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

Radio Station was established in 1925 when the use of radio by whaling ships was
already well developed. Because of atmospherics and the remote location two
high aerial towers were built in a steel lattice construction like miniature Eiffel
Towers. The call sign was ‘ZBH’ and it was a registered coastal station for ships’
communications.
Completing the establishment, there was a boat store and general store on the
shore between the Powerhouse and the jetty. Finally King Edward Point is
bounded to the east by Hope Point, the northern entrance of King Edward Cove
marked by a cairn and white cross in memory of Sir Ernest Shackleton. Between
the cross and the rest of the Point was a full size rifle range, for Falkland Islanders
are great marksmen.
In addition to myself, the other Fids in our group were: Ian Biggs
(Meteorologist), Danny Borland (outgoing Base Leader; Met Forecaster), A I ‘Mac’
Macarthur (Met), Arthur Mansfield (Meteorologist), Jack Newing (Radio
Operator, Meteorologist). We also had a cook, ‘Andy’, whose surname I forget.
Arthur was a close friend from Cambridge days, with a degree in zoology, and
had joined FIDS at my suggestion for the experience. He was employed as a
meteorologist, because he had spent his national service in the Education Branch
of the Navy specialising in meteorology. He had been at King Edward Point for
some months already. It was good to have his company for the year ahead. (After
his year at South Georgia he was to go on to Signy Island as Base Leader
(Meteorology and Zoology), where he began a successful career as a seal biologist,
eventually becoming Director of the Arctic Biological Unit based near Quebec,
Canada). With periodic home leaves, Danny stayed on the island for another
[twenty] years.
The other members of the community on KEP were Ken Pierce-Butler
(Magistrate) who lived in a well-appointed bungalow, near Discovery House; his
cook, who was Andy’s wife; Bill Bonner (Policeman), Henry Luxton, (Customs
Officer), ‘Charlie’ (whose surname I forget, Engineer) and his wife. I knew Ken
who had earlier been in charge of the FIDS base at Stonington and then SecFids
(see chapter [7]).
In the next few days I worked on putting the laboratory and my rooms into
order, including some posters on the walls to add a little colour. At the first
opportunity we rowed in our small 10-12 ft dinghy across the cove to the whaling
station. (There was also a track along the north shore of the cove leading to
Grytviken about 800 yards away). We spent some time on the plan – a large
wooden deck – for the first time watching the whales being hauled out and
processed. There was a cinema at the whaling station – Grytviken Kino – with
showings twice weekly and whenever there were more than three whale catchers
tied up at Pesca. We walked around there about once a week, played table tennis
and often ended up at l a.m. after a big drinking session. The Kino also provided
space for a badminton court. On the Point too we had table tennis, darts and
billiards and there was little chance of anyone getting bored. We had plenty of
fresh meat (pork or whalemeat) from the whaling station and occasional fresh
fruit and vegetables whenever a ship came in during the summer.
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