The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
Please note * indicates that the photo used 4 February 1937 York hospitals, but stood by helplessly is taken from the Sir George Hubert Wilkins LADY WILKINS IN NIGHT while the hot debris was searched. Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0006, Byrd Polar and CLUB SHOW. The ship, only a few minutes before, Climate Research Center Archival Husband Needs This Money triumphantly circled New York, escorted by Program, Ohio State University NEW YORK, Feb. 2. a myriad of aeroplanes honouring the first Lady Wilkins, wife of the Australian of the season's trans-Atlantic flights. The 1937 Polar explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, passenger list is not immediately available, but it is indicated that it included many announced today that she will appear in a floor show of a local night club. notable people. 4 January 1937 Captain Lehmann, former master, was LAST PENNY IN EXPEDITION. aboard. He and Captain Preuss, present Sir H. Wilkins to Sail Under North Pole. commander, escaped alive. LONDON, January 2. “I have put my last penny in my second Only 200 ft. in Air Arctic expedition, which will cost about The dirigible was 13 hours late in £35,000”, said Sir Hubert Wilkins, who landing, being delayed by adverse weather arrived today from the United States, He conditions. The airship was only 200 ft. added, “I have £25,000 and I hope to raise aloft, and her passengers could be seen at the remainder in England.” the windows waving to the ground crew and laughing, when the explosion occurred.
Many of the occupants, apart from those who jumped, were blown through the windows by the back-draft. Those of the crew, who survived, were badly burned. The ground crew miraculously escaped, running for their lives. There were only three women passengers, whose fate has not LADY WILKINS yet been determined. One of the survivors said he only knew of “People say that I trade on my husband’s a flash and an explosion. “You on the name and fame.” said Lady Wilkins. They ground should know what happened,” he are mean and unkind to say that. The fact is said. “We were unable to see.” The rescue that my husband is building a submarine to work was greatly aided by a United States for under the ice cap at the Pole, and that is army detachment on duty at the airfield taking all his money I am going to show owing to the possibility of an emergency. that I can take care of myself.” They went promptly to work, scurrying SIR HUBERT WILKINS [Before her marriage Lady Wilkins was an round in motor trucks seeking injured while actress.] the skin of the airship was still blazing. He added that on the success of his quest Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thursday 4 Capt. Stamp, second in command, also is depends whether he will start in July, 1937, February 1937, page 12. alive, but like Capt. Lehmann and Capt. or in July, 1938. He proposes to start from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Preuss, was seriously injured. Spitsbergen and cross under the North Pole 1965414 to the Behring Sea, a distance of 2,200 miles. The expedition will last about 21 months. “Although a submarine has been 8 May 1937 constructed to remain under ice for five ZEPPELIN HINDENBURG days at a time,” said Sir Hubert. “I shall CRASHES IN FLAMES make short dashes of about 12 hours, each Thirty-three Believed to Be Dead covering 50 miles. “My aim is to determine Lightning Ignited Gas? whether a submarine can be used as a permanent base for Arctic observations, and NEW YORK, May 7. also whether Crockerland, which is The zeppelin Hindenburg exploded while believed to lie north-west of Ellesmere landing at Lakehurst. It was first believed Land, really exists. 125 to 150 were killed, but latest reports indicate that 33 are believed to be dead. EASILY DRIVEN. Lightning is said to have been the cause of “Engineers have approved of plans of the the explosion. submarine, which is about 75 feet long. It When the airship tossed her nose lines to will have a rounded top and will be the ground light rain was falling. Suddenly View from the Hindenburg during Wilkins’s trip before the disaster. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_15_1]. ballasted almost to, submerging point, there was a terrific burst of flame from the enabling it to be driven immediately stern and the explosion was heard for miles. Leaped from Windows. beneath the ice and using less power than is The Hindenberg collapsed and crashed to Several persons leaped from the windows needed to drive a sledge on top of the ice. the earth, and in a few minutes there was of the ship while it was falling. The foreign “The submarine will take three months to only a twisted steel frame on the ground. passengers numbered 21. The ages of the construct. One of my present difficulties is There seemed no possibility of anyone passengers varied from 6 months to 93 that submarine yards practically throughout being alive. years, the youngest being the infant son of a the world are occupied with naval building. It is understood that there were 36 journalist of the Berlin staff of the “I shall have a crew of six, consisting of passengers and a crew, of 61 aboard. Associated Press, United States army Norwegians and Englishmen. My wife A large crowd had gathered to witness the experts blamed static and the use of wants to go, as she says she is tired staying landing and as the huge vessel crashed inflammable gases, a combination of at home.” earthwards, shrieks and screams broke out. hydrogen and blue gas. Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 4 The Hindenburg fell in a blazing mass of A heavy electric storm coincided with the January 1937, page 6. wreckage which it was impossible arrival of the ship. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 immediately to penetrate. Nurses and An inquiry why helium was not used was 83398910 doctors were summoned from many New answered by information that the limited quantity of this gas resulted in the 1
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day prohibition of its use for other than Without warning something hit me in the equipped with preventive devices. Very American army purposes. back, then in the mouth. I lost likely the disaster was due to sabotage. He According to a revised list 33 are consciousness. had repeatedly received anonymous believed to be dead. Nineteen bodies have The next thing I knew I was laying on the threatening letters warning him not to land been recovered. Sixty-four escaped alive, of ground and rain was pouring in my face. I the Hindenburg at Lakehurst. whom 20 were passengers. Most of the must have been blown out of the window.” The disaster recalled tragic memories of survivors are burned or injured or both. the R101 to Cardington and Shortston They were taken to hospitals at Lakehurst Service will go on widows and relatives of the crew who and in nearby communities. It is believed BERLIN, May 7. perished when that airship crashed. One that at least half of them are fatally injured. An official German news agency widow said; “We sympathise with the The clothing was burned completely from announces that the Hindenburg disaster will German families at Freidrichshafen. They several of them. There were three children not affect further German zeppelin building remembered us.” aboard. All escaped. or German zeppelin trans-Atlantic traffic, The Cardington airships works sent a The flames were extinguished at which will continue unabated. A new message of sympathy. midnight, but the embers were so hot it was airship nearing completion at Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), impossible to complete the search for the Friedrichshafen would take the Saturday 8 May 1937, page 9. bodies. Captain Lehmann was seriously Hindenburg’s place. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 burned and is in a critical condition. The safety of Germany’s passenger 4991892 Other officers were less seriously burned. carrying zeppelins was emphasised and The company explained that three ranking contrasted with the disasters which had officers were saved because they were in befallen British and American dirigibles. the control car forward, furthest away from The Ministry for Propaganda states that the the first explosion, which was followed by cause of' the Hindenburg disaster was five or six others. The stern struck the lightning. ground first. LONDON, May 7. The flames were slow in reaching the Sir Hubert Wilkins said: “I spent a month bow, providing an opportunity for the on the Hindenburg during and after her officers and more than half the passengers trials and got to know intimately most of to escape. the crew.” He was terribly shocked at the If the dirigible’s fall had been any slower disaster, but glad that Captain Preuss and probably all would have perished, since the Captain Lehmann were saved. flames enveloped the entire ship almost the Their deaths would have meant a great moment it rested on the ground. It is loss to the science of airship construction believed that most of the survivors either when experts couldn’t be spared. His faith leaped or were thrown out on the impact in airships was unshaken, but he thought with the ground, instead of by explosions. the experience ought to lead them to develop a small type, as in the case of A Cartoon from the (Smith’s Weekly (Sydney, NSW), aeroplanes, before they could with Saturday 22 May 1937, page 3.). confidence and safety develop larger dirigibles. 22 May 1937 Sir Charles Burney, designer of the “INCENDIARY BULLET NOT CAUSE British airship R100, said: “Unless we can OF “HINDENBURG’ DISASTER”. get away from hydrogen, I find it difficult INVENTOR OF THAT MISSILE to retain my confidence in future airships.” Mr E. F. Spanner, who predicted the EXPLAINS WHY TO “SMITH’S”. disaster to the R101, expresses the opinion SIR HUBERT WILKINS’S THEORY that the greater the size of airships the SCOUTED. greater the structural risk. Whatever the cause of the zeppelin Of the insurance on the Hindenburg 75 per “Hindenburg disaster in America, John cent was placed in London, but was well Pomeroy, of Melbourne , is confident that
Sir and Lady Wilkins during their Zeppelin trip before the spread. A message from Frankfurt-on-Main the incendiary bullet theory advanced by Sir Hindenburg disaster. *OSU Polar Archives says: “The scenes at Cardington after the Hubert Wilkins, famous Australian [wilkins33_15_2]. disaster to the R101 were recalled in the explorer, is groundless. And Pomeroy zeppelin villages, where distraught should know, because he invented the Investigations Planned. relatives, especially young wives, waited all incendiary bullet and experimented with it Four investigations have either begun night for news of the crew.” for many years on balloons and zeppelins. during the day or will be started. The A Berlin message declares that Dr Eckener, Hydrogen, with which zeppelins are filled, Ambassador (Herr Luther) arrived to the designer of the zeppelin, is hastening will not burn on its own, he told “Smith’s represent the German Government. The from Vienna. He says: “One thing is clear, Weekly.” Only when mixed with oxygen Navy Department announced the convening the necessity for using helium, which I have does it become combustible. of a board of inquiry. always advocated.” An incendiary bullet penetrating a The Secretary of Commerce (Mr D. C. It is recalled that much of the R101 scrap hydrogen container would do little damage, Roper is reported to be en-route by plane to metal was embodied in the Hindenburg’s as the small hole it made in entering would supervise the inquiry of the Bureau of Air frame. not allow enough air to enter to mix with Commerce. State officials have ordered an A commission of inquiry will go to the gas and form a combustible mixture. inquest. America immediately. The whole of Only one bullet ever made will bring down Most experts are convinced that the Germany is deeply shocked, especially as a balloon or zeppelin in flames, and that is explosion was due to static. Some advance Captain Preuss had previously wirelessed the Pomeroy combination shrapnel- the theory that sparks resulted from the that the voyage had ended. incendiary type, which wrecked 17 enemy throttling down of the engines while gas zeppelins in England during the war. After was being valved. President Roosevelt has Due to Sabotage? the Armistice, all supplies of this bullet cabled condolences to Herr Hitler. A message from Graz states that Dr. were destroyed, and it is believed that only One of the survivors said: “I was standing Ecekener, who probably will be a member the English War Office and Pomeroy know at the window watching the landing. of the inquiry commission, interviewed on its secret. the train from Vienna, ruled out the Consequently, the chance of one of this lightning theory as the dirigible was type having been used on the 2
