 Place of Birth Manihiki, Cook Islands Date of Death 16/09/1917 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1917/2902 Headstone/Grave Location Devonport (O’Neill’s Point) Cemetery, Bayswater, Auckland, New Zealand Next of Kin Mrs Apii Banaba (wife), Marairenga, Rarotonga Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10867642 Additional Information Enlisted 1 July 1916. Disembarked at Suez 27 December 1916. Admitted to 26th Stationary Hospital, Ismailia 4 April 1917 and 27th General Hospital Cairo on 8 April 1917 with tuberculosis in the neck. Embarked for New Zealand 21 June 1917 and admitted to Auckland Hospital. Died 16 September 1917 at Auckland Hospital. Promoted to Corporal 30 July 1916. Attained rank of Sergeant 27 August 1916. Relinquished rank to Private April 1917. Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/642908/beni-banaba/ "Husband of Api. B. Banaba, of Marairenga, Rarotonga. Born at Manihiki, Cook Islands." Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links Our team assisted Heritage New Zealand with our research for their report regarding the Cook Islands WWI soldiers and other notable people connected to the Cook Islands who were buried in O’Neill’s Point Cemetery, Auckland New Zealand. The cemetery is now listed as a ‘Heritage Place Category 1’ with ‘Heritage New Zealand’. “The cemetery contains Niue’s first casualty in the conflict; and the largest number of Cook Islands soldiers to be laid at rest while serving in the NZEF.”: https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/9394 Previous Next

Explore our GPS map to locate the graves of WWI soldiers in Mauke. Honour their memory and ensure their stories are never forgotten. Click on the tab below left to expand the list of names, or click on the tab below right to view a larger map

StricklandTEAUARIKI60708 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Strickland Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) TEAUARIKI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 60708 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Teau Ariki STRICKLAND Teariki TIKERENI Date of Birth 20 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Mauke, Cook Islands Date of Death 16/09/1968 Place of Death Mauke, Cook Islands Death Registration Number MAUK19680005 Headstone/Grave Location Parai, near Hyde Park, Kimiangatau, Mauke, Cook Islands Next of Kin Tupurakore Teauariki, (wife), Teauariki (father), Kinui (mother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11178340 Additional Information Enlisted 12 March 1918 and disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Headstone records year of birth as 1896 Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

OnoTAAKI60743 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Lance Corporal First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Ono Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) TAAKI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 60743 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Date of Birth 28 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 03/12/1943 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19430062 Headstone/Grave Location Unknown Next of Kin Patara (wife) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9818109 Additional Information Enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand 12 March 1918 and posted to the Rarotongan Company 18 September 1918. Admitted sick to a field Ambulance between 3 and 5 October 1918 and admitted to the ships hospital on SS Malta for NZ 19 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

WilliamMcBIRNEY59533 British Army Royal Artillery < Back Highest Rank Company Quartermaster Sergeant First Name/s (as per enlistment record) William Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) McBIRNEY Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 59533 British Army Royal Artillery Also known as Date of Birth 59533 British Army Royal Artillery Place of Birth Aldershot, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom Date of Death 26/08/1956 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19560050 Headstone/Grave Location Two memorial plaques: One is located at the RSA cemetery at Nikao Rarotonga and the other memorial is at the site of his wife's grave beside the Panama Catholic Cemetery, Rarotonga. It is believed that he was buried in the Nikao Cemetery beside the RSA. Unknown plot. Next of Kin Edith Mary George (wife) died 21/01/1953, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record Additional Information Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References No known copyright restrictions Further Links https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/art/memory-lane/wheel-of-fortune-therevolutionary-invention-that-was-born-on-rarotonga/ Previous Next

KaaTIKI5th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Kaa Last Name or Only Name Recorded (as per enlistment record) TIKI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served with 5th Rarotongan Contingent Also known as Te Kaa TIKI Date of Birth 25 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Aitutaki, Cook Islands Date of Death 03/05/1957 Place of Death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death Registration Number AITU19570005 Headstone/Grave Location Nikaupara, Aitutaki, 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 Military headstone records name as 'T. KAA' 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