In 1958, my father spent his Christmas in one of the least Christmassy places in the world - Christmas Island (nowadays often known as Kiritimati, though the word is actually derived from Christmas, and more-or-less pronounced the same).
Christmas Island is an atoll; it is a partial ring enclosing a lagoon, formed in some way from coral, though the process is uncertain. It is the largest atoll in the world by land area, and situated pretty much in the middle of the Pacific. It was likely used by Polynesian people between 1250 and 1450, without being settled.
It was discovered by Europeans in 1537, but it was not until WW2 that it became significant; it was realised Japanese occupation would be disastrous, so a base was established, and an airstrip built. After the war it was used for testing nuclear bombs by both the British and the US.
The British operations had the codename "Grapple" and Michael was part of this.
We have a lot of photos, but it is not clear where many were taken. A few were labelled.
"28 Dec 58, Christmas Island" Michael is second from left, middle row.
This photo is labelled "Christmas island, 1958", and looks like a bunch of birds...
The rest of these I am guessing are Christmas Island; it definitely looks like a lagoon in the second and third.
And finally, what we have all been waiting for, what do you eat for Christmas dinner on Christmas Island?
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