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
“Hindenburg” is negligible. When a 16 June 1937 Pomeroy combination bullet struck the ANTARCTIC RESEARCH fabric of a zeppelin hydrogen tank it would PREDICTING WORLD WEATHER explode, making a large hole through which Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Views. air could pour, and fire would immediately LONDON, June 14.— follow. The Australian Treasurer (Mr. R. G. Pomeroy suggested to “Smith’s” that a Casey), who was chairman of the polar possible explanation for the disaster was committee of the Imperial Conference, will that the hydrogen containers are within the shortly confer with Sir George Simpson steel framework of zeppelins, and often (Director of the Meteorological Office) leak. The free hydrogen flows around regarding the committee’s recommendation between the tanks and the outer shell of the that, in the interests of accurate weather ship, finally escaping into the air through forecasting for the world, one or two vents in the top and the tail of the ship. It permanent meteorological stations be seems quite possible that lightning may established in the Antarctic to record daily have struck the mixture of oxygen and People looking out the window of the airship during the Wilkins journey. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_15_3]. climatic conditions. Such stations hitherto hydrogen around the tail vent and ignited it. have been regarded as impracticable, but The ship burned from the tail. He went up after a zeppelin, and his gun the advocacy of Sir Hubert Wilkins, the The deadly Pomeroy bullet has an jammed after two bullets had been fired. Australian explorer, strongly supported by interesting history. Early this century a He retired to fit a new drum on his gun, Sir George Simpson, convinces experts that zeppelin crashed at Geneva and broke its and, on returning, found the airship ablaze such a project has infinite possibilities. back. Pomeroy, who was in New Zealand at in two places. A further half-drum of bullets Interviewed on the subject today, Sir the time, saw pictures of the wreck, and cut the ship wide open, and it fell in a Hubert Wilkins said that five stations were decided, that it would be a very dangerous blazing mass to the ground in a few really needed. South America needed one, weapon in the hands of an enemy nation. seconds. on Charcot Island, or, possibly better still, He started experimenting to find some Pomeroy received over £40,000 as a Coat’s Land, and South Africa one on means of combating the menace, and result of his invention. Several times during Enderby Land. He hoped the evolved first a shrapnel and then an the war Pomeroy bullets, which had been Commonwealth might establish one on incendiary bullet. carelessly loaded, caused trouble. One blew Gaus’s Land or Kaiser Wilhelm Land and By combining the two he produced the the breech out of a rifle Pomeroy was New Zealand one on Ross Island, in the perfect destruction agent. The bullet would firing, tearing his hat off, and slightly Ross Sea, where it would have the explode on coming in contact with a sheet cutting his face. One piece of metal advantage that records over a number of of paper, and officers of an American fleet remained in his cheek until a year ago. years were available from the work of visiting New Zealand were so impressed Pomeroy now claims that he has made his expeditions. after witnessing this particular experiment bullet fool-proof. that they urged him to take his invention to Several world patents have been taken Washington. out by Pomeroy on inventions. He now But when England went into the war, spends most of his time pottering around in Pomeroy was in London. He took his bullet his little workshop at South Melbourne in to the war office, where he was given a very big Chinese slippers and puffing a corncob cold reception. A brass hat charged him pipe. In the past he has made several with trying to bring “frightfulness” into fortunes, but lost them all through warfare and break up the Geneva speculating. At present he is preparing to Convention. He added that the war would receive the biggest fortune of his career, he be over, in about six months. In disgust, says, as a result of a patent refrigerator Pomeroy packed up and returned to which has no moveable parts, and is Australia. guaranteed to last a lifetime. He had been gone only a month or so If it turns out to be the success he when the enemy commenced sending anticipates, he will buy a yacht and cruise zeppelins to bomb England. The authorities round the Pacific Islands. were helpless to combat the menace Smith’s Weekly (Sydney, NSW), Saturday Commander Dinwiddie, connected with the 22 May 1937, page 3. Admiralty Office, who had visited New https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 SIR HUBERT WILKINS. Zealand in 1906; and witnessed some of 35897610 Pomeroy’s experiments, suggested that the The fifth should be somewhere on the shrapnel incendiary bullet be tried out. Pacific side of the Antarctic, but it was This was agreed upon, but Pomeroy could difficult to find a site. Possibly Australia not be found. Finally, he was discovered in might use the Balieny Islands as its site, Melbourne, and transported back to especially if, as the report suggested, two England at the expense of the British stations were to be established. It had been Government. suggested a station might be established For once, red tape was thrown aside, also on Kerguelen Island and other sub- Pomeroy landed in England on a Monday, Antarctic islands. Sir George Simpson held and on the following Wednesday was that the most desirable stations would be giving an exhibition before a group of army actually in the Antarctic or on the edge of chiefs. By Friday he was in the employ of the continent. the Government, and remained on a big Sir Hubert Wilkins is considering joining salary until the end of the war. Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth, the American, in The various parts of the bullet were made in another expedition southward in the different places so that no one could summer of 1938-1939, when he might, discover just how the missile was actually investigate the question of the Enderby constructed. From the start the bullets were Land site and have another look at the a great success. Tempest, an English war Pacific side. Sir Hubert will decide shortly ace, was one of the first pilots to try them A Cartoon from the (Smith’s Weekly (Sydney, NSW), whether he will go by submarine to the out. Saturday 22 May 1937, page 3.). North Pole in 1938 or devote his time to
Antarctic weather station propaganda in 3
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous the world for twenty years, then spend the He has already seen the Argentine and Australian born Polar explorer, is making next twenty making use of the information Chilean Governments, which have agreed final preparations for his greatest adventure, gained to build up a comprehensive to hold up their projected expedition crossing the Arctic under the ice by international weather service that would pending a decision about Empire action in submarine. He plans to leave for adequately include the polar regions.” This the Antarctic. Sir Hubert Wilkins said that, Spitsbergen next May, and from there he is his object on practically all his Polar owing to the westerly winds, a station on hopes to cross the Arctic regions to the trips. Enderby Land might interest the Bering Straits, a distance of about 2,000 It was because he found no land north of Commonwealth as much as South Africa. If miles, about 1,500 miles of which may have Alaska where a permanent chain of weather South America built one station and each of to be traversed under ice. observatories could be established that he the British Dominions in the southern This is the second Arctic submarine came to the conclusion that the proper hemisphere one it should greatly help in venture which Sir Hubert will have mode of studying the Arctic at close weather forecasts for the southern undertaken, the last one being in 1931 and quarters is by submarine. hemisphere and possibly for the world. which was really a ‘try out’ of the Both Mr. Casey and Sir Hubert Wilkins submarine as a means of travel in the North Ice 14 Ft. Thick are doubtful whether reviving the station on Polar regions. Critics scoffed at the Many, with somewhat hazy ideas of the Macquarie Island would greatly help. explorer, declaring the attempt was nature of the Arctic, might ask is it possible Experts agree that stations farther south are foolhardy, but Sir Hubert Wilkins is too for a submarine to travel in such terribly needed. much of an experienced adventurer to have isolated and ice-covered areas? Wilkins has undertaken any crazy stunt, and indeed given every phase of the subject long and 20 July 1937 everything had been worked out to the deep study, and his conclusion is that the The Antarctic minutest detail. fears some have expressed are groundless, Wilkins’ Expedition On that occasion he was able to penetrate and this is also the opinion of Stefansson. An expedition to the Australian sector of as far north as 82 degrees, and, although the Nansen’s verdict was that the Arctic ice Antarctica next year is being planned by Sir expedition did not accomplish the utmost is not more than 14 feet thick, and this has Hubert Wilkins, noted Australian polar that it hoped, it achieved its prime object of been confirmed by other travellers. Wilkins explorer, to obtain data to induce the establishing the fact that a long voyage by found, too, on his pioneer flight across the Commonwealth to establish at least two submarine under the Arctic pack-ice is Arctic wastes that there were cracks in the permanent stations there for scientific practicable and scientifically useful, and floating ice at intervals of not more than 25 research. invaluable observations were taken. miles all the way across. The experience of Writing to the editor of “Who’s Who in several other Polar explorers bears out these Australia,” the 1938 edition of which is observations, for they are confirmed by now in the course of preparation, Sir Hubert photographs taken by Byrd, Amundsen, and states that, although he has not worked from Nobile, and by the experience of Peary Australia In the past few years, he hopes to “who was delayed by open water and saw a return to his native land soon to carry on an seal in a lead about 250 miles from the object dear to his heart—the establishment North Pole.” of permanent meteorological and mineral Because there is plenty of open water a survey bases In Australia’s vast possessions submarine will always be able to rise to the in the Antarctic. surface to take in air. It is calculated that Sir Hubert hopes to command an even in winter and early spring about 20 per expedition by submarine to the Arctic early cent, of the Arctic consists of open water. next year, and in October 1938, plans to Another question that is often asked with leave Cape Town for Enderby Land, regard to such attempts as those Wilkins returning to Perth in March 1939. He has made, and the new one he is now “NAUTILUS,” the submarine in which Sir Hubert Wilkins believes the cooperation of the made his first polar journey six years ago. preparing, is what can be learned from Governments of South Africa, and of some them? South American countries can be obtained Sir Hubert is convinced the submarine As has been mentioned, Wilkins’ first in the establishment of permanent bases provides the safest means of getting to the great idea is the study of weather, and