Sergeant Kaipati of the Ocean Island Constabulary, photographed shortly before leaving to join the NZEF.
Private Kaipati
Kaipati came from the Gilbert and Ellice group to join the NZEF. A sergeant in the Ocean Island Police Constabulary, Kaipati was well known on the island - he was in charge of the surf boat that brought new arrivals ashore through terrifying waves.
Kaipati accompanied the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert Islands on a trip to Fiji in 1915. The return voyage was via Auckland. Kaipati was very keen ‘to go to the Front’ and the Resident Commissioner agreed to release him. Kaipati enlisted and was sent to Narrow Neck Camp to join the Niueans and Cook Islanders already training there.
Kaipati sailed with the 3rd Maori Reinforcements in February 1916. He served in Egypt and France and was a lance-corporal when he was invalided back to New Zealand, arriving in September 1917. When Kaipati was well enough to be discharged the New Zealand government acknowledged his service by paying for his repatriation to the Gilbert Islands.
Image courtesy National Archives of Australia
Reference: R32, Volume 117/32
Permission of the National Archives of Australia must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
