![Operation Tabarin](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Operation_Tabarin._Survey_field_work_%28BAS_AD6_19_1_A42_7%29.jpg)
Operation Tabarin was the code name for a secret British expedition to the
Antarctic
The Antarctic ( or , American English also or ; commonly ) is a polar region around Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica, the Kerguelen Plateau and other ...
during
World War Two
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, operational 1943–46. Conducted by the Admiralty on behalf of the Colonial Office, its primary objective was to strengthen British claims to sovereignty of the British territory of the
Falkland Islands Dependencies
The Falkland Islands Dependencies was the constitutional arrangement from 1843 until 1985 for administering the various British territories in Sub-Antarctica and Antarctica which were governed from the Falkland Islands and its capital Port Sta ...
(FID), to which Argentina and Chile had made counter claims since the outbreak of war. This was done by establishing permanently occupied bases, carrying out administrative activities such as postal services and undertaking scientific research. The meteorological observations made aided
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
shipping in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Following Cabinet approval in January 1943, there was an intensive period of planning, recruitment and procurement, before the expedition left the UK in November 1943, led by Lieutenant-Commander
James Marr. Two bases were established in early 1944 – firstly, Base B, at
Deception Island
Deception Island is an island in the South Shetland Islands close to the Antarctic Peninsula with a large and usually "safe" natural harbor, which is occasionally troubled by the underlying active volcano. This island is the caldera of an act ...
, South Shetland Islands, and later the main base, Base A, at
Port Lockroy
Port Lockroy is a bay forming a natural harbour on the north-western shore of Wiencke Island in the Palmer Archipelago to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic base with the same name, situated on Goudier Island in this bay, inc ...
, Wiencke Island. A variety of science and mapping work was carried out. 14 men over-wintered in 1944.
In the Antarctic summer of 1944/45, Captain Andrew Taylor became leader, following the resignation of Marr due to ill health. A base hut was built on
Coronation Island
Coronation Island is the largest of the South Orkney Islands, long and from wide. The island extends in a general east–west direction, is mainly ice-covered and comprises numerous bays, glaciers and peaks, the highest rising to .
History
T ...
, South Orkney Islands (Base C) but not occupied. Base D,
Hope Bay
Hope Bay (Spanish: ''Bahía Esperanza'') on Trinity Peninsula, is long and wide, indenting the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and opening on Antarctic Sound. It is the site of the Argentinian Antarctic settlement Esperanza Base, established i ...
, Trinity Peninsula, was established as the centre for the expedition’s second year. The resupply of the bases included men, supplies and equipment, together with 25 sledge dogs to extend field work on the mainland of the
Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula, known as O'Higgins Land in Chile and Tierra de San Martín in Argentina, and originally as Graham Land in the United Kingdom and the Palmer Peninsula in the United States, is the northernmost part of mainland Antarctic ...
. A full programme of science and mapping was undertaken. 21 men over-wintered in 1945.
The expedition was relieved in March 1946 by members of the newly formed
Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the United Kingdom's national polar research institute. It has a dual purpose, to conduct polar science, enabling better understanding of global issues, and to provide an active presence in the Antarctic on ...
(FIDS). FIDS had been established in July 1945, following the end of the War in Europe, to put the work started by Operation Tabarin on a permanent footing. In 1962 FIDS was re-named the
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the United Kingdom's national polar research institute. It has a dual purpose, to conduct polar science, enabling better understanding of global issues, and to provide an active presence in the Antarctic on ...
(BAS), following Britain's ratification of the
Antarctic Treaty
russian: link=no, Договор об Антарктике es, link=no, Tratado Antártico
, name = Antarctic Treaty System
, image = Flag of the Antarctic Treaty.svgborder
, image_width = 180px
, caption ...
and the creation of
British Antarctic Territory
The British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories, of which it is by far the largest by area. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between ...
.
Operation Tabarin established the first permanently occupied stations in the Antarctic and in commencing geology, biology and mapping, was the foundation for continuous British scientific research in Antarctica. The huskies provided the core of a British Antarctic husky population, used for survey journeys, that lasted for fifty years.