and, possibly, in financing the expedition. pole, astonishing though this may sound. meteorologists are convinced that until the The Australian sector of Antarctic secrets of the so-called “Polar fronts” are comprises about 3,000,000 square miles Stefansson’s Idea solved, we shall not be able to forecast extending along 1,000 miles of coastline. It It is said that the Canadian explorer, weather accurately in the temperate regions, Includes Enderby Land (discovered in Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a man with one of which are vitally affected by the weather 1831), Kemp Land (1833), Queen Mary the longest of all Polar records to his credit, conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. For Land, Wilkes Land, and George V. Land was the one who suggested to Wilkins the this reason, data that can be accumulated (1911-14), MacRobertson Land (1928), idea of travelling in the Arctic with a dealing with the meteorological conditions Banzare Land (1929-31), Knox Land submarine. But the inventor still stuck in them are invaluable. (1840), and Princess Elizabeth Land (1931). faithfully to his theories, and declared the Weather problems bound up with them This desolate area is now regarded as time would come when the North Polar Sea are such problems as “cold waves” in the possessing enormous economic value, not would be the shortest and cheapest route for Central States of the United States, weather only because of the whale fisheries, but commerce, for a water trip across the edge forecasting, ocean currents and weather because or the possibility of development of of the Arctic from Liverpool through changes, ocean currents and yield of fur-bearing animals and bird life there. Behring Straits to the North Pacific is fisheries, magnetic storms, aurora and radio Great seams of coal exist in the almost a straight line. Behind all Wilkins’s reception, as Professor Harald U. Sverdrup, Australian sector, and the presence of many attempts both in the Arctic and the chief of the former expedition’s scientific other metals is likely. Antarctic is an ambition which has staff, pointed out, information as to the Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld.: 1907- ceaselessly urged him forward. Although at geographical features and extent of the 1954) Tuesday 20 July 1937, page 2. times it is spectacular, his object is always Polar basin is essential to the study of ocean https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/6 both practical and scientific. currents, a knowledge of which is necessary 2006719 The story of how he began his career of for the solution of important economic exploration is really a romance, for he tells problems. Other research will help to reveal 11 November 1937 us that when, in Australia as a boy, he the exact form of the earth and the Under Polar Ice in A Submarine experienced the terrible effects of a long equilibrium of the earth’s crust, while it will SIR HUBERT WILKINS’S PLANS drought, he formed a resolve “to travel and also be possible to check data regarding the By E. R. Yarham study and work in out of the way places of magnetic field over the Polar Sea. 4
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
This knowledge will become of practical through two wars. This, in brief, is the home near Adelaide, and Hubert, who had importance when commercial aviation history of Sir Hubert Wilkins, renowned received a State school education, was able across the Arctic is established—as it is Australian explorer, soldier, aviator, to devote more time to study. almost certain to be in a few years’ time— engineer, naturalist and author. “Early in He obtained employment in the city, and because it offers the shortest route between my life,” for five years studied electrical engineering Europe and the New World. Not until the at afternoon and night classes at the climatic conditions here are fully Adelaide School of Mines. understood, however, will such routes be At the completion of the course he set out practicable. In addition, should the dream of on his travels round the world, with the set a seaway, with giant submarines regularly purpose of solving the mystery of the travelling beneath the ice come true, it weather. His plan, he has stated, was to would prove of incalculable worth to the spend twenty years of travel and study in world, for the distance from Europe to the out-of-the-way places, and another twenty Pacific would be tremendously shortened, years making use of the knowledge practically halving the time and cost. acquired in his travels. From Australia he went, through the Indies, to Egypt, Italy and Northern Africa, paying his passage with money earned on his voyages, and taking photographs for future use in illustrating books which he intended to write.
Sir Hubert Wilkins.
Sir Hubert Wilkins has written in one of his books, “I was steeped in what we like to call adventure. Before that it was hi the blood and bone of our family.” One of the explorer’s discoveries was that about the middle of the seventeenth century one of his ancestors, Rev. John Wilkins, Bishop of Chester, published a book in which he predicted the use of submarines for naval warfare and for travelling “under ice and great frosts which do so endanger passages Sir Hubert Wilkins making preparations for his next journey in May. towards the poles.” A photo taken while in the West Indies. . *OSU Polar That book, which was entitled Archives [wilkins32_2n].
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA), Thursday 11 “Mathematical Magick or Wonders that can be performed by Mathematical Geometry,” On reaching England, in 1910, he learnt November 1937, page 49. was published in 1648 more than 200 years to fly aeroplanes, and after further travels https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 before the famous French novelist Jules he was commissioned, in 1912, by the 2478868 Verne predicted the submarine in his book. London “Dally Chronicle” and the “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.” Gaumont Company to take moving pictures 1938 Sir Hubert Wilkins knew nothing of his with the Turkish army In the Balkan war. Then came his first Arctic adventure. It was reverend ancestor's book when he planned with Stefansson’s 1913 expedition, which 30 April 1938 his own submarine expedition to the Arctic some years ago. He has said that the idea of lasted for three years, during which he EMINENT LIVING AUSTRALIANS. reaching the North Pole by submarine was walked over 5,000 miles of ice and snow, No. IX. suggested to him by Stefansson about 1916. and learnt from the hardy Stefansson how SIR HUBERT WILKINS. George Hubert Wilkins first saw the light of to live by hunting In the Arctic. It was on Famous Polar Explorer. day on October 31, 1888, in the district of the long walks with dogs and sleds through By F.F Mt. Bryan East, South Australia. the long winter darkness that Wilkins, On a steamer outward bound from He was the youngest of a family of thirteen, suffering from eye strain and swollen Adelaide one day about 30 years ago was a and was reared on his father’s sheep and muscles, conceived the idea of utilising young stow-away, a youth of twenty, who cattle run. aircraft to cross the pole. had left a good home to seek adventure in His father also was a native of South The world war was ragtag when Wilkins strange lands overseas. If ever mortal Australia, having been born near Adelaide returned from the Arctic early in 1917. He succeeded in a quest it was that young in 1836, a few days after the arrival of his volunteered and obtained a commission in Australian, for in his subsequent career of parents, who were amongst the earliest the Australian Flying Corps, but was adventure he has traversed the globe from settlers in the colony. transferred to the military history east to west, from pole to pole; explored Hubert Wilkins in his boyhood lived a department, with which he served as strange lands and charted unknown seas; hard but interesting life in the open. The official photographer, with the rank of wandered amongst strange peoples in Asia, sufferings of the stock in times of drought, captain. He was mentioned in despatches Africa, South America and tropical and the distress caused amongst the settlers, twice, and awarded an M.C. and bar. Australia. impressed upon his young mind the In 1919 he took part as navigator in the He has flown in aeroplanes over the tremendous influence exercised by weather Australian Air Force Blackburn-Kangaroo Arctic and Antarctic, crossed by air over the conditions on the pastoral and agricultural machine, in the first England-Australia air North Pole, and plumbed the ocean depths industries in Australia — and other race, which was won by the late Sir Ross- by submarine below the great northern ice countries — and excited in him a deep Smith. fields. He has been stranded hundreds of interest In the study of meteorology. When The next year he was back at the miles out on the frozen Arctic, and found he was fifteen his parents were able to Antarctic with the British Imperial his way back to habitation. He has been forsake the hard life outback and make their Expedition, and in 1921-22 he accompanied 5
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day the Shackleton expedition to the Antarctic, as naturalist. (Shackleton died at an early stage of that venture.) Post-war famine relief work then took Wilkins to Austria, Poland, Russia and Germany, and during 1923-25 he led an expedition to tropical Australia and neighbouring islands to collect rare native fauna for the British Museum. He found Northern Australia in the throes of a long drought, and declared after-wards that the conditions were perhaps the most sadly depressing of any he had experienced A group photo of the Nautilus crew. *OSU Polar Archives in his travels over the world. [wilkins-1]. “Nevertheless,” he added, “after rains and its resuscitation, no country is more In the Map of Antarctica pleasing than this great island continent.” And then came his long planned voyage Sir Hubert Wilkins and Lady Wilkins (formerly Miss Suzanne Bennett, an Australian actress). They were His first opportunity to use aircraft in the by submarine to the Arctic. In 1931, with a married at Cleveland, U.S.A., in 1929. Arctic came early in 1926, when Wilkins party of scientists, he set out in the set out in command of the Detroit-Arctic Nautilus, an old submarine which he expedition to find a route over the top of the obtained from the United States navy, with world, from Point Barrow, Alaska, to the intention of travelling the 22,000 miles Spitsbergen. from Spitsbergen to Behring Straits, via the Misfortune overtook the expedition. The North Pole, most of the way under ice. aeroplane — a 72-foot triple-engine Fokker The Nautilus actually made some trips monoplane — was damaged, and the party under ice fifteen feet thick, and interesting was forced to return with the loss of two discoveries were made about currents and men and 57 dogs. The next year, however, the ocean bed, but the old submarine proved Wilkins took another expedition northward, to be unstated for the long and perilous with three aeroplanes and the intrepid Lieut. voyage past the Pole, and the enterprise was Carl Ben Eielson as pilot. not completed. After reaching Point Barrow In 1933-36 Sir Hubert Wilkins was Wilkins set out with Eielson in a Stinson manager of the Ellsworth Trans-Arctic plane with fuel for a 1400-mile flight, but Expedition, and at the present time he is engine trouble forced them down after the preparing for another attempt to cross the machine had flown 550 miles. The perilous North Pole by submarine, a new submarine, position on the frozen Arctic was turned to with special equipment and ice-boring some account by Wilkins. He chiselled mechanism, is being built, and the voyage holes in the ice and exploded a charge of is to be attempted in the spring of next year. dynamite to ascertain the depth of the ocean “People often ask me why I go to the Polar by the sonic method. The test revealed a Regions,” depth of about 16,000 feet, or three miles, Sir Hubert Wilkins has written in his an indication that no land was likely to be book “Flying the Arctic.” He goes on to The submarine Nautilus, in which