AllanWILLIAMS16/1385 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Allan Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) WILLIAMS Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 16/1385 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company Also Known As Date of Birth 15/02/1891 (as per service record) Place of Birth Samoa Date of Death 26/07/1918 Place of Death Jaffa, Palestine (now Israel) Death Registration Number Unknown Headstone/Grave Location Originally buried at the Jaffa & Sorona Military Cemetery, Palestine. Later moved to the Ramleh Military Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza). Next of Kin Allan Williams (father) Apia Samoa Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10924795 Additional Information Directed to train at Narrow Neck Camp because he was of mixed race. His platoon did not embark with the main 4th Māori Reinforcements but embarked some days later on 26 June 1916 from Wellington with the 2nd Tunnellers Reinforcements. Disembarked at Plymouth, United Kingdom 22 August 1916. He left for France on 28 August 1916 and joined the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion on 16 September 1916. Became ill and was admitted to a number of hospitals in France and United Kingdom with trench fever. He was posted to New Zealand Engineer Reserve Depot in United Kingdom on discharge from hospital on 4 April 1918 and was transferred to Rarotongan Company. Left for France 7 May 1918 and spent some days at 8th Rest Camp, Marseille, waiting for passage to Egypt. He embarked for Egypt on SS Canberra 5 June 1918 and arrived at Alexandria 14 June 1918 and was posted to the Rarotongan Company 1 July 1918 and was admitted to hospital 21 July 1918. He died of mastoid (ear infection) on 26 July 1918 at 33rd Clearing Hospital Jaffa. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Headstone image at left source: https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/allan-williams Headstone image at right (taken September 2024) source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22751607/allan-williams Further Links Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/653570/allan-williams/ Previous Next

Henry WilkinsonJACKSON16/1334 3rd Māori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Henry Wilkinson Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) JACKSON Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 16/1334 3rd Māori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company Also Known As Date of Birth 02/01/1886 Place of Birth Norfolk Island Date of Death 19/10/1965 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealamd Death Registration Number NZ1965/32795 Headstone/Grave Location Waikumete Cemetery & Crematorium, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand Next of Kin Rita Ethel Williams (wife) John Jackson (father) Evelina Eglantine Christian (mother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE13533945 Additional Information Enlisted 20 November 1915. Arrived Suez 15 March 1916 and posted to the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion and sailed from Port Said for France 9 April 1916. Sick in 2nd Australian General Hospital, France 28 July 1916 and was transferred on Hospital Ship Cambria to United Kingdom 30 July 1916 and then onto the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch 14 August 1916. On 30 December 1916 was sentenced to 30 days detention by District Court Martial for desertion from 18-19 October 1916 to 10 November 1916. Was in Sling Camp 1 January 1917 to 16 June 1917. Posted to the New Zealand Engineer Reserve Depot 16 July 1917, Christchurch, United Kingdom, before being posted to France 23 July 1917. On 11 August 1917 he joined the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. Transferred to the Rarotongan Company 9 June 1918 and on 15 June 1918 received a movement order transferring him from Marseille to Egypt on HMT Manitou. Admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital 30 June 1918 with an injured spine and posted to Rarotongan Company 18 July 1918. Classified as unfit 5 October 1918 and returned to New Zealand as an invalid on SS Malta. Discharged 8 May 1919. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Image source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/253614536/henry-wilkinson-jackson Further Links https://peerage.org.uk/codex/peerage-record-16724/ Previous Next

TamatiKAINUKU60676 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Tamati Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) KAINUKU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 60676 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Kainuku TAMATI Kainuku AMATI Kainuku Ariki Amati Itaata PARAPU Date of Birth 04/07/1899 Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 05/06/1979 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19790026 Headstone/Grave Location Avana, Ngatangiia, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Kainuku (father), Ngatangiia, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19051345 Additional Information Attested in Rarotonga 4 February 1918 and enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand 12 March 1918. Disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918 and posted to the Rarotongan Company on the same day. 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