Background
Following the outbreak of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
,
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
shipping across the globe became vulnerable to attacks by
German Navy
The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...
commerce raiders
Commerce raiding (french: guerre de course, "war of the chase"; german: Handelskrieg, "trade war") is a form of naval warfare used to destroy or disrupt logistics of the enemy on the open sea by attacking its merchant shipping, rather than enga ...
and
U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...
s. The War also threatened to reignite the longstanding
Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute
Sovereignty over the Falkland Islands ( es, Islas Malvinas) is disputed by Argentina and the United Kingdom. The British claim to sovereignty dates from 1690, when they made the first recorded landing on the islands, and the United Kingdom has exe ...
with neutral Argentina.
The important trade routes round Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope made the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean a particular target, with a corresponding threat to the
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...
and its Dependencies. In January 1941, the German cruiser attacked the unarmed and unescorted Norwegian whaling fleet. ''Pinguin'' seized a haul of 20,320 tons of
whale oil
Whale oil is oil obtained from the blubber of whales. Whale oil from the bowhead whale was sometimes known as train oil, which comes from the Dutch word ''traan'' ("tears, tear" or "drop").
Sperm oil, a special kind of oil obtained from the ...
, one of the largest prizes seized by a commerce raider during the war.
In response, the British authorities sent the armed merchant cruiser to patrol the area between South Georgia, the
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They lie about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between southwest of the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 195 ...
and
Weddell Sea
The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. The easternmost point is Cape Norvegia at Princess Martha ...
. On 5 March, ''Queen of Bermuda'' visited the abandoned Norwegian Hektor Whaling Station in
Whalers Bay, Deception Island, which was a well known safe harbour, destroying stocks of coal and oil, and associated equipment, to prevent them falling into enemy hands.
The entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 increased the threat, with fear that Japan might seek to seize the Falkland Islands as a base in the South Atlantic. The Islands' defences were minimal and approaches to the USA for support were unsuccessful, though endorsed by the British prime minister,
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...
.
In January 1942, Argentina's Comisión Nacional del Antártico dispatched the transport to Deception Island, afterwards sailing to the
Melchior Islands
The Melchior Islands are a group of many low, ice-covered islands lying near the center of Dallmann Bay in the Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica. They were first seen but left unnamed by a German expedition under Eduard Dallmann, 1873–74. The isl ...
,
Palmer Archipelago
Palmer Archipelago, also known as Antarctic Archipelago, Archipiélago Palmer, Antarktiske Arkipel or Palmer Inseln, is a group of islands off the northwestern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
It extends from Tower Island in the north to Anvers ...
and
Winter Island
Winter Island is an island connected by a causeway to Salem Neck in Salem, Massachusetts. It is about in size, and is bounded by Smith Pool to the northwest, Cat Cove to the west, Salem Channel to the south and east, and Juniper Cove to the ...
. Argentine flags were raised in these locations and all territories south of 60° S and between 25° W and 68.34° W were declared annexed.
On 28 January 1943 a meeting of the War Cabinet, chaired by
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, (3 January 18838 October 1967) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955. He was Deputy Prime Mini ...
considered
Foreign Office
Foreign may refer to:
Government
* Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries
* Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries
** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government
** Foreign office and foreign minister
* Unit ...
proposals to address what were seen as mounting Argentine encroachments on British territory. These were to dispatch the armed merchant cruiser to the Dependencies to make landings, carry out administrative activities and remove marks of Argentine claims, and, crucially, to establish permanently occupied bases at strategic locations. Both were approved.
Upon reaching Deception Island, ''Carnarvon Castle'' replaced the Argentinian flag with the Union Jack and placed four British Crown Land signs. A month later ''Primero de Mayo'' returned and duly replaced the Union Jack with the Argentinian flag. The British concluded that occupation was indeed necessary to end these tit-for-tat tactics.