Sir H. Wilkins made an attempt to reach the North Pole in 1931. found in that region of the Arctic. explain the reason: — “From evidence With camping equipment and a gun, the collected many years ago scientific Age (Melbourne, Vic), Saturday 30 April two men set back on foot across 500 odd meteorologists deduced the theory that data miles of ice and snow, and reached land collected in Polar Regions and correlated 1938, page 1. again in thirteen days a third time Wilkins with meteorological Information from other https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 set out on his Polar quest. On April 15, latitudes would enable us to forecast the 05915864 1928, with Eielson again as pilot, he left seasons with comparative accuracy. The Point Barrow in a Lockheed Vega maintenance of polar meteorological 6 June 1938 monoplane, and this time succeeded in stations during recent years has proved that ‘WILKINS FOR THE ARCTIC’ crossing the Arctic, a distance of 2200 there is a direct relationship between the miles. Fierce storms at the approach to Arctic, the Antarctic and subsequent LENINGRAD, June 6. Sir Hubert Spitsbergen forced the machine down on conditions in the great producing areas of Wilkins, the Australian polar explorer was greeted by a delegation of Soviet fliers on Deadman’s Island. the world. There the two men had to wait till the If a close study of universal meteorology his arrival here today. He gave them an weather cleared, and five days passed provides the information expected, then it outline of his plans for leading a submarine expedition to the Arctic next year, when he before they arrived at Spitzbergen, where will be possible to eliminate the suffering of they had been given up for lost. They were hundreds of dumb animals which each hopes to travel under the North Pole. the first to cross the Arctic by aeroplane, drought year die of starvation and thirst, His base will, be established 600 miles from the Pole. He intends to take his wife though in 1926 Amundsen, Nobile and and incidentally, prevent the ruination of Ellsworth had crossed in a dirigible airship, hardy pioneers who periodically lose with him when he establishes the base. She and Commander Byrd had flown from fortunes because of unexpected drought will be signed on as “chief cook.” Sir Hubert Wilkins claimed that he had Spitsbergen to the Pole and back. conditions. The next year, 1929, was another eventful The stock die and men suffer, not because flown across 180,000 square miles in his one for Wilkins. In that year he carried of the cruelties of nature, but because man search for M. Levanevsky and the other through a successful expedition to the has not yet learned the fundamental laws Soviet airmen who were lost last year on Antarctic regions, received the honour of which govern the universe. If knowledge of their attempted flight from Moscow to the knighthood, and was married. With Eielson the weather system can be gained, then we United States. as pilot he flew over a wide expanse of the can, on long-distance flights by aircraft, Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) 8 June 1938 Antarctic, and made new land discoveries expect to take advantage of the wind page 4. which brought about notable changes. instead of being at us mercy, as we are https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 now.” 7973735
6
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
16 August 1938 been obtained. The remainder would come ‘Wilkins Leaving for Antarctic’ from newspaper and radio contracts. Australian Associated Press All machinery for the vessel had been MONTREAL. August 14. completed, and the hull had yet to be built. Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Australian Sir Hubert said that when he had carried out explorer, who will accompany Mr. Lincoln the Arctic submarine expedition he would Ellsworth, the American explorer, on his have completed the programme he had set Antarctic expedition in the ship Wyatt Earp, himself. It would take about 15 years before is leaving for Capetown tomorrow to pick they would be in a position to say whether up Mr. Ellsworth there. The Wyatt Earp they could carry out long distance will carry two planes for flights in the forecasting. Antarctic. The trip south and the northern submarine The Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 16 August expedition, on which he would be accompanied by his wife, who would act as 1938, page 1. cook, would be his last Polar expeditions. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 10 0993199 September 1938, page 2.
31 August 1938 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 5942743 Flying in Antarctic Sir Hubert Wilkins Sir Hubert Wilkins’ Project 11 September 1938 Melbourne, Tuesday. September 1938 Plans for a visit to the Antarctic by Sir SPECIAL AIRMAIL PICTURES Missing Link at Poles. Hubert Wilkins, who will arrive at Sydney from America next month, were indicated DATA ON WEATHER PROBLEMS. today by Mr. R. G. Casey (Federal Aim of S.A. Explorer Treasurer), who was associated with him in MELBOURNE, Saturday. connection with a former expedition. Sir Hubert Wilkins, Australian explorer of the Arctic and Antarctic, expects to find, on his next trip south, the solution to a
problem he set himself when, as a boy of 15, he saw his father’s stock die in a South Australian drought. Sir Hubert, who reached Melbourne in the Monterey on his way to join the Lincoln Ellsworth expedition, said that regular, closely checked information from the Polar Regions was the missing link today in long- range weather forecasting, which could save the world’s food-producing countries from tremendous losses from drought and flood. Farmers would be able to know what next seasons weather would be like, and would be able to prepare for it. A scheme for the receipt of Arctic weather reports was Lady Wilkins, who was formerly the Australian actress, now almost complete. He had advocated Suzanne Bennett, is now in Australia with her explorer some time ago that 32 meteorological bases husband, Sir Hubert Wilkins—soon be established round the North Polar to depart on another Antarctic trip.
Regions.
LAST MAJOR BASE Thirty-one of them had been established in addition to about 170 minor stations, and the submarine vessel which he would take to the Arctic after his trip south would make Sir Hubert Wilkins the thirty second and last major base. This submarine vessel, quite unlike a Mr. Casey said he understood that Sir naval submarine, would have to be used at a Hubert Wilkins planned to travel to point where there were no islands, and Capetown, whence he would proceed across where the sea was three miles deep. the Southern Ocean to about 80 degrees It would drift five or six miles a day but it east longitude. There passing through the would be possible to move it back under the On her return to Australia, Mrs. A. Powell, of Melbourne, pack ice, he would follow westward along was welcomed by her six-year-old grandson, Charles ice to its exact position from day to day. Kingsford Smith, son of the late Sir Charles Kingsford the coast of Antarctica with a hope of The ice would not be more than 10 ft. thick, Smith. finding a point where he could land his and the surface would be reached through a Northrop Belta plane. The machine was an retractable funnel. The vessel would be Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 11 ingenious one, said Mr. Casey. It could be provisioned by aeroplanes and would September 1938, page 12. used on wheels, skis, or floats as remain in the Arctic as a permanent base. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 circumstances required. He understood that He would stay with the vessel only one 8990149 Sir Hubert Wilkins was taking another season, leaving scientists and machine for scouting over the pack ice. meteorologists there to continue the work of 14 September 1938 Recorder (Port Pirie, SA), Wednesday 31 collecting data. August 1938, page 1. SOUTHWARD HO! Sir HUBERT WILKINS, Polar Explorer https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 TO COST £35,000 6283700 The venture would cost initially about Here is the story of the colourful career of £35,000 of which 75 per cent had already Sir Hubert Wilkins, an adventurous South Australian. The famous explorer is visiting 7
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
Australia bound for the Antarctic with the photographic correspondent with the Then followed a series of adventures Ellsworth Expedition. Turkish Army in the Balkan War. As Sir which would fill the lives of a hundred By Kerwin Maegraith Hubert says, “A strange job for an ordinary men. He was made second in As I climbed aboard the Monterey at the Australian.” command of the British Imperial Watson’s Bay anchorage the other morning But it was an exciting and a most useful Expedition to the Antarctic in 1920-1921, I was prepared to meet Sir Hubert Wilkins experience which later earned him his first was a naturalist with the Shackleton - wearing the long black beard of years ago journey north with Stefansson. In his Rowell Expedition in 1921-22, and he led when we last met. But the long black beard boyhood years Sir Hubert had found that the Australian and Islands quest for the is no more. It is closely cropped and has there was not much to interest him on the British Museum 1923-1925. gone grey. Sir Hubert himself is somewhat farm, and it was not long before he went to In 1926 he set out again for the Arctic, stouter, not quite so youthful, but is still Adelaide. “Do you remember the 1903 this time commanding the Detroit immaculate in his dress and as obliging as drought in South Australia?” said Sir expedition. ever. He retains his native accent and is a Hubert. It was in this perilous drought, Then the idea of the Arctic submarine typical Australian in his ways and thoughts. when the sheep and cattle up at the Burra expedition formed in his mind. When his He has been eight times to the Antarctic and were dropping dead in their thousands, that plans were made known, great interest nine to the Arctic regions. He told me he he got the greatest inspiration of his life. He (mixed with some scepticism) was taken all has spent eighteen years in the polar world began to wonder why the drought had to over the world in the projected submarine. and has loved every minute of it. come to ruin the farmers. Was there no way What his Nautilus failed to do the explorer in which the stock could be saved, and is confident his submarine of the near future could not science devise some way in will accomplish. which to protect the farmer? He conceived After his submarine adventure Sir Hubert the ambition to study long-range weather was associated as director with Lincoln forecasting. He has never forgotten his Ellsworth’s Antarctic Expedition, 1933-36. boyhood impressions, and they inspire his He was awarded the coveted Royal present Antarctic adventure. Although he Geographical Society’s Patron’s Medal in has necessarily lived much of his interesting 1928 for his polar work which culminated life abroad, he has never lost touch with in the flight from Pt. Barrow to Spitsbergen. Australia. He holds numerous gold medals from He reads the Australian newspapers geographical societies. He has been whenever he gets the opportunity, and his honoured by the American, Royal Scottish, first question to me was: “Have you seen Belgian, Danish, Cuban, and other Daryl Lindsay?” The well-known artist and societies. He holds the silver medal of the his brothers are firm friends of the explorer. German Geographical Society and gold In the course of our chat Sir Hubert said medals of Norwegian and French that he had travelled all over the globe, but Aeronautical Societies and of the he has not found a technical school to International League of Aviators. compare with his old school in Adelaide. He is a member of the exclusive The president of the Adelaide School of Explorers’ Club. He is a Knight Bachelor, Mines is, and has been for many years past, F.R.G.S., M.C. and bar, M.B.O.U., F.R. Sir Langdon Bonython, that beloved figure Met. Society, and in 1932 received the of South Australia whose endowments to Companionship of the Order of St. Maurice the University and the School of Mines and Lazarus.
