Halley Bay - 1958

<-1957
1959->

Notable events/features of the year

  • Visits from USCGC Westwind, USS Wyandot, and the Argentinian icebreaker San Martin
  • Highest wind gust recorded on base - 82 knots (October)
  • Beastie (ionosonde) aerials collapse
  • BBC TV programmes received (sound only)
  • IGY (International Geophysical Year) ends on 31 December
  • Highest wind speed (5-minute average) recorded: 67 kts
  • Longest journey from base during IGY - Brenan and Barclay cover 125 miles in 10 days (19-28 November), manhauling with one dog, Stumpy

People

MacDowallJ.(Joe)BL, Met., Geomag., Glacio., Seismo.
AmphlettA.(Alf)Diesel mech.
BarclayL.W.(Les)Ionospherics
BellchambersW.H.(Bill)Ionospherics
+BeneyI.C.(Ivor)Diesel mech.
+BlackieA.(Andrew)Met., Geomag., Glacio., Seismo.
BrenanP.M.(Philip)Radio-astronomy
BrookerB.K.(Bert)MO
BurtonJ.M.C.(Jim)Met., Geomag., Glacio., Seismo.
CansfieldD.L.M.(David)Ionospherics
ConstantineL.(Len)Cook
DyerH.E.G.(Henry)Wireless operator
EdwardsM.J.(Malcolm)Cook
+EllisB.G.(Ben)Meteorologist
+GaneE.J.(John)Wireless mech.
HarrisonD.P.(David)Radio-astronomy
SmithJ.A.(John)Meteorologist
+ThomasG.M.(Gwynne)Auroral & Airglow
+TribbleD.T.(David)Met., Geomag., Glacio., Seismo.
WardD.G.(Derek)Met., Geomag., Glacio., Seismo.
+ Deceased

Dog

Stumpy

Pictures

Expedition photo:
IGYE Halley Bay base photo, 1957-58
Halley Bay IGYE 1956-59 (Main party and first relief members); taken 0015hrs (local time) Jan 1st 1958
Ken Amy; Philip Brennan; Joe McDowell; Ivor Beney?; John Smith; Alf Amphlett; John Gain; David Harrison; Pete Jefferies?; Henry Dyer (green hat); David Cansfield; Andrew Blackie; David Tribble (IGYE sweater); Malcolm Edwards; Derek Ward; Jim Burton; Fred Morris?; Robin Smart; Gwyne Thomas; William Bellchambers; Bert Brooker; Len Constantine; Les Barclay; (missing: Ben Ellis?).
Picture by Derek Ward

Group photo (Reunion 2000)

Surface scene; 1958.Picture by Derek Ward
Chimney, flag pole, and Stumpy's kennel. Stumpy was the pet husky picked up by Tottan from the Norwegian Base on changeover 1957/58. (Her legs were too short to allow her to be part of a dog team).

More pictures by Derek Ward.

On Floating Ice
On Floating Ice

Other information, anecdotes etc.

Hut design comments by Joe MacDowall

Links

Summer 1957-58

ReedD.R.(Dale)Ionospheric Studies

Dale Reed: "I visited from the USS Wyandot. Walked through the Emperor Penguins (including chicks) until someone met us in their Ferguson tractor pulling a sled. But the tractor got stuck so while helping push it out I cut my thumb and still have the scar. While at the base I was shown the scientific equipment (Ionosphere Recorder as I remember). I was mighty impressed that you English spent two years in a row on the ice.
After being flown by helicopter back to the ship we continued on to Ellsworth Base for 13 months but I returned to the ice later for 15 months at Byrd Station. Dale" [15 February 2007]
Oral History interview


15 February 2007
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