Expedition
![BAS174 overview with attributes Antarctic Peninsula showing Tabarin bases](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/BAS174_overview_with_attributes_Antarctic_Peninsula_showing_Tabarin_bases.jpg)
Planning and Preparation
Following a number of interdepartmental meetings, planning for an expedition to occupy sites in the Falkland Islands Dependencies (FID) started in May 1943. A meeting on 27 May set the objective of establishing permanent bases on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, and on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, funded through sales of a new FID stamp issue to philatelists, though in the event mosts costs were met through the Admiralty. During the planning stage the priority for the location of the second base was changed to Hope Bay, since it was on the mainland, with an option to erect a hut on Signy Island if resources allowed. Final instructions were issued in November 1943, clarifying the physical and political objectives, importance of the issuing of stamps, appointment of magistrates and other acts of sovereignty. In the field the expedition was under the authority of the Governor of the Falkland Islands, who received instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
An Expedition Committee was established in June 1943, chaired by A.B. Acheson, Colonial Office Under-Secretary, with members from the Colonial Office, Foreign Office, Admiralty, Treasury, Crown Agents, Ministry of War Transport and
Discovery Investigations
The Discovery Investigations were a series of scientific cruises and shore-based investigations into the biology of whales in the Southern Ocean. They were funded by the British Colonial Office and organised by the Discovery Committee in London, wh ...
.
It was agreed that scientific research and mapping should be undertaken by the expedition and three scientists with significant Antarctic experience were involved. Two joined the committee from the outset: geologist and polar explorer
James Wordie
Sir James Mann Wordie CBE FRS FRSGS LLD (26 April 1889 – 16 January 1962) was a Scottish polar explorer and geologist. Friends knew him as Jock Wordie.
He was President of the Royal Geographical Society from 1951 to 1954. Early life and ed ...
, a member of Shackleton's
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917 is considered to be the last major expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Conceived by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the expedition was an attempt to make the first land crossing ...
and one of the founders of the
Scott Polar Research Institute
The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) is a centre for research into the polar regions and glaciology worldwide. It is a sub-department of the Department of Geography in the University of Cambridge, located on Lensfield Road in the south o ...
and Neil Mackintosh, a zoologist and Director of the Discovery Investigations. The third,
Brian Roberts, was an ornithologist on the
British Graham Land Expedition, who was working with Wordie in the Admiralty Intelligence Department on cold-climate clothing and equipment. He was formally involved after Feb 1944, when he took up a post at the Foreign Office Research Department. Mackintosh prepared a detailed scientific programme for the shore parties.
The expedition code name 'Tabarin' was acknowledged in October when departments within the Admiralty were informed, though it is likely to have been in use earlier. A hand-written note by Roberts explains that the name, after the Paris night club
Bal Tabarin, was chosen because of the amount of night work required and the chaotic organisation. According to some sources the expedition was briefly code named Operation Bransfield, after Royal Navy officer
Edward Bransfield
Edward Bransfield (c. 1785 – 31 October 1852) was an Irish sailor who became an officer in the British Royal Navy, serving as a master on several ships, after being impressed into service in Ireland at the age of 18. He is noted for his par ...
. The Forces mail address Naval Party 475 was allocated for the bases to be established, and Naval Party 470 for the expedition ship. The expedition was considered top secret but by April 1944 news of it had leaked out, not least because of the philately work undertaken at the direction of the Colonial Office.
Marine biologist and polar explorer
James Marr was selected as leader of the expedition. His experience included participation in
Shackleton's last expedition 1921-22, as an 18-year old; the
British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) 1929-30; and as a scientist on the Discovery Investigations 1928–1929, 1931–1933, 1935–1937. At the time of his recall, Marr was serving as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in the Far East. He arrived in the UK in July 1943 and joined the expedition committee. He was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
![Veslekari](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Veslekari.jpg)
Marr's priorities were to find an expedition vessel and recruit suitably experienced volunteers. In the circumstances of war and time constraints it was difficult to find a ship built to navigate through sea ice and with sufficient cargo capacity. He flew to
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
to inspect a Norwegian sealer ''Veslekari'', built in 1918, that had been used on Arctic expeditions in the past. After further inspection by a surveyor, she was considered suitable, brought to Tilbury, London for a refit and requisitioned by the Admiralty under the name HMS ''Bransfield''.
