The New Zealand Remembrance Army is searching for the family of John Tuaine Apa, a Cook Islander who served as a Corporal in the New Zealand Pioneer (Māori) Battalion, Rarotongan Company, during World War I.

Apa, who is buried in Archer Street, Masterton, New Zealand, was awarded the Military Medal “for conspicuous good work and devotion to duty” in Ypres Sector during the period of October 1-7, 1917.

According to the New Zealand Remembrance Army, the non-commissioned officer led working parties on the Wieltjie-Gravenstafel road. His coolness and bravery under fire set a splendid example for other Rarotongan natives in his platoon. He has always done any work allotted to him well and is a most reliable NCO.

The Remembrance Army said the Cook Islands soldier is missing his decoration of a Military Medal with the Māori Pioneers in WW1.

Sergeant Apa was a single man who was never married and had no children.

According to documentation, Apa was born on October 30, 1893, in Aitutaki. He passed away on October 1, 1970 in Masterton, New Zealand. His death registration number is NZ1970/49776.

Cook Islands researcher Bobby Nicholas provided copies of newspaper clippings from the Wairaapa Funeral Service that appeared in the Times Age, Evening Post and Dominion announcing his death.

“Loved friend of Mrs Mary and the late John O/Leary and family. His Requiem mass was celebrated at St Patrick’s Church, Masterton. Members of the Hibernian Lodge are requested to attend,” the funeral notice said.

On his death register, his father is listed as Mana Tikee Apa from Aitutaki, and his mother Mere Tioni Apa. Her maiden surname is unknown.

Apa enlisted at Narrow Neck Military Training Camp in Auckland on November 10, 1915, and disembarked in Suez on March 15, 1916. He embarked for France on April 9, 1916.

Transferred from the NZ Pioneer Battalion, he sailed for Egypt on January 10, 1918, and joined the Rarotongan Company on February 15, 1918. He returned to New Zealand on SS Malta and was discharged in New Zealand on March 24, 1919.

Sergeant Apa also enlisted in the New Zealand Army during World War II as a member of Camp Patrol at Trentham Camp until he was discharged on September 1, 1948.

The medals and awards he received included:

• WWI: British War Medal, Victory Medal, The Military Medal (MM): awarded in November 1917 for acts of Gallantry in the Field
• WWII (1939-1945): War Medal, NZ War Service Medal
• WWII Rank: T/S/Sergeant (W.O.2)

Apa’s headstone/grave is located at the Masterton Cemetery, Archer Street, Q E Park, in Masterton.

The New Zealand Remembrance Army is a charitable trust set up to foster volunteer groups across New Zealand to restore service headstones and memorials. All restoration is done freely and volunteers carry out the work in their local communities.

It was established in June 2018 by former NZ Army Major Simon Strombom. The organisation now serves as a nationwide volunteer network in New Zealand committed to remembering the people who served and to the restoration of all graves and memorials of those people.