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

One day I had a long R/T chat with Ralph and we discussed the new hut
extension, seals, birds etc. Ralph seemed to be getting on well and the others were
going out sledging shortly – to Esther Harbour. He reported that there were no signs
of growth rings – an important discovery I had made – in leopard seal teeth;, which
was a disappointment. (Much later I found that leopard seal teeth did in fact contain
clear layers that could be used for ageing). I sent a message in code to Dr Fuchs about
our journey plans. At the end of August l949, after we returned from our winter
journey, there was a message from him, asking for a report on the journey. There
was also a coded message asking me if I considered John suitable for Base Leader at
Signy next year, with a 4-man party; I replied in the negative. I didn't think John had
the qualities necessary and that he wouldn’t cope with the responsibility. In
September I had a chat with Ralph; Ken Pawson also came on the air and we passed
greetings. BBC Radio informed us Launcelot Fleming was now Bishop of
Portsmouth.
In mid-September we intercepted message saying Bill Sladen was to be Base
leader at Signy next year, and Jim Chaplin would be in charge at base A, B or G.
There was a long message from Dr Fuchs about disposal of specimens and records.
In October John heard that he was expected to do Met. next year and Derek put in
some time 'instructing' him. In November there was a message from Spiv asking how
fast John could send and receive Morse.
There were various messages about stores and equipment. For example all
existing medical stores were to be withdrawn next year and replaced by standard
units. We had a message about stores lists to be prepared for 1 November and 31
December, also one querying various stores requests; and another about Stamp
Collectors.
The l949-1950 relief approached. “No one ever tells us anything” was the
continuing cry, and in October we began to piece together some information about
the relief. On 11 October the BBC announced the sailing of the John Biscoe from
England under Captain Harry Kirkwood, and on 19 October there was a message
from Base E relaying a message from him. The Biscoe had crossed the Bay of Biscay
and was off Spain. She expected to reach Stanley on 14 November, but on 24
November we still had no information about her itinerary. From past form I expected
that our first intimation would be contacting her on R/T as she approached us. Then
at the end of November we learnt that her planned itinerary was to visit bases B, G,
and H spending 4 days at each base. Next day we received further information on
R/T from Ken Butler on Biscoe. The Norseman and Auster aircraft were to fly out
Base E personnel but not until later in the season. After visiting the four bases she
planned to visit South Georgia.
On 30 November we learnt that Biscoe was in Boyd Strait near Castle Rock; next
day she was in Harmony Cove, Nelson Strait, evidently turned back by ice in Boyd
Strait. On 4 December the BBC gave an account of Biscoe at Deception Island in their
news bulletins. She was due at Admiralty Bay on 8 December and next day we heard
that she had arrived. There were now doubts about reaching Signy and they wanted
to get to South Georgia for Christmas. On 11 December I had a chat with Ralph and
learnt that in fact Biscoe had to go to South Georgia to connect with the Norwegian-
240