Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
Hobbs (1945) noted that the military value of Enderbury was that it could be a useful lookout
station, but supplies would have to come in by air. Hobbs (1945) noted that Enderbury was a
natural airplane base. There was a small settlement on the southwest corner of Enderbury
that was manned by Americans.
One of the most conspicuous objects on Enderbury was the 6.1 m (20 ft) high heap of guano
on the western side of the island (Hydrographic Office 1940; see also Hydrographer of the
Navy 1969). In addition, there were buildings of the settlement at the southwest corner that
were occupied by American citizens (Hydrographic Office 1940). These buildings included a
house, shed, weather and instrument house, a 9.1 m (30 ft) high radio mast, and a flagpole.
A white cylindrical light tower 9.8 m (32 ft) above sea level was being constructed on
Enderbury (Hydrographic Office 1940). Hydrographer of the Navy (1969) reported that the
beacon was 6.1 m high and was located near the landing place on the western side of the
island.
During World War II no use was made of Enderbury (Garnett 1983a).
MANRA (SYDNEY)
There was a dilapidated coral slab beacon 2.4 m (8 ft) high on the southeastern side of the
island (Hydrographic Office 1940). On the southwest side of the island, there was a coral
slab beacon 2.7 m (9 ft) high next to a 13.4 m (44 ft) flagpole.
By the end of 1940, there were 302 settlers on Manra (Sydney) (Knudson 1965; see also
Gallagher 1940). World War II ended additional transfer of people. Employment
opportunities developed for Manra (Sydney) residents. Many were employed on Abariringa
(Canton) during the war and after the war with the commercial airlines. Despite the absence
of the Officer-in-Charge, work continued on Manra (Sydney) (Gallagher 1940).
In 1940, infant mortality in the Phoenix Islands reached 50 percent (Gallagher 1940). This
was attributed to incorrect care of infants by their mothers. An education program was
initiated in the form of women’s committees. Since its inception, no infant has been lost on
Manra (Sydney).
In late 1940, the wireless broke on Manra (Sydney) and communication was lost for a time
(Gallagher 1941).
In 1941, the last boatload of settlers to Manra (Sydney) arrived (Knudson 1977).
In 1941, G.B. Gallagher who assisted H.E. Maude in the Phoenix Islands Settlement Scheme
passed away during a return trip from Fiji to the Phoenix Islands (Knudson 1965). According
to Luke (1945b), Gallagher died on Manra (Sydney).
In probably late 1942, U.S. fighter aircraft began making regular reconnaissance flights from
Abariringa (Canton) (Knudson 1965). They occasionally would drop tobacco, cloth, soap,
candy, and chewing gum to villages on the various other Phoenix Islands.
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