Sir Hubert Wilkins. “They have been married eight years, have done much to equip those institutions. Sir Hubert has written many notable but have been together only four months of that period.” The School of Mines is Sir Langdon’s articles, and his three books, “Flying in the This is what may happen to the wife of an explorer — and greatest love. He takes a pride in the Arctic,” “Under the North Pole,” and to the explorer. That they are happy does not imply that long partings are the secret of wedded bliss. It is a matter achievements of every student who comes “Undiscovered Australia,” has been widely of temperament. out of the school, and I recall Low the eyes read. No story of him would be complete of Sir Langdon Bonython shone when Sir without reference to his wife, formerly Miss Quite apart from these expeditions, his Hubert Wilkins began to burst into fame Suzanne Bennett of Melbourne, who is well name is famous as an official war with his deeds abroad. known in New York as an actress and photographer and as an air pilot. He won a Sir Hubert studied hard, but he never singer. Married eight years, Sir Hubert and Military Cross and bar at the Front for neglected a game of Australian Rules his wife have been together in this long conspicuous bravery, and he has otherwise football or a game of cricket with his school time for only four months, and the longest stamped himself as a man out of the team. He was a lively participant in time they have yet spent together is on the ordinary. So that if there are still any people University processions and was popular present voyage to Australia. who seriously think he is just a wild with his fellow - students on North Terrace. Lady Wilkins is tall, with long artistic dreamer who pictures himself boring He was a tall, thin youth, like a stalk of fingers and a ready smile. She is writing a through the polar ice-packs in a fantastic corn. He got satisfaction out of “finding out novel, and covered the radio broadcasts and submarine for the sheer love and adventure, how things went,” especially cameras and wrote a series of articles for a group of they err sadly. motion - picture machines. His triumphant American papers on the maiden voyage of It is a long way back to the beginning of hour was an extra special picture with the the Hindenburg airship. the career of this celebrated Australian. If camera. It was that first trip north that fired you were to ask the average South his determination. He was lost in Australian schoolboy, who are his three admiration of the great Stefansson. He greatest heroes, he would most probably returned from the Arctic, and the flying say, “Sir Ross Smith, Jimmy Melrose, and machine and the conquest of the air caught Sir Hubert Wilkins.” All three came from his imagination. the South Australian soil to thrill the world He was a proud young Australian when with their bravery. Hubert Wilkins was he was gazetted a commission in the born at Mount Bryan East in 1888. Mount Australian Flying Corps in 1917. He had Byran is in the Burra district. some hair-raising adventures over the lines. As a boy the future explorer worked hard Official Photographer to the A.I.F. was his on the farm, and his great love happened to job when the War ended. He next figured in be a camera. This passion of a hobby was the news as navigator in the Blackburn- later to stand him in good stead, for he Kangaroo aeroplane on its eventful eventually blossomed forth, in 1912, as a Wilkins standing in front of the ‘Goodyear’ Airship. *OSU England-Australia flight in 1919. Polar Archives [wilkins33_7_1]. 8
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
Southward Ho! “This land is shown on some maps as packs, with easy access to the surface She has also travelled on the Graf MacRobertson Land, especially on the through a tube or a funnel, the scientists, Zeppelin, but there is no love for flying in Australian maps of the region south.” From after drifting with the ice for a day, can the make-up of Lady Wilkins. “I am much one of these points it is proposed to make a retract the funnel and then skid slowly more interested in my future job as cook on geographical reconnaissance to a distance underneath the ice back to their selected the forthcoming submarine trip to the several hundred miles inland, possibly more position, and so maintain their base North,” she remarked. Lady Wilkins did not than five hundred miles, and a trans- somewhere between the Behring Sea and accompany her husband on a recent flight Antarctic flight will probably be made to the North Pole. to Russia. “I am not at all keen on the air,” the Ross Sea. “This is going to depend on “This permanent base,” said Sir Hubert, she said with emphasis. I can think of no the weather and conditions generally,” said “can easily be provisioned and kept up to more light-hearted couple than Sir Hubert the knight. “Our object is to find an date by means of aeroplanes once it has and Lady Wilkins. accessible site on the Antarctic mainland to been established. The submarine can be establish a permanent meteorological moved to a suitable landing field once the station. plane arrives or is expected.” I look forward to a chain of these stations Although the living accommodation of in the Arctic and Antarctic — 32 Arctic and the submarine will naturally be below the at least 12 Antarctic stations, the latter to be ice, all the scientific observations will be actively controlled by Southern Hemisphere carried on above the surface, as at all Governments.” Thirty-one of the Arctic present bases. The wireless direction-finder stations are now occupied, and the future and all up-to-date weather meteorological submarine base will complete the Arctic requirements would be a part of the zone. These polar meteorological stations equipment of the submarine. will make long-range forecasting possible. Elsewhere automatic recording Sir Hubert said that the area he and instruments work effectively, but in Polar Ellsworth were bound for had not yet been Regions they would get crushed by the explored. Brief visits had been made by Sir moving icebergs and islands and would be Douglas Mawson, of Adelaide, and by continually changing position. Such Norwegian expeditions, and the coast in disturbances make it necessary for the part’s had been roughly sketched. Nobody human element to be present to control the had yet landed on the mainland or had been stations, and necessitate the submarine. The more than a mile inland by aeroplane. On engine and the propellers, which will be an outlying rock, however, Sir Douglas had hydraulic, are already completed, and Sir hoisted the British flag and taken Hubert said 75 per cent, of the finance possession in the name of the King. needed for the construction of the hull has The sector was now known as the already been raised. Meanwhile Bon Australian Sector, but whether it was legal Voyage!—Southward Ho! to take possession of a land from a rock (Sydney Mail (NSW), Wednesday 14 This map shows the route which will be followed by Sir outside the coast was debatable. September 1938, page 10.). Hubert Wilkins and Lincoln Ellsworth. Light dotted lines Although the expedition is financed by https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 indicate the last voyage of the Wyatt Earp, the heavy line American capital, the Commonwealth from Enderby Land to Bay of Whales across unexplored 66523711 territory being the course of the projected flight. Government is vitally interested in the Antarctic trip. Two well-equipped It is not easy to realise the seriousness or aeroplanes will be taken by the party. A the greatness of Sir Hubert’s work when he long-range Northrop machine, somewhat is laughing and joking with you. The first similar to the one used on a previous thing they did when they stepped ashore quest, will be used. It has a large cabin, a was book seats for the performance of “No, single 750 h.p. Cyclone engine, and will 17 September 1938 No, Nanette” at the Theatre Royal. have pontoons, skis, and wheels. This will But not before Sir Hubert and Mr. enable the 'plane to land anywhere. The WORLD’S LONELIEST WIFE IS Hodgeson of the External Affairs second plane is a smaller machine HERE Department at Canberra, who had come to (Aeronca), which will be used for scouting Lady Wilkins Plans Submarine Trip. But meet him, had had a serious discussion during the passage through the ice. “We Husband Says “No” regarding Antarctica. Mr. Hodgeson gave shall use it also for transporting supplies Sir Hubert charts of the Australian Sector from the vessel to the Barrier,” said the prepared from the latest, information from explorer. all sources. Sir Hubert told me there was “When I get this job, which I started in still a great future in whaling. “The whaling 1920, finished, I hope to get the various industry is carried on well outside the three- Governments to inaugurate an international mile limit and is therefore free to meteorological bureau which will maintain everybody,” he said. the permanent stations.” Sir Hubert will shortly leave Australia for The submarine trip will be in 1940, Capetown to join Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth. according to present calculations, and the “We are going,” he said, “to leave South submarine will take the form of a base for Africa on October 25 and we reckon to the scientists, who will occupy a position at arrive at the Antarctic mainland around the a part of the Polar Sea where there are not middle of November to stay until January.” any islands and where it is therefore On his return, which might be via Australia, impossible to maintain a base on the ice Sir Hubert will get busy on the completion surface. “We explorers know, as did the Russian of his new submarine, to carry out The famous explorer and his wife photographed in important observations at the North Pole. expedition which drifted about six miles a Hollywood on the set of Warner Bros.’ “Dawn Patrol.” The Wyatt Earp set out from New York day last year, that the ice is always moving From left: Basil Rathbone (a personal friend of the along and so it is quite impossible to Wilkins'), Sir Hubert, Lady Wilkins, Errol Flynn, and on August 16. “We shall set out from Edward Goulding, the producer. Capetown for Enderby Land or possibly in maintain a site while camped on a moving a more easterly direction to Ingrid pack,” said Sir Hubert. This is where the Christensen Land,” said Sir Hubert. submarine theory comes in. In a submersible vessel underneath the ice- 9
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
