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Cook Islands Online Cenotaph
Preserving Cook Islands Military History
Akara ki mua e akara katoa ki muri
To be able to look forward, you must be able to look back
Brought to you by
Final rank:
Corporal
First name/s
John
Last name
ROPU
Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps
16/1194
New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent
Also known as
Date of birth
21/02/1895
Place of birth
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Date of death
16/12/1970
Place of death
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Death registration number
RARO19700116
Headstone/grave location
Tupapa, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (opposite Club Raro resort)
Next of kin
Ropu (adopted father) Avarua, Rarotonga
Archives New Zealand online service record
Additional information
Enlisted 27 September 1915 in Rarotonga. Disembarked ex Navua at Suez 15 March 1916 and embarked for France 9 April 1916. Admitted to No. 2 Field Hospital 21 June 1916 and discharged 29 June 1916. Joined the Pioneer Battalion 28 July 1916. Admitted to 55th Casualty Clearing Station 29 April 1917 and a number of hospitals and convalescent hospitals until 8 September 1917. Detached to the Rarotongan Company 14 January 1918, embarked for Egypt 21 January 1918 and was posted to the Rarotongan Company 5 March 1918. Injured knee while playing football at Auja Ammunition Dump on 11 April 1918 and admitted to 44th Stationary Hospital. Embarked per SS Malta for New Zealand 14 December 1918 and discharged 20 March 1919.
Cpl John Ropu had two brothers who also enlisted during WWI:
TUTAVAKE 16/1220
Rima RAA 60689
Images and documents (click on images to enlarge)
Image credits and references
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Further links
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