Anecdotes | Christmas-Island.Org

Time To Go Home.

by Chris Fish | Thu, 15/03/2012 - 22:55

Block E 7 Room 4
MT Section,
Royal Air Force,
Christmas Island.
BFPO 170.

7.2.60

Dear Dad.

Well here first of all I wish you a very happy birthday and all good luck for the future. I am enclosing for you a set of Gilbert and Elis Island Stamps I thought you would like these for your stamp collection, so I am sending these hoping you will like them.

The Jouney Continues, Hotel Commodore.

by Chris Fish | Sat, 10/03/2012 - 22:45

Omaha, Nebraska.

These are the word form the postcard sent from Omaha Airport.

L.T. 11.27. Your Time 5.23 GMT. 29.10.59

Dear Mum, Dad and All.

Since I left New York I have slept the whole journey.

We have stopped here for about an hour and then we go onto San Francisco.

From, Your loving Son and Brother.

Chris.

Postmark OC 29. 5 AM. AMF OMAHA NEBRASKA PTS 1959. Postage 7 cents.

We have reached San Francisco. We stay for the day at Hotel Commodore. 825 Sutter at Jones, San Francisco.

The big news

by Chris Fish | Sun, 04/03/2012 - 22:53

The big news, in the middle to late 1950's, through the news papers, radio and television, Great Britain was developing Atomic Weapons. I was a few years away for being called to take part in National Service and gave no thought of one day being part of a unique group of personnel, forces, civilian, member service personnel from commonwealth countries and local inhabitance, Gilbertese as in my case and other personnel who went to Christmas Island, North Pacific.

Memories of a Desert Island, Christmas Island.

by Chris Fish | Sat, 19/11/2011 - 00:30

The pictures I am placing in the Photo Galleries are of the journey out to Christmas Island. The time spent on Christmas Island and the journey home.

The first picture I like to show is of a map of Christmas Island, my father (he passed away 1994) had of the Island, produced around 1934 or 1935. Over time I will place other pictures in My Gallery but at the moment the other picture I place in the Gallery is a picture of Christmas Island taken from the now retired Space Shuttle. Picture courtesy of NASA.

The Making Of The Man Page 8

by DannyPerriton | Thu, 14/01/2010 - 11:00

This would take place once a week after evening meal. 19.30 for 20.00 hours. They designed the course, a straight dash of 12 feet. The track was 5 lanes, each 6 inches wide, 2 inches deep with raised sides of plastic down the length. This enabled the crabs to be seen and to see each other and to be kept in separate track for the rule was that no two crabs were to be in the same lane. The Police drew up the rules, so we knew they would be fair. However, as Police, Firemen, Clerks, Cooks and 'Posties' are honest. I personally did not see the need for such formal drafting...

The Making Of The Man Page 7

by DannyPerriton | Thu, 14/01/2010 - 10:59

The build-up continued and the runway was duly completed. The ancillary buildings were built together with more permanent structures. The Royal Navy built a Sea Water distillery plant and the water that we all took for granted tasted sweeter and not so brackish. Showering was still a luxury, but we were issued with salt-water soap that did eventually give a lather but still took a fair time to rinse off During the rainy season, a heavy downpour would occur between 16.00 and 17.00. Not only did your ablutions become a pleasure. but it laid the dust.

The Making Of The Man Page 6

by DannyPerriton | Thu, 14/01/2010 - 10:58

The mail arrivals became more regular as the weeks went by, and a move from Port Camp to main camp was made, which enabled us to be with the force H.Q. This was now equipped with Heavy Plant, Tractors, Rollers, Bowsers, Mixers etc. These were brought ashore from the Fleet Auxiliary and Transport Steamers from all corners of the Merchant Marine. The supply ships bought surface mail, parcels and newspaper post to be distributed amongst the island forces and civilian staff.

The Making Of The Man Page 5

by DannyPerriton | Thu, 14/01/2010 - 10:56

I returned to Gunsite, reported to the Chief Clerk, was ordered to hand in my bedding, to collect "Kit tropical" and to then return to the Chief Clerk and receive my orders. This I did and was told I had a warrant to get me home and to have two weeks leave. I was then to report to the Movements Officer, Liverpool Docks. Still there was no clue as to my destination. After enjoying my leave I reported to Liverpool Movements and met up with Staff Sergeant Dickson C. RE and two other sappers, W.C.Beaman (Fred) and John Thomas Chevane Smith (Tom).

The Making Of The Man Page 4

by DannyPerriton | Thu, 14/01/2010 - 10:54

We were quartered at Gunside Camp. twixt Wormwood scrubs Prison and the Middlesex Hospital. For those who can recall the location, around the square were the wooden huts. MT Park at the top of the square, living accommodation to the right, and administrators block at the bottom of the square. The veranda enclosed the PC Adjutant and Orderly Room. The regimental flag flew in all its glory and the hub of the Royal Engineers Postal Section was the centre of a world wide service, second to none. This was an experience I enjoyed very much, shift work and good food.

The Making Of The Man Page 3

by DannyPerriton | Thu, 14/01/2010 - 10:52

I was relieved, glad that we would not have to go through that every time that we were going to be "on parade". It took an hour to get it right, and I am sure it was the fault of the R.S.M. for being too ambitious. Lunch came as a blessed relief. Our feet hurt, legs ached, shirt tickled, drawers cellular rubbed, so we were not a happy group. It was fatal to lay on your "pit" at this stage, anyhow we had no time. I strongly believe the theory of keeping you on the move to stop you feeling miserable and homesick. Home seemed a lifetime away. The afternoon followed on from when we left off.