[ Lieutenant Victor Marchesi, Royal Navy, was appointed as her captain and second-in-command of the expedition. Marchesi had served on the Discovery Investigations with Marr.
Potential recruits were identified by Marr, assisted by Wordie and Mackenzie, and interviewed by him at the Colonial Office in September. Most were serving in the armed forces or the merchant navy, but some were still in civilian roles. Several were well known to them through the Discovery Investigations, including the chief steward Thomas Berry, ship's carpenter Lewis Ashton, senior wireless operator James Farrington, handymen John Matheson and Gwion Davies. Other specialists recruited were surveyor Andrew Taylor, a Canadian with cold-weather experience; medical officer Eric Back; meteorologist Gordon Howkins; botanist Ivan Mackenzie Lamb, then working at the British Museum of Natural History; and two geologists, William Flett, from Glasgow University and Buck, who withdrew from the expedition before it left the UK; and wireless operator Norman Layther, a New Zealander.
By late October all the necessary equipment and stores were packed and assembled at the Royal Albert Docks, Tilbury. As the ''Bransfield'' was too small to carry the whole load, some of the cargo, including the prefabicated hut, had already been shipped aboard SS ''Groix'' and ''Ragnhidsholm'', and now more stores and two expedition members were allocated to SS ''Marquesa''. ''Bransfield'' herself, with the rest of the expedition, was scheduled to sail on 6 November, but was delayed when leaking fresh water tanks had to be replaced.
]
Journey South
On 12 November 1943 ''Bransfield'' finally sailed from Tilbury, joining a small coastal convoy bound for Falmouth. Problems arose almost immediately and she had to put in to Portsmouth for repairs. She continued on 25 November but proved unseaworthy during a gale on the voyage west. Meanwhile, the ''Marquesa'', on leaving Liverpool wharf, had grounded on a submerged wreck and the Tabarin contingent were ordered to re-join the rest of the expedition. Forced to abandon the ''Bransfield'', the expedition was trans-shipped to the troop ship at Avonmouth
Avonmouth is a port and outer suburb of Bristol, England, facing two rivers: the reinforced north bank of the final stage of the Avon which rises at sources in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset; and the eastern shore of the Severn Estuar ...
on 8 December. She was taking a relief garrison to the Falkland Islands and sailed on 14 December, calling at Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
and Montevideo
Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
before reaching Port Stanley
Stanley (; also known as Port Stanley) is the capital city of the Falkland Islands. It is located on the island of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2016 census, the city had a populat ...
on 26 January.
Waiting for them, to replace ''Bransfield'', was HMS . Built for whale marking work by the Discovery Investigations, she had been requisitioned by the Royal Navy for mine sweeping duties in the South Atlantic during the war. She had very limited cargo capacity but the Falkland Islands Company
The Falkland Islands Company Ltd is a diversified goods and services company owned by FIH Group. Known locally as FIC, it was founded in 1851 and was granted a royal charter to trade in 1852 by Queen Victoria. It was originally founded by Samuel ...
vessel SS ''Fitzroy'' had also been assigned to the expedition to transport cargo and most of the personnel. The ''Fitzroy'' had already collected the cargo carried to Montevideo on other vessels.
1st year – Antarctic summer 1943/44 and winter 1944
The two ships left Port Stanley on 29 January. In addition to the expedition, the ''Fitzroy'' carried Tim Hooley, his wife and 14-year old daughter. Hooley was taking up a two year post as wireless operator for the Government station on South Georgia and the family were only landed there once the priority objectives of establishing two Tabarin bases was achieved. On 3 February 1944 the expedition arrived at Port Foster
Port Foster is one of the safest harbours in Antarctica, located in Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands.
History
The harbour was known to sealers as early as 1820, and in its early history was called ''Port Williams'', after Captain ...
, Deception Island. This being the most likely place for Argentine or German vessels to shelter, they were relieved that there were no signs of recent occupation, other than an Argentine flag painted on a fuel tank, which was promptly erased. Few of the buildings were inhabitable, but one of the whalers' dormitories was selected for Base B. Unloading commenced immediately and by 6 February the two ships were able to depart, leaving geologist Flett as leader of a five-man party.