When Lady Wilkins was told this she decipher. “I think I shall like living in said: “No, he doesn't mean that. I am Australia again, and it will be lovely to going!” have a home together like other people. It seems that the question is not yet “Sometimes I envy women with well- settled! In two years’ time, said Lady ordered lives and three or four children. But Wilkins they hope to settle down in if we had children they would at present Australia, carrying out Sir Hubert’s plan have no real home life. made many years ago - to travel until his “All the time he is away I continue my fiftieth year, and then "sit down and write stage work. Recently I’ve been singing in a and think about it.” In her luxury suite on cabaret, ‘Mon Paris,’ in New York. the Monterey Lady Wilkins told The “And when we go to South Africa we're Australian Women’s Weekly of her plans. going to combine talents for once! I’m Slim, with honey-coloured fair hair, worn in going to sing on the same programmes on a long bob, Lady Wilkins had just finished which my husband lectures . . . three of opening dozens of letters from Australian them.” friends. Although the Immediate consideration is “I keep saying to myself, this is the trip to the Antarctic, Lady Wilkins is Australia,” she said laughingly. “I can busy planning for the submarine trip. They A beautiful Photograph of Lady Wilkins, who says she will hardly believe I am back in my own will set off from Spitsbergen, and Lady accompany her husband on his submarine trip to the Arctic. country. “Sir Hubert is off already. Started Wilkins has no fear that she will not enjoy appointments at breakfast, and will be busy it—if Sir Hubert permits her to go. Lady Wilkins, Australian actress wife of every minute of the time in Sydney, Please turn to Page 4 the Arctic explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, has Melbourne and Adelaide. From there we go World’s Loneliest just returned to her native land after many to South Africa, where he sets off to the Continued from Page 3. years’ absence. Antarctic and I return to New York. She is the world’s loneliest wife. Yet “Then I shall wait, all excitement, for Wife is Here thousands of women envy her. next summer's submarine trip to the North People ask me what I will do all day in a She is married to a famous explorer, she has Pole. “Do you know, sometimes I feel as if submarine. Why, there will be plenty to do. glamor and beauty and excitement — and I am not married at all. How would you like I am going to start writing a book. We are yet she in turn envies the women with to be married to a man for nine years, and taking a tiny piano, and we shall both be homes and gardens and children. only have seen him four months? broadcasting. For years she has wanted to accompany “Why, we even had to wait for our “I shall be signed on as chief cook, and Sir Hubert on one of the expeditions which honeymoon until ten months after our although most of the cooking will be from have won him an everlasting place in the marriage! tins and compressed and tabloid food list of notable Australians. “The way we met was rather funny. I was there’ll be plenty for me to do. “Her plans She wants to make the submarine trip to appearing in a Broadway show called show the definite state of her mind about the Arctic with him next year. In fact, she ‘Guns,’ and Grover Whalen, then Police the trip . . . despite Sir Hubert's objections. firmly told The Australian Women’s Commissioner of New York, asked me as Lady Wilkins is a firm believer in Weekly that she is going with him. an Australian actress to join in the welcome astrology. She was born under the sign of Sir Hubert just as firmly said she is not to an Australian explorer. Capricorn (January), and Sir Hubert under going. Scorpio (October). “That is a very good The Honeymoon combination,” she said. “Luckily, too, our Sir Hubert had just been knighted after an horoscopes for 1939 are both excellent. “I Arctic expedition. “I went down on the am also interested in palmistry, but I found launch to meet him and he took no notice of out something alarming in that. Sir Hubert's me whatever! “Grover Whalen had asked lifeline is cut off suddenly. “But I try not to me to send Sir Hubert tickets for my show. think about that. I can’t help worrying when He didn’t appear for four nights, and on the I hear of so many people being killed in fifth he came! aeroplanes. I’m terrified of flying myself. “Well, that’s how it began! But even Amelia Earhart was a great friend of ours. then, when we became engaged, I didn’t see “Still, when I think of those things, I try to him for another year. He went off to the have comfort in a mixture of several Antarctic. “We were married in August of religions. I try a little Christian Science and 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, and he set off get some help from many creeds.” immediately again for the Ant-arctic, and it Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - 1982), wasn't until June, 1930, that we had our Saturday 17 September 1938, page 3. honeymoon as passengers in the Graf https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 Zeppelin across the Atlantic! 1603759 “And that's how it’s been ever since. One Snapped on two of their brief reunions. Broadcasting day he drops in from one continent, stays a 16 September 1938 before the Hindenburg trip. (left). And at a London week or so, and off he goes to another. Famous Explorer Returns nightclub. “Do you wonder that I keep up my stage Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Plans work? Why, I just can’t have a home like With a small pointed beard flecked with “It would be quite safe in the submarine to ordinary women. “And yet we’re happy. He take my wife.” said tall, bearded, and soft- grey, bald in front, but with a smooth, is sweet, really, and I do what I can to help. unlined face, brownish-grey eyes, and voiced Sir Hubert, with a smile. That’s not much, but what I can do is to “But it would not be right for the leader of hardy physique that is Sir Hubert Wilkins, keep people away, see the visitors first, and famous Polar explorer, who arrived in his an expedition to take his wife. A leader try to see that he gets some rest. must look after the whole party, not one native State in the Melbourne Express today “He’s not a very good correspondent. for his first real visit for 30 years. person. After all, the places he goes to don’t have "Now, I wouldn’t mind taking a whole He is on his way with Lady Wilkins to corner post-boxes! “But his letters are very South Africa, where he will join the Lincoln party of girls — that’s a different thing, for funny . . . and that's a strange thing . . . women are self-reliant these days. Ellsworth expedition to the Antarctic in the because in reality he's rather a serious man Wyatt Earp. Until he leaves in the Anchises The Russian women, in fact, are taking part “I keep them all, but if ever they are wanted in exploration these days.” for Durban tomorrow week Sir Hubert will for a book he or I will have to read them. spend a quiet time meeting old friends and The writing is so small and so hard to relatives and visiting places he knew and 10
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
loved as a boy. “I intend to drive up to News (Adelaide, SA), Friday 16 September Afterwards he said, “South Australia Burra, Mount Bryan, and Hallett, and see 1938, page 7. possesses in Sir Douglas Mawson the finest the old waterholes, the gum trees, and the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 living scientist who has worked in the school I attended at Mount Bryan East.” he Antarctic. His capacity for work is almost 31534920 said today. unlimited, and he has carried out more He was born at Mount Bryan in October, important scientific research in the South 1888 and his ambition to explore the Polar 17 September 1938 Polar regions than anyone else. My only Regions was born in him as a boy when he EXPLORER HAS MANY PROJECTS. regret is that the results of his work were saw all his fathers’ sheep and cattle die in Sir Hubert Wilkins in Adelaide. not published years ago. I find that the drought from 1898 to 1903. He FIRST VISIT SINCE 1925. Australia has been rather backward in determined to find by exploration the secret Seeing Adelaide for the first time since making known the discoveries of such an of long-range weather fore-casting to 1925, Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Polar eminent Antarctic explorer.” prevent such calamities explorer, arrived from Melbourne with Last night Sir Hubert Wilkins was the Sir Hubert is going to the Antarctic to Lady Wilkins yesterday in the State in guest at a family reunion, at which his find a mainland site for a permanent which he was born. He will sail for South brothers, Messrs. Harry, Fred, Frank, and meteorological station, which he hopes will Africa in the Anchises next Saturday to join Thomas Wilkins and his sister, Mrs. J. H. be one of a chain of such stations round the Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth’s Antarctic Cockshell and several nephews and nieces North and South Poles. “If the Expedition which will leave Durban in the were present. Tomorrow he will drive to Governments of Australia, South Africa, Wyatt Earp about October 25. Strathalbyn to meet another brother. Mr. and South America will form an Sir Hubert Wilkins cannot remember how Charles Wilkins and at the end of next week International Meteorological Bureau and many thousands of miles he has travelled he will visit the Burra district, in which he establish the experimental stations I think since he last visited Adelaide. His plans win was born. “I have not seen the place for 30 necessary”, he said. “An anonymous keep him busy for years to come. After the years,” he said. “I want to try to identify scientific society in America has offered to forthcoming expedition to the Antarctic, some of the old waterholes and gum trees provide a million dollars a year for 10 years which, he says will be his last, he proposes where I used to play. Most of all I want to to maintain the stations. to go to the North Pole by submarine. “I am go to the Burra sheep sale, which I used to “The society does not possess the power only at home when I am travelling” is his attend with my father, and I want to have a to establish the stations, but it can maintain favourite paradox, and he confesses that a look at some of the sheep bred by my old them once they are established.” “After my settled life would be irksome to him. school friend, Mr. Arthur Collins.” trip to the Antarctic and my submarine Discussing his projects yesterday, Sir Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 17 expedition to the North Polar regions next Hubert Wilkins said that he expected to September 1938, page 31. year, I will be able to say whether the return to civilisation about April. He would https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7 establishment of the stations is advisable. then begin preparations for the submarine 4388755 trip to the Arctic. Of the expenditure of Value to Australia £30,000, he already had about two-thirds, “The whole thing is a gamble, but and the remainder he hoped to obtain Australians like a gamble. I think they will through newspaper and radio contracts. The be willing to bet on the success of our submarine would be built either on the attempt to make long range weather Thames or the Great Lakes of North forecasts which will be of such value to America, and its design would differ both primary and secondary industries in entirely from the naval type of craft. After the Commonwealth.” the expedition it would be returned to the Besides going to the Mount Bryan Arctic to become a permanent base. district, Sir Hubert will visit Victor Harbor to see his eldest brother, Harry, and Meteorological Stations Strathalbyn, where his brother Arthur has a Sir Hubert Wilkins said that he would sheep station. He was met at the station then turn his attention to the establishment today by his brothers Fred and Tom, his of an international meteorological bureau in niece Irene and Sir Douglas Mawson, the Southern Hemisphere, dealing another Polar explorer. He will also see his particularly with the establishment of brother Frank and his sister. Mrs. J. H. stations in the Antarctic. In this project Cockshell. Sir Hubert will address the Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South Commonwealth Club at luncheon on America would cooperate, with the An advertisement from the (Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 17 September 1938, page 31.). Tuesday—his only public engagement here. assistance of India and the United States.
