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Final rank:

Corporal

First name/s

Rere

Last name

TOTOROAERE

Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps

16/1217
New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, 1st Rarotongan Contingent, 3rd Rarotongan Contingent

Also known as

Rere A MATI
Reremate a TOTOROAERE

Date of birth

1890

Place of birth

Mangaia, Cook Islands

Date of death

07/09/1929

Place of death

Atiu, Cook Islands

Death registration number

ATIU19290024

Headstone/grave location

Unknown

Next of kin

Vanie Maki (wife) Rarotonga, Naku (mother). Totoroaere (father)

Additional information

Used the name 'Totoroaere' on enlistment in the 1st Contingent and 'Rere' for the 3rd Contingent. Enlisted 30 September 1915, and joined 1st Rarotongan Contingent. After landing in Egypt he embarked for France in the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion on 9 April 1916. From 27 June 1916 there were a number of admissions to hospitals for bronchitis with haemoptysis. Medical discharge to New Zealand as he "did not stand the climate in France". Spent time in convalescent home at Devonport, Auckland and on 30 April 1917 doctors determined that he should not be kept in New Zealand over the winter. Returned to Rarotonga 21 June 1917 on SS Paloona. A further medical board in Rarotonga 9 December 1917 noted that he had already served but he was medically sound. Enlisted 16 February 1918 into the 3rd Rarotongan Contingent using the name Rere. After arrival in Egypt he joined the Rarotongan Company on 18 September 1918. Discharged for the second time 20 March 1919.

Cook Islands Roll of Honour board at RSA Nikao Rarotonga records his name as 'R. Totoroaere' and that he enlisted in the 3rd Contingent only.

Images and documents (click on images to enlarge)

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