The expedition sailed for Hope Bay, arriving on 7 February, to find that the approach to the bay from Antarctic Sound
The Antarctic Sound is a body of water about long and from wide, separating the Joinville Island group from the northeast end of the Antarctic Peninsula. The sound was named by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskjöld for the e ...
was through a 10-mile wide band of pack ice. This posed a risk to the safety of the ''Fitzroy'', which was not ice-strengthened in any way. ''William Scoresby'' proceeded through the sea ice and landed a reconnoitring party, but, though urged to follow, the ''Fitzroy''s captain, Keith Pitt, and Captain David Roberts (a representative of the Falkland Islands Company), decided they could not risk the ship. The following day the attempt was reluctantly abandoned and the decision made to proceed south-west along the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in search of an alternative mainland site. Due to thick fog, it was not until 10 February that the ships left Bransfield Strait and began the search. With ''Fitzroy'' now running low on coal and no suitable landing site having been found, Marr agreed that the expedition should make for Port Lockroy, Wiencke Island, a well known safe harbour with several low rocky islets where the base could be built. The two vessels arrived there on the afternoon of 11 February.
Although long-used by ships visiting the area, Port Lockroy's location restricted the range of scientific activities possible because the Gerlache Strait
Gerlache Strait or de Gerlache Strait or Détroit de la Belgica is a Channel (geography), channel/strait separating the Palmer Archipelago from the Antarctic Peninsula. The Belgian Antarctic Expedition, under Lt. Adrien de Gerlache, explored the ...
rarely froze, so cutting off access to the mainland. In addition, as an island location, it was inferior to Hope Bay from the perspective of strengthening British sovereignty, though this was somewhat mitigated by it being so well known. Both these factors added to the pressure Marr was under. Nevertheless, a site for the hut was chosen on Goudier Island and Base A was established, discharging cargo beginning at once. Signs of Argentine territorial claims left by ''Primero de Mayo'' were removed.
The main hut, named Bransfield House in memory of their original expedition ship, was a prefabricated design by the Norwich firm of Boulton and Paul and was sufficiently complete by 17 February for ''William Scoresby'' and ''Fitzroy'' to return to the Falklands, taking official mail. Port Lockroy had begun postmarking mail on 12 February, indicating the importance given to philatelic duties. Falkland Island stamps overprinted with the inscription "Graham Land, Dependency of" were used. On 15 February the generator was sussessfully installed, enabling wireless communication with Stanley and Base B to be established. Three extensions to the hut were added between February and April, using materials brought from Deception Island or found nearby, and also a Nissen hut for storage.
''William Scoresby'' visited Base A twice more before winter set in. On 19 March she brought Falkland Islander John Blyth, who joined the team as a cook/handyman in place of Blair. On 17 April, she delivered a large quantity of mail to be stamped and cancelled. On 22 April Marr and others were aboard when the vessel visited Cape Renard
Cape Renard () is a cape forming the south side of the entrance to Flandres Bay and separating the Danco Coast, Danco and Graham Coasts on the west coast of Antarctic Peninsula. Situated on the minor Renard Island just off the north extremity of K ...
to erect a Union Jack and British Crown Land sign. Port Stanley Town Hall, in which the Post Office was located, was destroyed by fire on 16 April. In addition to the loss of expedition mail, with correspondence now passing through Montevideo, the expedition's secrecy was compromised and its existence became known to the outside world.
Both bases made meteorological observations, transmitted twice a day to the meteorological station in Stanley, and sea ice observations during the winter. At Deception Island upper air observations were made using meteorological balloons. A geological survey was also undertaken, and aspects of glaciology and physiography observed. At Port Lockroy scientific work began in early May with the collection of rock samples from the foot of Jabet Peak and Savoia Peak
Savoia Peak is a peak, 1,415 m, at the northeast end of Sierra DuFief, a mountain range in the southwest part of Wiencke Island, in the Palmer Archipelago. Discovered by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition under Gerlache, in 1898, and scaled by me ...