Only one name recorded on enlistmentTAAU84579 4th Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Only one name recorded on enlistment Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) TAAU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 84579 4th Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Taau TEUA Date of Birth 27 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 28/05/1933 Place of Death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death Registration Number AITU19330667 Headstone/Grave Location Amuri, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Next of Kin Teua (father), Vai (mother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18644088 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 12 June 1918 and discharged in New Zealand 7 December 1918 due to the signing of the armistice when ended WW1. In documents we have located, his wife is named as Ake Tui Elia. Burial location cleared for agricultural purposes in 1974. In December 2022, descendants unveiled a military headstone at the location. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records his name as 'T. Tena'. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

JohnMITCHELL60672 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Corporal First Name/s (as per enlistment record) John Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) MITCHELL Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 60672 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Date of Birth 24/07/1890 Place of Birth Tahiti, Society Islands (French Polynesia) Date of Death 28/04/1934 Place of Death Tahiti, Society Islands (French Polynesia) Death Registration Number Unknown Headstone/Grave Location Tahiti, Society Islands (French Polynesia) Next of Kin Wina Mitchell (wife), Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands 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=IE10383142 Additional Information Enlisted at Rarotonga 9 February 1918 and at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand 12 March 1918. Disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918 and posted to the Rarotongan Company in the field 20 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

BaisleyLEGER16/1315 3rd & 9th Maori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company < Back Highest Rank: Sergeant First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Baisley Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) LEGER Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 16/1315 3rd & 9th Maori Reinforcements, New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Rarotongan Company Also Known As Date of Birth 12/10/1894 (as per war service record) Place of Birth Samoa Date of Death 30/03/1973 Place of Death Auckland, New Zealand Death Registration Number NZ1973/27548 Headstone/Grave Location Waikumete Cemetery & Crematorium Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand Service Persons Area M, Row 12, Plot 111 Next of Kin Kate Leger (sister) Auckland New Zealand James Paul Leger (father), Nuku'alofa, Tonga Mrs B Mollerup (Next of Kin on death notification in service record) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE12315743 Additional Information Born in Samoa but living in Tonga since 1897. Enlisted 20 October 1915 into A Squadron 9th New Zealand Mounted Rifle Reinforcements and then 6 November 1915 transferred to 3rd Māori Contingent at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp. Promoted to Sergeant 31 December 1915. Embarked at Wellington for Egypt 5 February 1916 and arrived at Suez 15 March 1916 then moved to UK to arrive in France 9 April 1916. On 13 June 1916 was in the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital due to illness. On 14 July 1917 he was medically downgraded and embarked for New Zealand on SS Arawa and reported for duty at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp 25 September 1916. Embarked again with 9th Māori Reinforcements 11 October 1916 and joined New Zealand Pioneer Battalion 28 February 1917. On 26 June 1917 he was WIA due to gas and evacuated to 7th Field Ambulance and then a Convalescent Hospital in France. Rejoined the battalion 9 August 1917. He was posted to Egypt 14 January 1918 and joined the Rarotongan Company 5 March 1918. He was appointed the Company Quarter Master Sergeant after WOII Carl Masters 19237 was made the Company Sergeant Major 13 July 1917. Sick 15 July 1918 and admitted to 48th Stationary Hospital, Gaza 20 July 1918 and then to 27th Stationary Hospital, Kantara with conjunctivitis. Embarked to return as an invalid on SS Malta 14 December 1918. Discharged 7 July 1919. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Image source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/253649014/baisley-leger Further Links https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/leger-brothers "In January 1918 the brothers were among the Pacific Islanders from the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion sent from France to join the Rarotongan Company in Palestine. They served with this unit until the war ended" https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2024/04/tongans-remember-volunteers-from-the-islands-who-served-in-first-world-war-2/ Baisley Leger was the son of James Paul Leger and Mereste Magila Tiumala, both born in Samoa but living in Nuku’alofa since 1897. He was a boat builder who enlisted in New Zealand in 1915, with the Rarotongans attached to B company, 3rd Maori Contingent. He served as a Sergeant and was wounded in a gas attack and evacuated to the 7th Field Ambulance, then to a Convalescent Hospital in France. He married Sela Vete in 1920 and they travelled to New Zealand in 1920. He later married Amelia Toli. He died in Auckland in 1973. https://matangitonga.to/2015/09/05/smashed-cenotaph-sad-and-possibly-illegal Previous Next

