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

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

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Toilet cistern

I suppose it could be said some of my Christmas Island photos are a bit different from the ones that most people take. 😂 But hey, you can’t knock urban archeology. And in this case, what a fabulous “dunny” cistern! A real survivor. It has a history! It’s interesting! It helps date the building. It should and must be valued as part of the island history.

I just love finding these social treasures and decided to research more about this cistern. I found the following information:

Saunders and Connor (Barrhead) Ltd was the successor to ‘Saunders and Connor’, which was established in 1897. The factory name was ‘Sanitas and Darnley Works’; a sanitary manufacturing company which occupied 4.5 acres of ground in Barrhead [Cross Arthurlie Street and John Street, as per valuation roll dated 1951-2]

The registered company office address was 348-350 Euston Road, London NW1 (c.1924-7) The company were contractors to the Admiralty and War Departments in 1927.

Company Directors:
1926: Samuel Ewart, John William Ewart, George Herbert Ewart, James Stewart, Thomas MacMillan Sauders, William Murray.
1927: Samuel Ewart, George Herbert Ewart, James Stewart, John William Ewart, Thomas MacMillan Sauders, George Mochrie Logan, Frederick John Pratt.

(The company was likely established by Thomas J Saunders of Emenscraig or Linton Villa in Carlibar Road, Barrhead (listed as Consulting Sanitary Engineer from Shanks and Co. in 1895-6 Scottish P.O. Directory) and Edwin Charles Connor of Holmhurst, Sherbrooke Ave. Maxwell Park (listed as Sanitary Engineer of Saunders & Connor in Scottish P.O. Directory 1905-13)

East Renfrewshire Archives GB3143 15 Saunders & Connor Catalogues

A cistern made in Barrhead, (a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland) in the 1920s making its way across the ocean to a little island and still in situ in its original house. I think that’s amazing.

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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.

Grant acknowledgement

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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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