. A botanical survey was made by Lamb, mainly of lichens, that included the discovery of a number of new species, including '' Verrucaria serpuloides'', the only known true marine lichen, thus making a considerable contribution to the taxonomy of Antarctic lichens. During the winter the nine men practiced skiing, prepared equipment for planned field trips and Taylor carried out local mapping work. In September a party of four, manhauling two sledges, undertook a topographic survey of Wiencke Island over 25 days, in challenging terrain and poor weather conditions. As spring advanced Lamb took advantage of the low tides and melting snow to conduct an ecological study of the local beaches, Marr encouraging the others to collect zoological specimens. On 18 November Lamb led a field party back to Blyth Point (on Wiencke Island) to complete his botanical collecting there. Bird and lichen specimens were gathered, the former for the needs of the British Museum (Natural History)
The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum an ...
.
List of Winterers 1944
Base A, Port Lockroy
* James W.R. Marrexpedition commander, base leader, zoologist
* Lewis Ashtoncarpenter
* Eric H. Backmedical officer, meteorologist
* A. Thomas Berrypurser/ storeman
* John Blythcook (replaced Kenneth C.G. Blair in March 1944)
* Gwion Davieshandyman, scientific assistant
* James E.B.F. Farringtonsenior wireless operator mechanic
* Ivan MacKenzie Lambbotanist
* Andrew Taylorsurveyor
Base B, Deception Island
* William R. Flettbase leader, geologist
* Gordon A. Howkinsmeteorologist
* Norman F. Laytherwireless operator mechanic
* John Mathesonhandyman
* Charles Smithcook
2nd year – Antarctic summer 1944/45 and winter 1945
On 6 December, ''William Scoresby'' returned to Station B bringing plants native to the Falklands and soil for Lamb to conduct a transplantation experiment, which ultimately failed due to low humidity and strong winds. On 3 February 1945, ''Fitzroy'' and the 550 ton sealer ''Eagle'' arrived at Port Lockroy, with Victor Russell and David James Dewi, Dai, Dafydd or David James may refer to:
Performers
*David James (actor, born 1839) (1839–1893), English stage comic and a founder of London's Vaudeville Theatre
*David James (actor, born 1967) (born 1967), Australian presenter of ABC's ''P ...
, Norman Bertram Marshall
Norman Bertram Marshall, known as Freddy, (5 February 1915 – 13 February 1996) was a British marine biologist and ichthyologist who was worked at the British Museum (Natural History). His main interests were in the area of deep sea research.
E ...
, Gordon Lockley, Frank White, Alan Reece, Thomas Donnachie and Norman Layther aboard. Stores, equipment and crew members destined for the erection of an unmanned Base E on Stonington Island
Stonington Island is a rocky island lying northeast of Neny Island in the eastern part of Marguerite Bay off the west coast of Graham Land, Antarctica. It is long from north-west to south-east and wide, yielding an area of . It was formerly ...
moved into ''Eagle'', others boarded ''William Scoresby'' and ''Fitzroy'' in order to build Station D on Hope Bay.
On 7 February, Marr resigned on account of poor health and later returned to the Falklands, with Taylor replacing him as expedition leader. Taylor abandoned the plan to build the Stonington Island station focusing his attention on Station D. On 13 February, Seal Point was selected as the most suitable location for Station D and the first steps for its erection were made, construction was completed on 20 March. On 23 February, a hut was built on Coronation Island
Coronation Island is the largest of the South Orkney Islands, long and from wide. The island extends in a general east–west direction, is mainly ice-covered and comprises numerous bays, glaciers and peaks, the highest rising to .
History
T ...
to reinforce British claims to the area. Later on the British expedition paid the Argentine meteorological station on Laurie Island
Laurie Island is the second largest of the South Orkney Islands. The island is claimed by both Argentina as part of Argentine Antarctica, and the United Kingdom as part of the British Antarctic Territory. However, under the Antarctic Treaty Sy ...
a courtesy visit.