News (Adelaide, SA), Friday 16 September “I do not expect to direct the 20 September 1938 1938, page 3. meteorological programme,” he added. “I Sir Hubert Wilkins to Visit Burra https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 make no claim to be a professional District 31534800 meteorologist. My interest lies in Sir Hubert Wilkins, famous South meteorology only so far as it can benefit pastoralists, agriculturists, and Australian explorer, arrived in Adelaide 16 September 1938 manufacturers. Long-range forecasts of from Melbourne with Lady Wilkins last Sir Hubert Wilkins Arrives in Adelaide even comparative accuracy would be of Saturday. He intends to spend a week in Today inestimable value to them.” South Australia and on Saturday will sail He said that many years' research would for South Africa to join Mr Lincoln be required before the scheme could be put Ellsworth’s expedition to the Antarctic. into practice. Ultimately it was hoped that Sir Hubert was born at Mount Bryan and the data collected by stations in the will spend a part of his short visit to this Antarctic could be forwarded to London. State in this district which he has not seen Berlin, or Washington and there correlated for 30 years. He wants to rediscover the with similar information received from a swimming pools, yabbies holes, gum trees, chain of stations in the Northern shearing sheds, and old mine shafts of
THE NOTED AUSTRALIAN EXPLORER, Sir Hubert Hemisphere. Mount Bryan and Burra, which he knew Wilkins, and Lady Wilkins reached Adelaide in the Yesterday Sir Hubert Wilkins had a long well as a boy. If there are any sheep to be Melbourne express today. In this Adelaide Railway Station talk with Sir Douglas Mawson, whose shorn, Sir Hubert wants to try his hand group are (from left) Mr. F. E. Wilkins, a brother of the explorer, Miss Irene Wilkins (Niece), Lady Wilkins, Sir advice he sought about certain parts of the again. At 16 he was a competent hand Hubert Wilkins, and Sir Douglas Mawson. Antarctic he has not previously visited. shearer wants to see some of the sheep bred 11
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day by his old school friend, Mr Arthur Collins, boy of 15 in South Australia,” explains Sir he whispered: “I keep my wife in an but most of all. His best tally for a day was Hubert, “when my father lost all his stock apartment in New York that costs me the 73. He particularly wants to find the hole in of sheep and cattle in the drought of 1903. equivalent of £100 a month, so there must the Ulooloo Creek in whose muddy waters To offset such calamities, I became imbued be something in it.” “The trouble is,” Lady he almost disappeared for the last time in a with the desire to find the secret of long- Wilkins spoke as if her husband might have too enthusiastic search for yabbies. range seasonal weather fore casting — and been as far away as one of the Poles, “he He wants to see a Burra Sheep Sale. In this quest has taken me nine times into the doesn’t think of the future. He never thinks the latter respect he should be very Arctic and eight times into the Antarctic.” further than his next trip to the Antarctic. successful because Messrs Elder, Smith & One of the main objects of Sir Hubert’s He won’t take enough trouble to make all Co. Ltd. has a yarding of 16,000 sheep to coming expedition is to find some point on the money that’s to be made. It’s as I told sell on Friday next. the Antarctic mainland which would appear you.” She was referring to an earlier Burra Record (SA), 20 September 1938, to be accessible every year, and which meeting we had had. page 2. would offer a suitable site for a permanent It had been at the Hotel Australia when https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3 meteorological station. Sir Hubert was addressing a group of 6066713 This trip to Australia is the longest Sir interested men at a luncheon. Lady Wilkins, Hubert and Lady Wilkins have spent who wanted someone to talk horse sense to 21 September 1938 together, for with the lengthy interruptions Sir Hubert about making money in of the Arctic and Antarctic explorations, Australia, had singled me out for the job. ‘Sir Hubert Wilkins’ they have only seen each other for a total of Her intention was to get Sir Hubert to Adelaide, Tuesday. — four months or so in their eight years of leave the luncheon for a few moments so Speaking at the Commonwealth Club’s married life! In the past 25 years Sir Hubert that we could tackle him on the subject. But luncheon in the town hall today, Sir Hubert has lived 19 years in the Polar Regions, but he was in the middle of his speech and so Wilkins, the South Australian-born Polar within two or three years he intends to we, like a couple of conspirators, had been explorer, said he had made no claim to return and settle in Australia. given two chairs in the waiters’ pantry until being a scientist or meteorologist. His Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic.), Thursday 22 a message could be conveyed to him. It was concern, he said, was the possible an amusing incident in the day. I had often establishment of meteorological stations in September 1938, page 3. wondered how the wives of the great regard the Arctic and Antarctic regions. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 their husband’s speeches. Lady Wilkins Weather forecasting was a matter that 49587817 gave me and our fellow conspirator the interested everybody, and if it could be waiter an illuminating insight into the scientifically determined what the weather 24 September 1938 mystery. would be like 24-hour is ahead, much ACCORDING TO LADY WILKINS. From the open door to the banqueting inconvenience would be spared. So Hubert EXPLORING SHOULD PAY. room I had a glimpse of the bearded Wilkins will sail for South Africa in the “BUT MY HUSBAND explorer, and I could hear him say, Anchises on Saturday to join Mr Lincoln IS SO IMPRACTICAL” “Whatever small services I have been able Ellsworth’s Antarctic expedition. A Candid Interview to do. . . .” What he said next I lost, for The Argus (Melbourne), 21 September By HELEN SEAGER Lady Wilkins had clutched my arm. “Small 1938 page 22. Helen Seager set out to discover from Sir service!” she said. “That’s what I mean https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Hubert Wilkins, famous Australian when I say he is not a good showman. He 2488583 explorer, now on his way to the Antarctic, won't brag about what he’s done.” whether there is any real money in From the doorway came the voice of Sir 22 September 1938 exploring as a business. Lady Wilkins said, Hubert . . . “It may be of interest to the “There should be, but Hubert is so Government of Australia . . . but again the impractical.” However, Sir Hubert rest of his words were lost. “The confessed that it cost him the equivalent of Government of Australia, what does it care? £100 a month to keep Lady Wilkins in her I mean, it is for Australia, this work in the New York apartment, so work it out for Antarctic; but if they don't do something yourself. about it, the Russian Government will.” “His exploring business ... the pounds, Lady Wilkins spoke darkly — as darkly as shillings, and pence in it . . . does it pay?” anybody with such brilliant hair, eyes, lips, Egged on by Lady Wilkins, I had been and fingernails could say a thing darkly. endeavouring all day to get close enough to “But you can’t blame the Government, Sir Hubert to ask him that question. An really, when he won’t advertise.” And so it excellent conspirator, Lady Wilkins had had gone on, his speech punctuated by finally managed to get us together in the car revelations from Lady Wilkins. Now in the that was bearing them down to the cab, I asked Sir Hubert: “What do you think “Monterey” a quarter of an hour before it Australia thinks about you?” “Australia sailed from Sydney. doesn't bother about me much. Most people “Go on,” she whispered. “Ask him again. think I am one of those glory-hunting He didn’t hear you.” Once again, at the risk adventurers, publicity seekers, risking my of a snub, I leaned forward to the bearded neck on crazy stunts that don’t mean a explorer who sat with the driver in the front thing. “I have been away from Australia for seat. so long. Australia doesn't owe me anything The pressure of Lady Wilkins’ scarlet and I don’t think it is terribly interested, fingernails on my hand emboldened me. anyway.” “And do you really think there is Below is the text from this full page article. “The £ s. d. of exploring . .?” I began again. value in Antarctic exploring?” “I am “It’s all right. I heard you the first time,” he convinced of it,” said Sir Hubert promptly. Sir Hubert and Lady Wilkins said. “Some explorers make it pay well. But “In time I can see the possibility of Sir Hubert Wilkins, accompanied by they spend most of their time making forecasting seasonal changes. It must be of Lady Wilkins, has been revisiting exploring pay and very little time in actual interest to Australia to know some time Melbourne while en route to join Lincoln exploring.” “They’ve got sense,” hissed ahead what its climate is going to do.” Ellsworth's Antarctic expedition in South Lady Wilkins. “Hubert’s so impractical.” I “And are you expecting the Australian Africa, which leaves Capetown on October don’t think Sir Hubert heard that hiss. He Government to help?” 25 in the Wyatt Earp. paid no attention to it. “My ambition to explore the North and And then the explorer became South Polar regions was born in me when a confidential. Our heads almost touched as 12
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
you still plan a submarine trip under the a hole 10 ft. through the ice to the surface North Pole?” “I will feel much safer in a wherever he calls a halt. When he first submarine than in an aeroplane.” “Oh, that proposed this remarkable form of travel submarine trip!” said Lady Wilkins. “When people said it was the craziest idea they had Hubert was working on it, I never went to ever heard of. He said in Adelaide this the bath without finding dozens of little week that the United States Navy lent him a submarines floating about in it.” “And you submarine, saying that it wanted to destroy are quite ready to go on that submarine trip, it anyway. He had to pay only one dollar to too?” I asked Lady Wilkins. Yes, nothing hire it, but he had to put up a guarantee of will stop me. We might as well die together. 25,000 dollars that he would not return it, You see,” she said, and laughed as she because it had to be scrapped under a naval spoke, “nobody will insure him, not even treaty. Sir Hubert’s change from an Lloyd’s, so I might as well go, too.” aeroplane to the submarine Nautilus “Lady Wilkins tells me you don't feel you produced one of the best jokes of the year are convincing listeners when you speak to (1931). After Sir Hubert had flown over the Australian audiences, “I prompted Sir North Pole, Commander Sloan Danenhower Hubert “They are not interested,” he said. said, “You may be air-minded, but before “And yet you spoke for some time at the you've been aboard the Nautilus long you’ll Millions Club. How did you enjoy that?” I be sub-conscious.”
