Two Names Sound Like
p. 80 · Read in the full issue
One Word
CHARLIE BIRD of the Solomons, where his name is generally pronounced as one word, was born in London in 1893. He has done so many jobs in the Islands that his life story would fill a book. Although he looks like an ascetic old monk, the impression is quite wrong.
After four years in the First War, at Gallipoli and in France, Charlie-Bird reached the Pacific Islands in January, 1921, and took a job at Toimanapu Plantation, Bougainville. A year later he was in the British Solomons, at Lilihina Plantation on the Marovo Lagoon. In 1927 he was serving in Carpenters' old "Duranbah", and then he went off prospecting with Dick Laycock.
In 1932 he was back with Carpenters, this time in the "Balus", where he spent five years. Then came two years at Gold Ridge, where the main lode has recently been dis covered, and back to the "Balus" because war had broken out.
When the Japs arrived, Charlie-Bird and his "Balus" helped evacuate the RAAF from Gavutu, and took them to Vila.
It was a coincidence that "balus" is a New Guinea word for a bird, though it is mainly used in Pidgin for an aircraft or pigeon. In 1945 the progress of the war took the "Balus" and her birdlike captain back to the Solomons.
After a spell at Maru Plantation in San Cristobal, Charlie joined the Government Trade Scheme as skipper of the "Biliki". Later he became their stevedore, and is now the merchandise manager at Honiara.
Not even Charlie knows what he may do next, and he may even retire some day, in spite of his restless activity, and settle down on his Guadalcanal property.—BRETT HILDER.