TuakanaitiTUIKAA60741  3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Tuakanaiti Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) TUIKAA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 60741 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Tuikaa TUAKANAITI Date of Birth 21 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Mangaia, Cook Islands Date of Death 27/12/1967 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number Unknown Headstone/Grave Location Unknown Next of Kin Tuikaa (father), Mangaia, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE13497505 Additional Information Enlisted 12 March 1918 and disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918. Posted to the Rarotonga Company 18 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand per SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Passed away 27 December 1967 in Rarotonga. The service number for Pte Tuakanaiti TUIKAA (60741) is incorrectly recorded on the military headstone of Pte Taomia URI 60658 These two soldiers are also listed on the Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at the RSA Nikao Rarotonga with the same service number (60741). The correct service number for Pte Taomia URI is 60658. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

PakipakiAUPINI60640 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Pakipaki Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) AUPINI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 60640 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Aupini PAKIPAKI Pekipeki HAUPINI Date of Birth 16/9/1886 Place of Birth Manihiki, Cook Islands Date of Death 27/11/1973 Place of Death Manihiki, Cook Islands Death Registration Number MANI19730004 Headstone/Grave Location Tahaunu, Manihiki, Cook Islands Next of Kin Tiarua (brother), Aitutaki, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11358088 Additional Information Enlisted 12 March 1918, embarked on the SS Manuka at Wellington 13 June 1918. Disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918 and posted to the Rarotongan Company 18 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Cook Islands Death Register records place of burial as Tahaunu, Manihiki, Cook Islands Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links Previous Next

OswaldSAVAGE M.M.M2/105648 British Army Army Service Corps < Back Highest Rank: Driver First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Oswald Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) SAVAGE M.M. Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in M2/105648 British Army Army Service Corps Also Known As Date of Birth 31/05/1886 Place of Birth Brighton, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom Date of Death 16/12/1951 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19510075 Headstone/Grave Location Grave location: Nikao Cemetery, Nikao, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Unknown plot. Headstones were later removed from the grave in the Nikao Cemetery beside the RSA, and are now located at the RSA, Nikao, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Pascaline Amelina Savage (1st wife, married in Paris, France, December 1909). Died Rarotonga 15/06/1936. Pativai Savage (2nd wife). Name is recorded as Upoko Makaru Simiona on Cook Islands marriage register. Link to Online Service Record Additional Information Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Further Links Previous Next

PuioTUA19334 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Puio Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) TUA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 19334 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Date of Birth 1886 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 10/06/1930 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19300010 Headstone/Grave Location Unknown Next of Kin Unknown Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE21345401 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 1 June 1916 and discharged medically unfit 23 August 1916. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

PaiaTU19337 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Paia Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) TU Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 19337 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Tu PAIA Tu PAEA Date of Birth 29/12/1893 Place of Birth Tahiti, French Polynesia Date of Death 20/12/1968 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO1968043B Headstone/Grave Location Unknown Next of Kin Paia (father), Tahiti, Society Islands (French Polynesia) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE21345303 Additional Information Enlisted at Rarotonga 1 June 1916. Disembarked ex. SS Malwa in Suez 27 December 1916 and posted to Training Units and Depot at Moascar. Admitted to various hospitals from 11 February 1917 to 12 October 1917. Transferred to Rarotongan Company at Belah 25 October 1917. Admitted to hospital 6 September 1918 with measles and at various hospitals at Gaza, Kantara, Heliopolis until 18 October 1918 and was then Discharged to Duty. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Cook Islands death register records place of burial as Takuvaine, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

