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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
Tuaivi
Last name
MOSE
Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps
10/2711
Wellington Infantry Battalion,
Rarotongan Company
Also known as
Tuaiwi MOSE
Date of birth
02/11/1893 (as per headstone)
Place of birth
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Date of death
23/09/1973
Place of death
Wellington, New Zealand
Death registration number
NZ1973/48742
Headstone/grave location
Porirua Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand
Next of kin
Varopana Mose (sister), Tautu, Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Archives New Zealand online service record
Additional information
On enlistment his occupation was “Seaman”. Enlisted 19 April 1915, then transferred to the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion 22 January 1916. Promoted to Corporal 11 November 1916.Wounded In Action 27 May 1917 France.Transferred to Rarotongan Company 5 June 1918 after hospital treatment. Transferred from the 8th Rest Camp to Supply Depot Marseille for a passage to Egypt 16 May 1918 via SS Canberra. Appointed Temp Sergeant 22 July 1918. Was ill with malaria in 27th General Hospital in Cairo August and September 1918. Returned to New Zealand on SS Malta and discharged in New Zealand 7 March 1919.
Some words from granddaughter Matakeu (Mata) Parakoti:
“Thank you grandpa for making a difference.
I must say, it has been a long road for me personally to get your story turned into a book. I know if you had lived long enough you would have arranged for it to be published. I mulled it over for years before making the decision last year to progress with my dream of getting your story published. It is something I thought would never be achieved. At last, I feel a tremendous relief and pride that my dream to have your story printed professionally has come to fruition. One of your greatest achievements was writing your own life history so that your descendants would know what you did during the Great War and your life after it. It is a great story and it is unique because you wrote it yourself.
You gave your service to your people, New Zealand and the Cook Islands with a special mention of Aitutaki, Cook Islands where you originally came from. I am particularly proud that you actually served in all three major theatres in WW1 - Gallipoli, France and Sinai/Palestine. You also served in three different units; Wellington Regiment, Māori Pioneers and Rarotongan Company. You are my hero and you deserve to be respected and remembered as a Kiwi and a Cook Islands Anzac veteran.
It is hoped that from reading his story his descendants will know what he did during the Great War and what happened to him in his life after this. His story could be used for future generations as a guide to what war does to individuals and how it can change their lives as they strive to forget the horrible things that they witnessed in the conflict.”
Images and documents (click on images to enlarge)



Image credits and references
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Further links
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