During WW2 the Cook Islands were a territory of New Zealand and as such should be considered part of the New Zealand war effort. The Cook Islands is divided into a southern group that includes Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, and Mangaia, and a northern group that includes Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Pukapuka, Nassau, and Suwarrow. Rarotonga and Aitutaki are the only islands that had a unit of the New Zealand Defence Force in the form of local forces. The estimated population of these two islands in 1941 was; Rarotonga - 5,689, and Aitutaki - 2,006[i].

 

In late January 1943 a request was made to the NZ Government by the US Authorities stationed on Aitutaki for the establishment of a locally raised force to help defend the island. The NZ Government was not keen on the idea of forming a force but decided that if the NZ Defence Department and the US Authorities wanted a force then it would go ahead. It was suggested by the US that Mr H.H Hickling[ii] the NZ Resident Agent on Aitutaki be called up for active service as unit commander because of his local knowledge and established relationship with the US authorities. This suggestion was not endorsed by the NZ Government as they thought that he had enough to do as Resident Agent. The matter was discussed at the War Cabinet on 3/4thFebruary 1943 and establishment of the Aitutaki Home Guard was authorised on 5th February 1943 using regulations drawn up for the Cook Island Local Defence Force 1941/60 of 9th April 1941. The NZ Government was still agreed they wanted a different unit commander.

 

The Home Guard unit was to consist of between 50-100 men on a non-mobilized basis i.e. not full time. The unit was to be under the higher command of the US Army, with the NZ Government to supply uniforms, helmets, gas masks, pay and an officer. The US were to supply rifles, equipment and instructors. The men were to be paid five shillings per week but no rations or accommodation was supplied. The NZ Army was asked to supply an officer but this was turned down as they did not want to appoint an officer into a part time roll. Hickling agreed to be the unit commander if someone could be found to help him with his duties as Resident Agent. Instead, in June 1943, Mr R S Ridgley, who had previously held a commission in the Fiji Military Forces, was appointed to the role of commanding officer (CO) of the Aitutaki Home Guard with the rank of Lieutenant and arrived with his wife on Aitutaki to take up the position which was to be on a part time unpaid basis. He was also given the job of  headmaster of the school on Aitutaki. Local men were recruited and given a brief medical exam by the US medical doctor.

 

Payment for parades was sought and the same rates of pay for the Cook Islands Local Defence Force in Rarotonga was used to pay the Home Guard on Aitutaki (Table 1).

 

Although Ridgley was a public servant and being paid for his role as headmaster he was also paid 12 shillings per parade for his role as CO of the Home Guard. 

 

In July the local Home Guard recruits started to ask for three shillings per eight-hour day that they paraded because they were giving up their jobs with the US Authorities who were paying between four and five shillings per day. This was agreed to.

 

In September 1943, the CO of the Home Guard requested materials for a building for rifles and stores. It was suggested that the same type built by the Cook Islands Local Defence Force on Rarotonga would be suitable, but this building did not eventuate as storage was found in US Army buildings and in other buildings on Aitutaki.

 

In July 1943 uniforms and equipment were ordered from New Zealand (Table 2).

 

The CO was also supplied with a uniform from NZ, which consisted of boots, shoes, forage cap, helmet, Sam Browne, stockings, putties, complete set of web equipment (1937 pattern), dress and field uniforms, pistol and ammunition, tie and shirt, overcoat, and badges. But the uniform did not arrive in Rarotonga until the 29th November 1943, after the Aitutaki unit had been disbanded, so the package was returned unopened. 

 

In August 1943, only a month after the first parade on 30th June 1943, the NZ Army suggested that the guard should be disbanded due to the reduced possibility of enemy action. They suggested that the force should now parade only once every three months.

 

At the beginning of October 1943, permission was sort by the NZ Army from the NZ Minister of Defence for the disbanding of the Aitutaki Home Guard unit, which the US authorities agreed with. 

 

Approval for the disbanding of the Home Guard was given on 8th November 1943 but by 26th November the US Authorities had a different view and wanted the Home Guard to be incorporated into the new defence plan for the island. The unit held its last parade in mid-November (possibly the 15th) having held 19 parades which means that on some weeks they paraded more than once.

 

In January 1944 all the stores were packed ready for their return to New Zealand (Table 3), with some being diverted to Rarotonga (Table 4). The men were allowed to keep their issue boots but all other uniforms and equipment had to be returned. Permission was sort for locals to be able to buy the shirts and shorts at one pound per set. Permission was given, as these items were made locally from khaki drill (KD) fabric that had come from New Zealand. The shirts and shorts were not Army pattern. 44 KD Shorts and 50 KD Shirts were held until payment was received.

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