Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

trail in the sea, the planets Jupiter and Mars brilliant. On a film night in the
wardroom "Marseilles Contract" was shown. A few days later we were off South
Georgia and I got up early as we were entering Schlieper Bay (on the main island
opposite Bird Island) on a fine and sunny morning with a calm sea. The gemnini
went ashore to the hut with mail and supplies for the field party. Then we went on to
Bird Island, with fur seals porpoising and millions of birds feeding, especially in the
tide rips at the southwest end of the island. To the west the Willis Islands were clear
and one could see the vast penguin colonies. I spoke with John Croxall who was on
base; all was well and the work had been productive. The geminis went ashore to
collect Jerry Kooyman (Visiting US Bird Biologist), who had completed his planned
work, but his colleague Randall Davis would stay on to continue it. The uplift was
achieved by 8.30 am.
We decided to go to Right Whale Bay in the spare time we had - to see the king
penguin rookery there. Again we experienced perfect views and anchored off the
beach about 10 o’clock and in to the shore in geminins. There was a heavy swell, so
we put out kedge anchors off the beach if we were to get off again. We were able to
spend about 11/4 hrs ashore. There were about 500 king penguins there, fur seals,
elephant seals and the remains of whale and seal skeletons. It was an idyllic spot,
with a mountain backdrop. Derek Gipps managed to get tangled in the Gemini's
anchor going ashore and was pulled into the water, getting a wetting, but none the
worse for it! At noon we were moving on to Husvik in the lovely scenery, many
birds and some fur seals accompanying the ship. Finally to Grytviken, arriving at 6
o’clock and tying up at the jetty there. After dinner I talked with Mick Pawley. It
was a fine night with bright stars and moon and the peaks gleaming, ghostly in the
velvet blackness.
Next I left on a fine morning with Bob Headland (Biological Assistant), Tim
Heilbronn, Peter Twinn, Derek Gipps and Geoff Pugh - for Maiviken. We walked up
the Bore Valley, botanizing on the way and down to the Maiviken Lakes. We visited
the SIRS sites 1 and 2. It was a lovely sunny day and I was most impressed with the
luxuriant vegetation. They gave me a good run down on the projects. We went
down to the beach at Tortula Cove, where there were fur seals, elephants and
gentoos and across to the arch and cave, then back to site 1 for lunch. As we were
sitting there Jerry Bergen (Third Officer) came up to us in running kit. He had run
over from Bransfield in 27 minutes with a message that there was a ‘husky’
(emergency message) for me from Halley. So I set off for the ship, about 2.15 pm and
took about 35 minutes to get there.
There had been a serious accident at Halley. The aircraft, flown by Garry Studd,
while making a low pass prior to landing, had hit and instantly killed Miles Moseley
(BC); and injured Colin Morrell. The Fids had all been on top of the caboose at the
skiway taking photographs. Geoff Renner (Senior Geophycist) was there. I spoke to
Jack Scotcher and asked him to take over as BC, and also talked with Geoff, Steve
Smith (MO) and Garry. It was a tragedy indeed. Colin had fractured a vertebra,
which should heal in 2-3 weeks, so evacuation was probably not necessary; in any
case it would be by air. After due consideration I decided that there was no point in
Bransfield going back to Halley and that, after a day or so the aircraft would resume
scientific flying. With all respect to Miles it would not be good to shut down the
programme and that would not have been Miles' wish anyway. I drafted messages
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