RooTAKOTO19301 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Roo Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) TAKOTO Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 19301 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Takoto ROO Takoto Roo TAURA War service record has spelling variations of surname recorded as TAKATO / TAKOTO / TAKOKO Date of Birth 1892 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 22/10/1959 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19590011 Headstone/Grave Location Unknown Next of Kin Takoto (father), Atiu, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10173638 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 1 July 1916 and posted to the Rarotongan Company 31 July 1917. Over a 12 month period from August 1917 to August 1918 he was admitted to a number of medical facilities at seperate occasions with dysentery, diarrhoea and malaria. Embarked on SS Malta for New Zealand 14 December 1918 and was discharged 20 March 1919. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

TeapainaTAOTE19331 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Teapaina Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) TAOTE Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 19331 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Taote TEAPAINA Date of Birth 1894 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 14/10/1946 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19460009 Headstone/Grave Location Vaitamina, Atiu Next of Kin Ravea (mother), Atiu, Cook Islands Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18588569 Additional Information Enlisted 1 July 1916, disembarked SS Malwa at Suez 27 December 1916 and posted to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Bde Training Regiment and Base Depot until 31 July 1917 when posted to the Rarotongan Company. Admitted to various hospitals from 8 February 1918 to 21 March 1918 and discharged for duty. Transferred to Rarotongan Company 2 April 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and was discharged 20 March 1919. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records his name as 'T Teapaina'. We located this headstone during our April 2025 trip to Atiu and took the opportunity to reletter the military headstone. 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 enlistmentTAURA16/1202 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 Given (as per enlistment record) TAURA Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 16/1202 New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Taura TUAKINA Terekia TAURA Date of Birth 1894 Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 07/01/1917 Place of Death Surrey, United Kingdom Death Registration Number NZ1918/60568 (post war death registration) Headstone/Grave Location Walton-on-Thames Church Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom Next of Kin Tuakina (father), Atiu Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9816655 Additional Information Enlisted 28 September 1915 in Rarotonga. Disembarked at Suez 15 March 1916 and embarked with the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion for France from Alexandria 9 April 1916. Admitted sick to hospital "In the Field" 19 October 1916 and was evacuated through the 3rd NZ Field Ambulance, 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Hospital Ship St. Denis to 2nd New Zealand General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, England. Died of tuberculosis 7 January 1917. Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records name as 'T. TAURA'. Listed on the Atiu cenotaph as 'TAURA TUAKINA'. Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/402091/taura "Died 07 January 1917 Aged 23" Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References Image sources: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/walton-thames-nz-general-hospital-roll-honour https://ww100.govt.nz/private-terekia-tauras-trench-art Commemoration certificate courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/402091/taura Further Links N/A Previous Next

PatiMAROTAI60733 3rd Rarotongan Contingent  < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Pati Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) MAROTAI Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 60733 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Date of Birth About 19 years of age on enlistment Place of Birth Atiu, Cook Islands Date of Death 04/05/1974 Place of Death Atiu, Cook Islands Death Registration Number ATIU19740005 Headstone/Grave Location Teenui, Atiu Next of Kin Metua (sister) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11414011 Additional Information Attested at Rarotonga 4 February 1918 and enlisted 12 March 1918 at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp Auckland New Zealand. Admitted to ships hospital 26 June 1918. Disembarked at Suez 4 August 1918. Posted to Training Regiment, Ismailia 4 August 1918 and transferred to Rarotongan Company 18 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Buried in an old burial ground in an unmarked grave, Teenui, Atiu. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

