Copy of C.O's letter to Dave's Parents

                                                                                                                  Officer Commanding 
                                                                                                                    73(ChristmasIsland)Sqn RE
                                                                                                                   B.F.P.O. 170

                                                                                                                                        73/350

Dear  Mrs. Rawlings
               

Your   Son, Pte David Rawlings arrived here safely.


               I am glad to have him in the squadron and hope he will enjoy his tour out here. As we are so far from home, you may naturally be a little apprehensive about the sort of place he has come to; so I would like to take this opportunity of reassuring you about the conditions of life on the Island, and to explain some points that may be worrying you.

               The geographical location of the Island is 157°W, 2°N; it is 1200 miles South of Honolulu and is right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest coral atoll in the world, and is much larger and in many ways more attractive, than I had imagined before I came out.

              As we are so close to the equator the sun is very strong. We normally work dressed in just shorts, boots and a hat, and everyone gets very brown. We do take care to see that newcomers acclimatise themselves to the sun gradually, and serious cases of sunburn are rare.

             Although the sun is so strong, the Island is kept reasonably cool by the Trade Winds which blow practically continuously throughout the year. The normal daytime temperature on the Island is 86°F, which corresponds to a hot summers day in England. A lot of overseas stations are much hotter.

             In general the climate is quite healthy. I see most of the squadron on parade every morning and I am impressed by how fit they look. We have so far been free from all infectious diseases, even the common cold is very rare. Because the Island is mainly composed of coral, which is sharp and gritty, we do get rather a lot of minor cuts and bruises, and these tend to go septic - commonly known as “THE GUNGE” - but I do warn all newcomers about this and the doctors are very experienced in treating it.

            We have two R.A.F. Medical Officers on the Island, and they usually have very little to do. If anyone should become seriously ill they are evacuated to the U.S.A.F.’s hospital at TRIPLER, near Honolulu, which must be one of the best hospitals in the world. I know of only one such case occurring in the unit during the last year; the U.S.A.F. flew a special aircraft down from Honolulu to collect the man concerned and he is now back with us fit and well.

            Most people assure me that their time has passed remarkably quickly; a few sign on for an extra month or two on the Island. We have plenty of interesting and responsible work for everyone, and a wide variety of sports for off-duty hours. There are also good facilities for those who wish to improve their education, and I try to encourage everyone to take advantage of them.

           We operate our own ‘summer time’ which is one hour in advance of the correct local time; this has the advantage that it stays light until about 8pm. So giving plenty of time for sports in the evenings. Consequently our time is 9 hours behind G.M.T. or 10 hours behind British Summer Time.

                                                             The correct address for members of the squadron is:-

                                                             Number, Rank, Name,

                                                             73 (Christmas Island) Sqn., RE

                                                             B.F.P.O. 170.

            Please do not put “Christmas Island” anywhere in the address, except as above, in the title of the unit. If you do, the letter will probably find its way to the other Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, and will be much delayed. Please try to write regularly; news from home is important to all of us.  

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