The 'Gilbert Islands' are a chain of 16
atolls and coral islands in the
Pacific Ocean, main part of the nation
Kiribati ("Kiribati" is the rendition of "Gilberts" in the
Kiribati language).
The atolls and islands are arranged in an approximate north-to-south line. In alphabetical order, they are:
★ Source: Kiribati 2005 Census (provisional)
[1]
The Gilberts had been inhabited by
Micronesians for several centuries before they were discovered by Europeans.
In
1788 Captain
Thomas Gilbert in the
''Charlotte'' and Captain
John Marshall in the
''Scarborough'' crossed through
Abemama,
Kuria,
Aranuka,
Tarawa,
Abaiang,
Butaritari, and
Makin (without stopping). In the years that followed, many ships ran across the little islands and atolls of the Gilberts in the course of their travels in the central Pacific.
In
1820, the islands were named ''îles Gilbert'' (in French) by
von Krusenstern, an
Estonian admiral of the
Czar after the British captain,
Gilbert, together with the neighbouring ''îles Marshall''. Two ships of the
United States Exploring Expedition,
''Peacock'' and
''Flying Fish'', under the command of Captain Hudson, visited many of the Gilbert Islands (then Kingsmill Islands). While in the Gilberts, considerable time was devoted to mapping and charting
reefs and anchorages — but a huge
Maneaba of
Tabiteuea was burnt and Gilbertese killed.
A British
protectorate was first proclaimed over the Gilberts by Captain Davis of
HMS ''Royalist'' on
27 May 1892. In
1915 the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands were proclaimed a
colony of the
British Empire.
The natives of the Gilbert Islands are Micronesian, similar in many respects to the natives of the
Marshalls, the
Carolines, and the
Marianas. At the time of the Japanese invasion in
1942, they were a self-governing people, with their tribal consciousness undisturbed by the British system of colony government and administration. Loyal to the British, the Gilbertese looked with dissatisfaction upon the prospects of coming under the rule of the Japanese. During their stay in the Gilberts, the Japanese did nothing to change the opinion of the Gilbertese on this score.
The principal industry found in the Gilberts was the production of
phosphate from the deposits on
Ocean Island and
Fanning Island. In addition,
coconut palms were cultivated on some of the islands. All labor was supervised by the British and every effort was made to see that the wages and living conditions were fair and adequate. Sanitary inspections by the British did much to improve the general living conditions on most of the islands.
Native diet prior to
World War II consisted mainly of fish, coconuts,
pandanus fruit, babai (swamp
taro), chicken, and some pork. Housing for Europeans employed in the island was simple. Their houses were constructed of both European and native materials and were generally of the bungalow type. There was no tourism.
At the outbreak of the war, about 78% of the native population were said to be Christians. This group was divided mainly into two denominations:
Congregationalists (43%); and
Roman Catholics (35%). The rest of the population were largely semi pagan agnostics; they did not adhere to the Christian faith, nor did they retain much of their beliefs in their own ancient gods.
Judged to be about 84% literate, the Gilbertese responded readily to the colony's educational efforts. All education in the islands came under the supervision of the Colonial Education Department whose aims were to educate native boys for employment in government and commercial work, and to standardize the level of education throughout the colony. The bulk of the education was provided by the missions, which maintained all the village schools and trained the native school teachers.
With the availability of European-style medical care life improved. The
Phoenix Islands Settlement Scheme sought to provide an outlet through the development of three uninhabited atolls in the
Phoenix Islands and was the last attempt at human colonization within the
British Empire.
World War II
When war came in December
1941, the Japanese occupied Makin Atoll immediately and raided Tarawa. In February 1942, the British evacuated most of their people from Tarawa, except for missionaries who elected to remain, and coast watchers.
On
17 August 1942, 221
U.S. Marines of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion were landed on Makin from two submarines. The raid was intended by the Americans to confuse the Japanese about US intentions in the Pacific. However, it had the effect of alerting the Japanese to the strategic importance of the Gilbert Islands and led to their reinforcement and fortification.
Tarawa and Abemama were occupied in force by the Japanese in September 1942 and during the next year garrisons were built up on
Betio (Tarawa Atoll), and
Butaritari (Makin Atoll). Only nominal forces were placed on other islands in the Gilberts.
On
20 November 1943, the
U.S. 2nd Marine Division invaded, in the battles
of Makin and bloody
Tarawa. The Gilbert Islands were used to support the invasion of the
Marshall Islands in February
1944.
1944 -
The colony became autonomous in
1971. From 1976 to 1978, the Ellices were separated, and the Gilberts became the 'Gilbert Islands' colony, which issued stamps under that name. In
1979, the Gilberts opted for independence, becoming the independent nation of
Kiribati.
External links
★
''The Battle for Tarawa'', Appendix G
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