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

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at Lowestoft. He had been up almost as far as
Spitsbergen and his letter had been posted in Hammerfest. I also had a letter from
Gordon Robin, i/c Base H last year who was now doing Nuclear Physics at
Birmingham University under Professor Oliphant.
On 2 April 1949 there was a message from Dr Fuchs saying that in future all
messages were to be sent direct to the Governor – well, not quite all. We wondered
what was behind this bald statement. Then, three days later, we overheard some R/T
conversations with the Biscoe and gathered that she was going to Admiralty Bay next
day. Unless the ice conditions changed rapidly, Marguerite Bay would be
inaccessible for that season – there would be no relief this year for the eleven men
there!
A newsletter came from the Colonial Secretary; we heard the budget comments
on the radio (or wireless as we called it then) and had an orchestral concert, until
generator trouble led to an early bedtime. I prepared yet another Fortnightly Report
and received a message from the Governor requesting information on a variety of
subjects. There were other exchanges by radio. A message from Dr Fuchs asked if I
was satisfied with my research results, and if I would be able to complete my field
work over the next year. We heard the Governor talk but reception was very
distorted.
Our second winter Winter, l949, was approaching. On 19 April there was an ‘all
bases’ message from Fuchs about third years and one to me concerning my new seal
discoveries and my request for a third year. I replied and he responded saying that
he agreed with the South Georgia proposal (for me to work there for a year) and
asked what was the minimum assistance I required. One came from David for my
birthday and one from Pat Toynbee. It appeared that they had a cider still in
production! For my birthday on 23 April I had a long cable from home which was a
pleasant surprise, but evidently the last lot of mail had not yet arrived there. We had
a fire drill on 29 April and I made out the Fortnightly Report, which went in on the
l5th and 30th of the month. These reports baldly summarized: a) work done; b)
outstanding meteorology; c) fire drill held. The latter had been instituted in the
current year and I was expected to hold a fire drill once a fortnight and report that it
had been done. This required that everyone go out to their fire points and I inspected
them – i.e. said that they can go in again. That day I found that one of the
extinguishers was frozen up!
At the beginning of May 1949 Ralph called us on R/T from G (Admiralty Bay)
with a message for Derek about glacier temperatures: a new base member –
glaciologist Geoffrey Hattersley-Smith from Oxford, had apparently drilled two
holes 30 ft and 15 ft deep. Ralph also asked me to send him measurements of the
Signy hut as he was designing an extension to be erected at Signy next year. (So there
was not to be a new hut after all!) Later we heard that the Governor intended to send
a naval corvette to move the Base G hut to Signy, as Base G was to close down next
year. Ralph was hoping to stay a third year with myself, or Brian Jefford as BL. I told
him I expected to go to South Georgia but we didn't have time to chat for long, as
Stanley Radio was due to come up on air. Later John managed to contact Ralph
again, who appeared keen to go to South Georgia; I hoped it would all come off. Bill
Sladen had apparently gone home and was hoping to return to Base E as doctor next
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