JoeHEATHER60751 3rd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Private First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Joe Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) HEATHER Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 60751 3rd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Joseph HEATHER Date of Birth 10/05/1901 (as per headstone) Place of Birth Rarotonga, Cook Islands Date of Death 17/03/1972 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19720022 Headstone/Grave Location Avatiu Valley, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Next of Kin Stanley Heather (father), Upoko Heather (nee Ikitamu) Upoko Exham (mother) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE21751748 Additional Information Enlisted in Rarotonga 4 February 1918. Embarked on SS Manuka at Wellington 13 June 1918 for Sydney and embarked on SS Lyttleton for Suez 24 June 1918. Disembarked in Suez 4 August 1918 and was posted to the Rarotongan Company 18 September 1918. Embarked to New Zealand SS Malta and arrived in Wellington 28 January 1919 and discharged 20 March 1919. Original photos of the headstone were taken in April 2019. Photos of the new military headstone and burial ground were taken in April 2025, and our team relettered the private granite headstones in May 2025. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

Metua MateKUE19249 2nd Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Lance Corporal First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Metua Mate Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) KUE Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 19249 2nd Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Kue METUA-MATE Kue METUAMATE Date of Birth 1890 Place of Birth Mangaia, Cook Islands Date of Death 04/07/1975 Place of Death Rarotonga, Cook Islands Death Registration Number RARO19750042 Headstone/Grave Location Avatiu Valley Cemetery, Rarotonga Next of Kin Metuamate (father), Tariatu Mataiko (wife) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19317203 Additional Information Posted to Rarotongan Company 31 July 1917. Admitted to hospital from 9 August 1918, and discharged to duty 29 August 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919. Cook Islands Roll of Honour Board records his name as 'K. METUAMATE'. Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links N/A Previous Next

SolomanISAACS16/1033 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent < Back Highest Rank: Corporal First Name/s (as per enlistment record) Soloman Last Name or Only Name Given (as per enlistment record) ISAACS Service Number and Regiment/Unit/Corps served in 16/1033 New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent Also Known As Solomona ISAACS Solomana ISAAKA Isaac SOLOMONA Date of Birth 21/12/1894 (as per service record) Place of Birth Aitutaki, Cook Islands Date of Death 03/09/1923 Place of Death Aitutaki, Cook Islands Death Registration Number AITU19230304 Headstone/Grave Location Tautu, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Next of Kin Henry Issacs (father) Link to Online Service Record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9910777 Additional Information Enlisted in Auckland New Zealand at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp 21 October 1915. Disembarked at Suez 15 March 1916 and embarked for France 9 April 1916.Admitted to 11th Static Hospital 7 September 1916 with trench fever, transferred to UK by hospital ship 12 September 1916 and admitted to NZ General Hospital, Brokenhurst 14 September 1916.Transferred to the NZ Depot Codford 7 October 1916 and returned to France 15 November 1916. Attached to the NZ Tunnelling Company NZE 6 December 1916 until rejoining the NZ Pioneer Battalion 26 February 1917. Transferred to the Rarotongan Company 14 January 1918 and embarked for Egypt from Marseille 21 January 1918. Posted to the Rarotongan Company 15 February 1918. Admitted to 128th Field Ambulance from 16 May to 26 May 1918, and on 2 August 1918 admitted to 33rd Static Hospital, Jaffa dangerously ill with pneumonia. Out of danger by 6 August 1918, he was transferred to 36th Stationary Hospital, Gaza, then to 27th General Hospital, Cairo on 12 August to 23 August 1918. Admitted to Aotea Convalescent Home on 23 September to 29 September 1918 when he joined the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Bde Training Regiment and Base depot. Embarked on SS Malta 14 December 1918 and discharged in New Zealand 7 March 1919. Died from tuberculosis 3 September 1923 in Aitutaki. Older brother of Private Tauei ISAACS 5th Rarotongan Contingent Images and Documents (click on images to enlarge) Image Credits and References N/A Further Links https://ww100.govt.nz/solomon-isaacs-courage-and-commitment https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sponsored-stories/1916-courage-commitment-new-zealands-story/TMSMQXM25K47ZQZHXHQEWYQNBU/ Previous Next