In the jungle not far from Smith Point there are the partial remains of a WW2 camp; likely for Indian soldiers. All that is left are concrete block structures and drains that lead away to the cliffs emptying into the sea. This area was probably where the ablutions were located ie. toilets, washing area etc.
On one of the concrete blocks, an inscription can clearly be read.
The inscription reads:Mohd Mushtaq No 90
Well Come 19th April 1941
A Google search shows that the name “Mushtaq” is mostly associated with today’s Pakistan. This inscription was made before the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan did not exist. The name and number indicate that the man in question was likely an Indian Punjabi soldier.
The 19th April 1941 date is very interesting. Captain Kinloch arrived on Christmas Island from Singapore at the beginning of April 1941, roughly two and a half weeks before, with a contingent of men that included 25 Indians (Punjabi Muslims). His task was to set up and calibrate a 6 inch Naval P3 gun, set up a fort site and dig trenches and train locals to defend the island against invasion. Was Mohd. Mushtaq one of the men in that contingent? Did he make the inscription when perhaps the ablutions were being constructed? As the inscription appears to have been made when the concrete was wet, this indicates exactly when the site was being constructed and fits nicely with the work that Captain Kinloch would have been undertaking whilst on the Island.
Explore Further
- Read more historic Christmas Island WW2 newspaper articles and stories.
- To discover WW2 and Japanese artefacts and other historical finds from Christmas Island, visit the Christmas Island Virtual Museum.