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A tragic accident

In January 1902 Dr Patrick Thurburn Manson left England as part of a commission sent to Christmas Island by the London School of Tropical Medicine. He was to join the microbiologist and bacteriologist Dr H. E. Durham; his mission was to investigate scientifically and report upon beri-beri which had been a terrible scourge to the Chinese coolies. 

A trip that would have started with so much promise with the enthusiasm of the young doctor would quickly end in a shocking tragedy. 

Patrick Thurburn Manson
Patrick Thurburn Manson
Born Amoy, China, 20 Aug, 1878
Died at Christmas Island, Straits Settlements,
8 March, 1902
Laid to rest at the Hong Kong Cemetery
J Hyg (Lond). 1902 Jul 1; 2(3): 382–383

SAD FATALITY AT CHRISTMAS ISLAND

Accidental death of Dr Manson.
A gun shot wound.

We regret to hear that a telegram has been received in Singapore announcing the death of Dr. Manson, son of Sir Patrick Manson, who passed through Singapore a fortnight ago for Christmas Island, where he was going to study beri-beri. The cause of death was a gun accident.

All who met Dr Manson during his recent brief stay here will be grieved at this sudden extinction of so promising a career, and the far too premature close to the life of so genial and capable a young man.

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 20th March 1902. Reprinted with permission

A couple of years earlier Dr Manson volunteered to be infected with malarial mosquitoes thus enabling his father, Sir Patrick (“The Father of Tropical Medicine”) to finally prove beyond doubt the transmission route of malaria. 

In 1900 he [Patrick Thurburn Mason] submitted himself to the crucial experiment through which he will be remembered in the history of medicine’. He exposed himself to the bites of infected Anopheles [mosquitoes] sent from Rome by Bignami and Bastianelli. The insects had previously sucked the blood of a patient suffering from mild tertian malaria. The result of the experiment was that Manson developed tertian fever, the parasites being found in his blood. The initial infection was followed by two recurrences, the first at Aberdeen during the summer of 1901, the second whilst he was out on a holiday shooting. The attacks were cut short through the administration of quinine. This experiment removed the doubts of those sceptics who remained unconvinced by the similar infection experiments of Grassi, Bignami and Bastianelli, on the ground that the Italian experiments were conducted in a country where malaria was indigenous.

J Hyg (Lond). 1902 Jul 1; 2(3): 382–383

The above quote showed that Patrick went shooting whilst on holiday the year before but the circumstances around the gun accident on Christmas Island is not known. 

His loss came as a terrible blow to his father — a blow that was never effaced — and he never mentioned his name again.

History of The School Of Tropical Medicine In London, 1899-1949 by Sir Philip Manson-Bahr 1956 (son-in-law of Sir Patrick Manson).

Shooting party c1914
A shooting party c1914. Was Dr Manson in a similar party when he met his sad fate 12 years earlier?
This image also appears in the story of William Henry Rusholme fully labelled.
National Archives of Australia NAA: N29, 1

 

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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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