Tristan da Cunha is often referred to as "the remotest island in the world", a volcanic peak rising out of the South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. Its total area is 70 square kilometers and the main income comes from crawfish, handicrafts and postage stamp sales.
Discovery
The island was discovered by Tristão d'Acunha in 1506 but the first settlers did not arrive until 1810 when Jonathan Lambert of Salem, Mass., stepped ashore and claimed ownership. This occupation was short lived as Lambert drowned in 1812. Four years later the British took possession of the island to prevent attempts to use it as a staging point to rescue exiled Napoleon Bonaparte from nearby St. Helena.
First Evacuation
The first evacuation of the island occurred in 1857 when almost two-thirds of the population wanted to leave due to lack of food. Bishop Gray of Capetown assessed the situation and HMS Geyser was dispatched to pick up those who wished to leave. Of the 71 islanders, 46 left. By 1867 the island held less than a dozen cottages when it was visited by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who bestowed his title as the name of the settlement.
World War II
In 1942 a secret naval station, code named Job 9 and later HMS Atlantic Isle, was established to monitor the weather and the movements of U-boats in the vicinity. Buildings were constructed to serve as offices, homes, a school, store and hospital. For the first time Islanders were paid cash for wages and they were able to spend the money at the store, still known as The Canteen.
Volcanic Eruption
Volcanic activity began disturbing the islanders in August 1961. By October, the tremors and rock falls had created a large fissure near the lighthouse and the stench of sulphur filled the air. Residents were evacuated to nearby Nightingale Island and then to Capetown, South Africa aboard HMS Leopard, Naval ships returned to pick up valuables, but livestock were left behind.
The travels of the evacuees were not over yet. From South Africa they elected to go to England aboard RMS Stirling Castle to avoid apartheid laws. Arriving in England they were housed near Southampton in time to experience one of the severest winters on record, which killed some of the older islanders.
Scientific Expedition
In 1962, an expedition from the Royal Society investigated the eruption. They found minimal damage to the village, although looters had broken into homes and the post office safe had been pried open. The lucrative crawfish cannery had been destroyed by lava. Most of the domestic livestock had survived though the sheep flocks had been devastated by dogs.
When the expedition returned to England, it brought welcome news that the volcanic activity had subsided enough for the islanders to return. Having suffered through a horrific winter, the loss of five elderly members of the community and continual harassment from the media and medical researchers, the islanders were eager to go home.
Return to Tristan
The home office advised against a hasty return, but a party of islanders ignored the advice and set out in August 1962 aboard Tristania to make the settlement habitable once more. By April 1963, a second group of evacuees returned via Rio de Janeiro and the reminder arrived in November. Of the 268 people who left Tristan da Cunha in 1961, 14 remained in England, five died and eight babies were born. Ten couples had married and four Tristan women married English men.
As life on Tristan returned to normal, a period of prosperity began as the harbour was rebuilt, the crawfish industry flourished and the sale of stamps increased. The island in now self-supporting and unemployment in non-existent. In 1966, the lure of the outside world proved too much for 35 islanders who returned to England. A small tourist industry began in 1979 and soon a small radio station, video store, grocery store and swimming pool were built. The police station has one cell used to store firearms. The island is connected to the outside world via fax and satellite telephone. RMS St. Helena calls once a year with food, mail, medical supplies, books and other essentials.
The volcanic eruption and subsequent evacuation and resettlement proved little more than an inconvenience and Tristan da Cunha is again a content and prosperous little community.
Bibliography
Margaret Mackay - Angry Island: The Story of Tristan da Cunha, 1506–1963 -Arthur Barker - 1963
Allan B. Crawford - Penguins, Potatoes and Postage Stamps: a Tristan Da Cunha Chronicle - Anthony Nelson - 1999
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