A few fossil specimens were collected at Hope Bay in February, with systematic gathering of paleobotanical
Paleobotany, which is also spelled as palaeobotany, is the branch of botany dealing with the recovery and identification of plant remains from geological contexts, and their use for the biological reconstruction of past environments (paleogeogr ...
specimens from Mount Flora's shale beginning on 8 June. A sledging expedition from Hope was launched in August. On 29 December, the sledging party returned to Base D, having visited Vortex Island, Duse Bay
Duse Bay () is a bay indenting the south side of Trinity Peninsula between View Point and the western side of Tabarin Peninsula. It was discovered by a party under J. Gunnar Andersson, of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition
The Swedish Antarct ...
, James Ross Island
James Ross Island is a large island off the southeast side and near the northeastern extremity of the Antarctic Peninsula, from which it is separated by Prince Gustav Channel. Rising to , it is irregularly shaped and extends in a north–south ...
and numerous small islands in its vicinity.
The trip resulted in of lichen, fossil and rock samples, meteorological and glaciological measurements as well as corrections to Otto Nordenskjöld
Nils Otto Gustaf Nordenskjöld (6 December 1869 – 2 June 1928) was a Finnish and Swedish geologist, geographer, and polar explorer.
Early life
Nordenskjöld was born in Hässleby in Småland in eastern Sweden, in a Finland Swedish family that ...
's maps.
List of Winterers 1945
Base A, Port Lockroy
* Gordon J. Lockleybase leader, meteorologist, zoologist
* John K. Biggshandyman
* Norman F. Laytherwireless operator mechanic
* Francis Whitecook
Base B, Deception Island
* Alan W. Reecebase leader, meteorologist
* Samuel Bonnerhandyman
* James E.B.F. Farrington - senior wireless operator mechanic
* Charles Smith - cook
Base D, Hope Bay
* Andrew Taylorexpedition commander, base leader, surveyor
* Lewis Ashtoncarpenter
* Eric H. Backmedical officer, meteorologist
* A. Thomas Berrystoreman , cook
* John Blythcook
* Gwion Davieshandyman, scientific assistant
* Thomas Donnachiewireless operator mechanic
* William R. Flettgeologist
* David P. Jamessurveyor
* Ivan MacKenzie Lambbotanist
* Norman B. Marshallzoologist
* John Mathesonhandyman
* Victor I. Russellsurveyor
3rd year – Antarctic summer 1945/46
On 14 January 1946, ''William Scoresby'', ''Fitzroy'' and 300-ton sealer ''Trepassey'' began evacuating the members of the expedition to the Falklands. On 11 February, those serving in the military boarded , and the rest sailed home on ''Highland Monarch''.
File:Operation Tabarin. James Marr (BAS AD6 1 19 A55 cropped).jpg, James Marr at Base A, Port Lockroy, 5 Nov 1944
File:Operation Tabarin. Base A, Port Lockroy (BAS AD6 19 1 A119).jpg, Base A, Port Lockroy, Goudier Islet, Wiencke Island, 6 Jan 1945
File:Operation Tabarin. Port Lockroy laboratory (BAS AD6 19 1 A106).jpg, Port Lockroy, laboratory in Bransfield House, Jan 1945.
File:Operation Tabarin. Base B location (AD6 19 1 B118 2).jpg, Abandoned Hektor Whaling Station, Deception Island, April 1945. Base B occupied one of the buildings
File:Operation Tabarin. Base D, Hope Bay (AD6 19 1 D165 26).jpg, Base D, Hope Bay, under construction, 1 March 1945. Mount Flora behind.
Aftermath
The end of World War II led to renewed interest in the Antarctic region. The United States refused to recognise any foreign territorial claims to Antarctica, initiating Operation Highjump
Operation HIGHJUMP, officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946–1947, (also called Task Force 68), was a United States Navy (USN) operation to establish the Antarctic research base Little America IV. The opera ...
. Argentina and Chile signed the Argentine-Chilean Agreement on Joint Defence of "Antarctic Rights", a defence agreement that envisioned potential military action over disputed Antarctic lands. Chile organized its First Chilean Antarctic Expedition
The First Chilean Antarctic Expedition (1947–1948) was an expedition to Antarctica mounted by the Chilean government and military to enforce its territorial claims against British challenges, namely Operation Tabarin.
