Cook Islands Men Of War

Rarotonga's Contribution to Victory

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Oct. 20.

Mr. Tuaine Nicholas, Of Raro

tonga, is justly proud of his family record: three of his sons are in the Air Force—one of them has the highest rank achieved by a Cook Islander; -the fourth and youngest son (since deceased) was alsq anxious to join the RAF, but his brothers said, “Three in the Air Force is enough—you must go in the Army.

Tatio Nicholas was the first to enlist. He joined the Air Force in NZ, completed his training in Canada, made rapid pro gress and was sent to England and served with the daring “Pathfinders” who blazed the trails across Germany for the big bombers. Tatio was commissioned a Pilot- Officer in March, 1945.

Inspired by his successful progress, his elder brother. Marama, followed him to Canada, making equally rapid progress and our last information was that he was a navigator-sergeant on active ser vice somewhere in the Pacific.

The third brother, Albert, is on a NZ station, still in training. Kaitara, the

youngest brother, being less robust, was discharged from the Army and went to Suva Medical School to train as a NMP.

There he made excellent progress but after six months his health deteriorated and he was sent back to Auckland, where he died.

The fine record of the Nicholas brothers is of particular interest. Their great grandfather, Henry Nicholas, was one of Rarotonga's first and most influential commercial settlers, and his home was the centre of the European social life of those early days. It was here that the decision was made to persuade Queen Makea to hoist a Union Jack to prevent the annexation of the Cook Islands by an approaching French warship. Henry’s daughter, Francis, now Mrs. Waugh, who quickly sewed the historic flag from-as sorted pieces of trade cloth, is still living in Australia.

ANOTHER successful Rarotongan air

man was Sgt. Alexander Brown, who unfortunately lost his life in a' raid over Germany.

Most of the other Rarotongan airmen have been on active service in the Pacific area.

Strangely, this sea-faring race has had only one representative in the Navy— Tony Thomson, a son of Capt. Andy Thomson, of the schooner “Tiare Taporo.” Tony saw plenty of action in the famous cruiser HMS “Achilles” and was wounded in the Coral Sea battle. But even Tony could not* resist the tempta tion to adventure in the new element and he later transferred to the Fleet Air Arm. After training in Canada he served in torpedo-bombers operating from bases in Scotland.

Most outstanding of the Cook Islanders serving with the land forces was RSM James Rennie. At the outbreak of the war, Jim Rennie was number-one pupil at the Suva Medical School. He immedi ately enlisted in the medical service and went through the thick of the fighting in Greece, Crete, and the desert. He rapidly rose to his present rank.

Space does not permit to give details of all the Cook Island boys who have served through all the worst campaigns of the war but their accumulative record is truly a proud one.

As far as is known at present, only two Cook Islanders (native) have lost their .lives. The rest have suffered wounds but none have been seriously disabled.

So far no mention has been made of European residents who have been on active service but again space does not permit to give many details.

Capt. J. D. Campbell, a well-known resident, veteran of World War I and earlier military service, has recently re turned from World War 11.

F/O Henley McKegg, DFC, son of Mr.

R. McKees (managing director of the Cook Islands Trading Company), who spent his early boyhood in Rarotonga, was here on furlough recently.

FROM the only list available at pre sent (and known to be incomplete) the following approximate figures are quoted: Serving with Land Forces: Native and Euronesians 33 (1 killed in action): Euro pean residents, 7; Cl Administration offi cials, 4 (Capt. W. H. Roberts killed in action).

Serving with Air Force: Native and Euronesian, 11 (1 killed in action); Euro pean residents, 3.

Rarotonga girls were represented in the WAACS by Miss E. Taripo; in the WRENS by Miss B. Marama.