The Antarctic Letters, written from the British Antarctic ex...

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The Antarctic Letters, written from the British Antarctic expedition of 1901-1904 From Michael Barne DSO (1877-1961) Letter 2 24th February 1903 To: ‘My dear Mrs Waymouth’ Karewa From Michael Barne (Second Lieutenant to the Polar Expedition) Written from: Winter Quarters On Discovery Antarctic Expedition 1901 headed paper, and with envelope. One sheet folded into four pages, Three pages fully covered in handwriting. Excerpts: “We have got a very comfortable little cove for our winter quarters, with the huts onshore about 200 yards from the ship.” “We have great sing-songs and concerts periodically. Mr Royds takes the chair and pulls it to the piano and plays the accompaniment. Our pianola has held out wonderfully well, considering the amount of work it has.” Note: Michael Barne was born in England in 1877. He was brought up at Sotterley Park in Suffolk and entered the Navy in 1893. He qualified as a Royal Navy officer in 1898 and joined the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-04 as second lieutenant on the expedition ship Discovery. During the expedition he took responsibility for magnetometry and soundings, and was involved in several sledge journeys. After returning to the Navy Barne had hopes of forming an Antarctic expedition of his own and was involved in experiments with motor sledges, but these came to nothing. He served in the Royal Navy during World War I and was awarded the D.S.O., retiring from the Navy with the rank of captain in 1919. In World War II, he re-joined the Navy to command an anti-submarine patrol ship. He died on 31 May 1961. (Biography courtesy of the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge) From the estate of the Lamorna artist Eleanor Hughes, née Waymouth, thence by descent. Mr & Mrs. Frederick Waymouth and their family lived in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand, in their grand home 'Karewa' now known as 'Mona Vale,' an important historic homestead. Mr Waymouth, a successful businessman, was the managing director of Canterbury Frozen Meats, and with his wife Alice, were prominent members of Christchurch society. The 'Discovery' docked in Lyttelton, the port for Christchurch, on 29th November 1901. The Waymouth family entertained members of the expedition in their beautiful home 'Karewa' and Frederick Waymouth also provisioned them with supplies. On December 21st, after a three-week stay in New Zealand, the 'Discovery' set sail and headed south for Antarctica. The correspondence that followed their visit is a testament of affection towards Alice Waymouth, and the warmth and hospitality she showed them is gratefully reflected back in the light-hearted conversational nature of these letters even when discussing the hardships of extreme cold and being locked long-term within the ice pack. In the introduction to his account of the 1901 expedition ‘The Voyage of the Discovery’ Robert F Scott writes about the kindness his team received from the people of New Zealand. He goes on to list nine men who provided particular assistance and this includes Frederick Waymouth. “In considering such general kindness it is almost invidious to mention particular names, but the following gentlemen are among those who must be especially remembered by us for the manner in which they were ever ready to assist us: His Excellency the Governor Lord Ranfurly, the Premier Mr Sedden, the Hon. C C Bowen, Captain Hutton of the Christchurch Museum, Mr Kinsey, Mr Waymouth, Mr A Rhodes, Mr Coleridge Farr of the Christchurch Observatory and Mr H J Miller of Lyttelton.” Further information in our blog