Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

18!); also various thermometers, stop-watch etc. I sent a telegram home to say all was
well, since this was the first opportunity since the beginning of December. No
private telegrams had come through and I supposed they had been mislaid in the
usual inefficiency. John contacted some radio amateurs in February for a brief spell
and I sent another signal asking about private messages for us in the period 3
December to 22 January when we were off the air, asking for confirmation either
way, as the last one was not even acknowledged. This brought a message from Fuchs
reminding us that stores demands should be completed for the third visit of the John
Biscoe!
I sent a GLT home and had a telegram from Dad to say my letter had been
received and all was well. We overheard some of the outgoing Hope Bay crowd at
Deception Island, talking to E (Stonington). Bill Sladen and Frank Elliott were going
to Alexander Island; the others were heading home, except Brian Jefford who was
probably going to Admiralty Bay. This was the first we had heard about Hope Bay
since the fire. This lack of news was really infuriating and whenever John attempted
to ask for information he was immediately snubbed. What a set-up!
So far as we knew at the beginning of February the Biscoe was due to head south
as the ice in Marguerite Bay, was breaking up, making possible it was hoped, the
relief of Stonington (E) the southernmost base. She would call at the other bases enroute
and then after returning to Port Stanley would call on us again on the third trip,
ice and weather permitting. Next, we learnt that she was now on her way south to
base A, Port Lockroy, which meant that she would definitely not be calling on us
until her third trip – a good thing from our point of view. We knew that the cruiser
HMS Glasgow was on her way south to make a show of force for the benefit of the
Argentines, but we wouldn't be seeing her at Signy. Commander Waterhouse had
told me, "there is a gentleman's agreement not to send any heavy stuff further south
than 60°S". The silly season was almost over by now and we would all be rather
pleased when left to ourselves for a further period of ten months or more. It was a
nuisance to be expecting all these ships as there were various preparations to be
made for the arrival of each and it interfered with our varied work. I was certainly
looking forward to another year at Signy. Despite numerous drawbacks the quality
of our life took a lot of beating.
By early March our latest news was that the Biscoe was on her way to South
Georgia. This meant that she would call at Signy before the other bases, which was
disappointing. I had hoped that she would viisit us last so that we should see some of
our friends before they returned to civilization. Also it probably meant that we
would remain short of equipment which was to have been sent up from Marguerite
Bay; such items as tent poles, ski bindings and sticks and a balance for weighing seals
next year. Large trousers for me had by now I hoped been acquired in Port Stanley!
One day early in March we had to close down communications for a generator
overhaul; John was fully occupied keeping the ancient generators functional. Next
day the generator appeared to be going well and he sent in the weather reports. But
then more problems developed and he became thoroughly ‘cheesed-off’ with his
radio problems, as he was trying to get through on the 22 set, but control was
officious. The generator valves broke again – and so it went on.
In mid-March we learnt that John Biscoe had arrived at South Georgia. We still had
no firm news of her ETA with us, but on 19 March we had talks with her on the R/T
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