Among other accomplishmen ...
in 1947–1948.
Among other accomplishments, it brought Chilean President Gabriel González Videla
Gabriel Enrique González Videla (; November 22, 1898 – August 22, 1980) was a Chilean politician and lawyer who served as the 24th president of Chile from 1946 to 1952. He had previously been a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 193 ...
to inaugurate one of its bases personally, and he thereby became the first head of state to set foot on the continent.
Britain, on the other hand, continued the operation of the bases built during Operation Tabarin by transferring them to the newly established Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the United Kingdom's national polar research institute. It has a dual purpose, to conduct polar science, enabling better understanding of global issues, and to provide an active presence in the Antarctic on ...
. Operation Tabarin veterans Reece, White and Rusell remained at their bases and continued their work for the FIDS. Participants of Operation Tabarin were awarded the Polar Medal
The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom to individuals who have outstanding achievements in the field of polar research, and particularly for those who have worked over extended periods in harsh climates. It w ...
in 1953.
Port Lockroy made the first measurements of the ionosphere
The ionosphere () is the ionized part of the upper atmosphere of Earth, from about to above sea level, a region that includes the thermosphere and parts of the mesosphere and exosphere. The ionosphere is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an ...
and the first recording of an atmospheric whistler (electronic waves). It was also a key monitoring site during the International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year (IGY; french: Année géophysique internationale) was an international scientific project that lasted from 1 July 1957 to 31 December 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific ...
of 1957. Port Lockroy was designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 61) and is now a museum following a proposal by the United Kingdom to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
References
Sources
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* (Self-published but extensively references primary sources in national and specialist archives)
* Information booklet produced for 50th anniversary.
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Further reading
* Includes the 4 bases established during Tabarin: Base A, Port Lockroy; Base B, Deception Island; Base C, Coronation Island; Base D, Hope Bay.
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* Includes articles by several expedition members.
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See also
* British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the United Kingdom's national polar research institute. It has a dual purpose, to conduct polar science, enabling better understanding of global issues, and to provide an active presence in the Antarctic on ...
* UK Antarctic Heritage Trust
The United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) is a British charity, registered in 1993 and re-registered in 2015. The UKAHT is a member of the Antarctic Heritage Trust coalition. The UKAHT's Patron is Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.
The ...
* List of Antarctic expeditions
This list of Antarctic expeditions is a chronological list of expeditions involving Antarctica. Although the existence of a southern continent had been hypothesized as early as the writings of Ptolemy in the 1st century AD, the South Pole was no ...
* New Swabia
New Swabia (Norwegian and german: Neuschwabenland) was a disputed Antarctic claim by Nazi Germany within the Norwegian territorial claim of Queen Maud Land and is now a cartographic name sometimes given to an area of Antarctica between 20°E a ...
* Territorial claims in Antarctica
Seven sovereign states – Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom – have made eight territorial claims in Antarctica. These countries have tended to place their Antarctic scientific observation and st ...
External links
UK Antarctic Heritage Trust
– The trust manages the historic sites of Port Lockroy (Base A) and Whaler's Bay (Base B).
British Antarctic Oral History Project
– Includes interviews with expedition members Marchesi, Taylor, Back, Davies, Farrington and George James (wireless operator HMS ''William Scoresby'').
British Antarctic Survey
– British scientific organisation that developed from Operation Tabarin. The Archives holds official expedition records, photographs and moving film.
University of Manitoba
– The Archives holds Andrew Taylor's personal records.
* M/S Veslekari - Danish Wikipedia article
Deception Island Antarctic Specially Managed Area
- History of the Hektor Whaling Station
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tabarin, Operation
1944 in Antarctica
1945 in Antarctica
1946 in Antarctica
Tabarin
Tabarin was the street name assumed by the most famous of the Parisian street charlatans, Anthoine Girard (c. 1584 – August 16, 1633), who amused his audiences in the Place Dauphine by farcical dialogue with his brother Philippe (as Mondo ...
Graham Land
History of Antarctica
Military history of the Falkland Islands in World War II
United Kingdom and the Antarctic
Polar exploration
Military operations in the Antarctic region during World War II