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Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) - Ruins, relics, stories and other interesting things

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The Japanese invasion force arrives

Many thanks to Chris Su who sent me the image below. It comes from the Shashin Shuho (写真周报) (Photo News Weekly), vol.2, no. 22, 13 May 1942. The Photo News Weekly, was a Japanese pictorial magazine published during the Japanese occupation. Apart from a photograph showing Japanese soldiers celebrating around the 6″ gun at Smith Point, these are the only known photographs from Christmas Island during that occupation.

There is one Japanese officer name that I am aware of from this time on Christmas Island; Lieutenant Nakao. His name appeared in a witness statement in the file of collaborator James Kang Tian Kwang. It is probably an understatement to say that Kwang was not a very pleasant man to his fellow Islanders during the occupation.

From the National Archives of Japan – Digital Archive


The following is a translation (in bold) from the Japanese by Miss Lee Hui Yin. It is taken with the kind permission of John Hunt from his book “Suffering through strength“. Reading clockwise, starting from the upper right corner of the image above.

Soldiers marching from Flying Fish Cove most likely on the day they landed, 31st March 1942.
Although it was not a Christmas gift, the small island called Christmas Island was a small island occupied by the British. The accumulative bombardment by navy warships caused white flags to be hoisted in surrender all over the island in the last ten days of March. Situated south of Java, it is the size of a dot and sesame seed. The island rich in ground resources is about a quarter of the size of Syonanto [Singapore]. The whole island is made of limestone. Although Christmas Island is small in size, it is immersed in the attention of the world because there is an unlimited supply of phosphate rocks which are indispensable as a basic ingredient for manufacturing phosphate fertiliser. Immediately upon landing, our naval forces recognised the value of the island, and with the co-operation of the local people, started mining operations for phosphate rocks with the aim of providing quality fertiliser for the barren inland.

In the phosphate quarry, Japanese Soldiers celebrate the taking of Christmas Island
Discovery of phosphate regions all over the island. With this fertiliser, the inland may be opened so the infantry soldiers shouted ‘banzai’ [cheered].

The Islanders loading bagged phosphate
There is a phosphate mountain!

The Christmas Island workforce are being addressed by Japanese Officers. Probably on the first day.
[Name not known] team leader telling the Chinese, Indian, Indonesian islanders about the Great East Asian War.

At the ‘Islander’ pier.
Approximately 1500 tons of phosphate rocks derived from Christmas Island transported with the help of the islanders.

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Christmas Island Archives was selected for preservation by the State Library of Western Australia. It is now listed in perpetuity on PANDORA, Australia’s website archive established by the National Library of Australia.

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An ammunition cave used by the Japanese during the An ammunition cave used by the Japanese during their occupation of Christmas Island in WW2. The circular opening in the wall is where I believe a ventilation pipe was inserted. Its purpose was to keep a stable temperature and extract noxious fumes. Its use as an ammunition cave may have predated WW2. To find out more about this cave read Helena van der Riet's excellent thesis "The Archaeology of the Japanese World War II Occupation of Christmas Island". It can be found on my website (see link in my bio) under the "Documents" section. 
#christmasisland #cave #ammunition #ww2 #ww2history #worldwar2 #worldwar2history #japaneseoccupation #ww2japanese #christmasislandarchives
I love Victor Purcell's observations of human beha I love Victor Purcell's observations of human behaviour on Christmas Island in 1926. The European community caused him the most angst.
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #history #islandlife #colonial #straitssettlements #christmasislandarchives
An old water tank near South Point located along t An old water tank near South Point located along the old railway track. I understand that a couple of years ago it was totally overgrown by the jungle and was invisible until it was cleared.
#christmasisland #ruin #relic #industrialrelic #watertank #colonial #christmasislandarchives
Back in 2020 as we were leaving the Old European C Back in 2020 as we were leaving the Old European Cemetery my sis-in-law @mily_barrett spotted this now 72 year old engraving in the concrete path. A nice little reminder from a long gone workman that he was once doing a job there.
"1.7.1951
Pipe Repar" ... 
The last seen letter is partially obscured. The word repair has likely been misspelt?
#christmasisland #history #christmasislandhistory #relic #cemetery #path #oldpath #christmasislandarchives
A sad end for Norman Howard. His gravesite lies in A sad end for Norman Howard. His gravesite lies in the Old European Cemetery on Christmas Island. His story and the mystery loss of his headstone lead to a surprising misidentification of his gravesite. Read about it now on my website. See bio for link. Look under “latest updates” for “Norman Howard - turning in his grave”.
"In memory of Norman Howard
European Overseer
Aged 32
Died 6.3.24"
#christmasisland #straitssettlements #christmasislandhistory #cemetery #headstone #gravesite #grave #colonialhistory #christmasislandarchives
Straits settlement 1 cent coins that I found parti Straits settlement 1 cent coins that I found partially buried. The verdigris colour of one of them caught my eye. How I came to be in that specific spot to find them is another whole story LOL. I donated them to the Island's Tai Jin House museum.
Left top to bottom:
Tails side “Straits Settlements 1936”.
Head side “George V King and Emperor of India” 
Right top to bottom:
Tails side “Commissioners of Currency Malaya 1939”
Head side “George VI King Emperor”
There was another 1 cent coin found along with these as well and was dated 1943. 
I am not sure if such a small denomination would have been used for gambling? However, it has been told that on the Island when Straits Settlement coins were no longer a viable currency they would be saved and then scattered/given as offerings to the good brothers during the Hungry Ghost month. I found these coins during that very month in an area that metal detectorists had been over previously. Perhaps the coins were revealed to me 🙂
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #christmasislandrelic #relic #relichunting #indianoceanislands #ghostmonth #straitssettlementscoins #straitssettlements #oldcoins #christmasislandarchives
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