Sledging Songs
Doggy Ditties
Explorers' Laments
by
Peter Noble
Halley Bay
Dec '66 - Jan '69
Introduction
These songs, poems and rhymes essentially tell the story - or at least give
the essence - of the 1966 to 68 years at Halley Bay. This was a wonderful
period, a large new base was constructed, field exploration was expanding
in distance and weight with the use of International Harvester tractors and
the trusty Muskegs. Dogs were still the mainstay of route proving but
skidoos were making their utility obvious. The survey of the Theron
Mountains was completed but the first attempt to continue to the
Shackletons failed when we encountered the crevassed Slessor Glacier which
needed a two hundred mile detour. Head Office, then at Gillingham Street,
London quite sensibly judged a second attempt doubtful as they had a
commitment to get the surveyors and geologists to the Shackletons... perhaps
the timing and wording of the cancellation might have been better for it
had a significant effect on base morale. However, after much discussion,
the second recce was mounted and proved extremely successful. It is
interesting to note that the weight ratios of vehicles, fuel and payload
were almost identical to that of the first lunar orbit which was in
progress as we reached the Shacks. As a General Assistant, I helped in
projects around the base but my main interest and work was in the field,
hence the preponderance of poems on this topics.
A couple ("BAS Knows Best" and possibly "Sanitation Blues") are the work of
others, but as they add to the whole story, I include then here. I hope
the authors approve.
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