Lady Wilkins and her painting of John Gorton. *OSU asked. Sir Hubert gave a bitter laugh. “Let Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 24 Polar Archives [wilkins35_21_41]. no one in the world call himself down and September 1938, page 9. out until he has spoken at the Millions https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 “I once asked the Australian Government Club,” he said. 5943385 for assistance in one of my explorations. There was some misunderstanding. It’s best forgotten.” Sir Hubert refused to be drawn further on the subject. He lapsed into thought and Lady Wilkins said: “He spends all his money on these expeditions. He doesn't think of the future at all.” “Well, where does the money come from?” I turned to her for information. “Oh, he gives lectures and writes books, and then some wealthy man will back an expedition. But he is 50 now. He is not young, and who knows any day.... Well, you know what happens to men who risk their lives.” “And you think that in the off-season from exploring he should Sir Hubert and Lady Wilkins face one another across a make real money? I asked. “Of course, model of the world which he explores. now, you look at a man like Tibbett. He came here and made thousands, and did that Smith’s Weekly (Sydney, NSW), Saturday cigarette advertising. Why not Sir Hubert at 24 September 1938, page 3. the South Pole agreeing that it is smart to https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 smoke somebody’s cigarettes? And then 34538520 there is broadcasting. I try to get him to do that. He speaks without notes for hours.” Once again I tapped Sir Hubert on the shoulder. “Couldn't you make some money An advertisement from the (Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday in broadcasting here?” I asked. He smiled 24 September 1938, page 9.). and shook his head. “I went along and saw them, but they 1 October 1938 explained that you must be famous to THE SAGA OF AN EXPLORER. command big money — there is nothing in To be labelled “The most adventurous it for me.” Lady Wilkins said: “And yet Australian” by a nation of adventurers is an Harry Lauder got £500 for a few minutes.” honour which Sir Hubert Wilkins, now “Why worry about money?” Sir Hubert cut back in Australia prior to his expedition to in. “After all, I didn't set out on my life as the Antarctic, would be the last to belittle. an explorer to become a millionaire. It is But it has become part of the romantic aura the job that counts with me.” “If you had a which has come to surround the name of the son, would you advise him to follow in handsome, broad-shouldered, bearded your footsteps? I asked. Sir Hubert shook freelance of fortune and perilous enterprise, his head. who stowed away from Adelaide 30 years “I would never advise any young man to ago intent on changing the map of the take on exploring as a career. Most of the world. world is explored, and although there is a great deal we still don't know about the An advertisement from the (Smith’s Weekly (Sydney, Changing the Map. Antarctic, we are getting nearer to finding it NSW), Saturday 24 September 1938, page 3.). And in the word “Adventure” the every day.” “And from the money side of it, armchair onlooker is perhaps over ready to is there enough in it?” “I don’t think so,” 24 September 1938 admire feats of endurance and daring, said Sir Hubert “It is too dangerous?” I The TALK OF THE TOWN Men, without recognising Sir Hubert’s asked, “Possibly” “Do you ever get Women, and Gossip. contributions to scientific knowledge so frightened on these trips?” “I suppose I Under the Arctic Ice often the fruits of the drudgery rather than have been more scared than any man in the Next year Sir Hubert Wilkins, South the daring of exploration. It is not enough to world, because, you see, I have more Australian explorer, will make another say that Sir Hubert Wilkins has succeeded opportunities for being scared.” “And yet submarine trip under the Arctic ice, drilling in changing the map of the world. And that 13
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day in doing so he made the first aeroplane Flying Corps and later was made A.I.F. 8 October 1938 flight across the North Pole, was the first official photographer. He was wounded ANTARCTIC PLEASURES. human being to venture under the arctic ice nine times. Tourist Resort of the Future. in a submarine, and has undertaken more After the war he made two more journeys By C. W. Gibbs. polar expeditions by sea, air, and land than to the Antarctic, one with Shackleton. A The author of this article was in the any other man alive. successful expedition to tropical Australia Antarctic on board the research ship There is the other side of his life story. collecting fauna for the British Museum Discovery II in 1935. The constant battle to obtain financial followed. Sir Hubert Wilkins, the noted polar backing for enterprises and official Participation in the famous air race to explorer, passed through Perth a few days recognition for his scientific theories. Sir Australia in 1919, famine relief work in ago on his way to join Mr. Lincoln Hubert again emphasised this aspect of his Russia and Central Europe, served to fill the Ellsworth in South Africa and from there task when he arrived in Sydney recently on gaps between Polar Exploration, which he set out on the Wyatt Earp on another another of his brief visits to his homeland. regards as his life task. voyage of discovery to Antarctica. This He is on his way to South Africa and In 1921 followed the first and successful ship is a sturdy veteran of other polar another expedition to the far South. attempt to fly across the North Pole, voyages, being a single deck motorship of followed by an epic return journey on foot. 400 tons sheathed with oak and plated to Backing Is American. Next year he succeeded, and in 1929, withstand hard knocks met with when It is typical, unfortunately, of the small after another expedition to the Antarctic, he navigating in ice-bound waters. The name encouragement which Australia has been was knighted in recognition of his is taken from a brave frontiersman famous able to give one of her greatest explorers exploratory work. in the days of America’s wild west. that this latest expedition is being made In 1931 followed the now, famous Many wonder why these polar excursions with American backing. On many past attempt to reach the Pole in an obsolete are made and if any good results from them. expeditions, as Sir Hubert has related with submarine. That can best be answered by scientists. quiet irony, he has been allowed to carry a small Australian flag, as well as the Stars Feted in Moscow. and Stripes and the Union Jack as an “act of In 1933-36 he was manager of the courtesy.” Ellsworth trans-Arctic expedition. Last year he directed a search over the Canadian Arctic for the lost Russian flyers. He was subsequently feted in Moscow. More important, the Soviet scientists showed considerable interest in his theories co- relating weather data of the Polar Regions with that of other latitudes. Most of all Sir Hubert Wilkins would be grateful for the gift of a modern submarine in which he could again attempt to reach the North Pole. He believes that “the earth is the great child of God,” and that her frozen poles have the most to reveal to us, especially in helping us to make surer weather forecasts. He has not forgotten the drought peril on his father’s farm in South Australia. So long as he is able he will wage his battle against the elements of nature, and Sir Hubert Wilkins : A Polar snapshot.
the frequent apathy of man. One must not overlook the lure of the Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), Saturday 1 unknown, an everlasting challenge which is October 1938, page 1. taken up by such men as these. Then there https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 is the fascination of polar regions, a Sir Hutbert Wilkins 2228628 fascination peculiarly their own and it is in this connection that the writer expresses the Sir Hubert Wilkins is now 50 years of 8 October 1938 opinion that the day will come when age. He was the youngest of a family of 13 tourists will visit Antarctica, and that day brought up on a South Australian sheep might not be so very far distant. The farm. He was a student at the Adelaide abundant health-giving ultra-violet rays of School of Mines. When he was 20 he set the sun along with the dust-free and germ- out on a round-the-world voyage which free atmosphere make the Antarctic a took him to 20 countries. perfect sanatorium during the long summer. In 1910 he learned to fly in England On the occasion of the last visit to when flying was still an adventure. When Antarctica in 1935 when Ellsworth was he was 21 he became photographic lost, Australia played a prominent part in correspondent in the Balkan War of 1912- the rescue and the seven Australians who 13. accompanied the R.R.S. Discovery II on her Taking part in a Turkish cavalry charge, trip south returned with vivid impressions armed with, a movie camera, he took the of the majestic grandeur and fascinating first action film of battle. beauty of Antarctica. The Wyatt Earp, on which another Antarctic expedition is to set out from Cape Town with Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth and Voyages in Antarctic seas are full of From Pole to Pole. Sir Hubert Wilkins. interest. Some of the ice floes are acres in Next year he set out with Stefansson on extent. The ship crunches its way through, an Arctic expedition which lasted three West Australian (Perth, WA), Saturday 8 splitting the floes whose loose fragments years, covering 5000 miles of ice and snow. October 1938, page 11. tumble helplessly along either side of the He did not learn of the Great War until https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 ship making fearsome noises. These 1915. 6481989 fragments on being upturned reveal a When he got to France in 1917 he greenish hue underneath due to a marine obtained a commission with the Australian 14
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day growth, diatom, being entrapped during the grow out of the sea: they are pieces of ice Earp. Sir Hubert Wilkins and Mr. Lincoln winter freeze-up. The sea water on from a larger mass. In Antarctica that larger Ellsworth will sail in the Wyatt Earp as far occasions is bright green owing to the mass is the Great Ross Ice Barrier. Under as Enderby Land and an attempt will then presence of this microscopic life. The the action of tide and weather a fault will be made to fly to the Bay of Whales, 2,000 cracks and crevices in the ice-floes are develop and cause a piece of ice to break miles away, across an icefield and jagged suffused with a translucent light of the most off and float away. At first the berg is mountain ranges never yet seen, by man. delicate shades of blue, brought about by tabular in form but later erosion at and On Sir Hubert's arrival at Cape Town he filtered sunlight. When I was in the below the water line upsets the equilibrium declined to be interviewed. He travelled Antarctic on the Discovery the sun dipped of the floating mass. It rolls over, revealing from Australia under the incognito of “Mr. below the horizon at 11.30 p.m. only to rise a strangely carved contour in which all H. George," and was armed with a special again some 45 minutes later after being manner of shapes can be traced, and the permit from the Union Government which below the horizon for approximately 50 caverns and fissures seem to be filled with a enabled him to leave the Anchises at degrees along the horizon. The sun’s rays strange ethereal vapour, this being due to Durban before the vessel had been cleared. give an added charm to the scene by faintly the filtered sunlight Prevailing winds and Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 17 colouring the ice with a red glow. currents keep these monsters more or less October 1938, page 6. Surrounded by such wondrous sights and within the Antarctic Circle. Eventually the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 strange phenomena one enters another berg is reduced to a growler and then finally 84108891 world—a world of frozen silence, frozen disappears. motion and at one time of the year, Skirting along this ice barrier we came up 25 October 1938 continual sunlight. But all days are not like with the Bay of Whales which is really an Soldiers’ Notes. that. With dramatic suddenness the scene opening carved by nature in the Barrier, (By “ON GUARD”). can change to one of bleak blizzard, and forming a bay many square miles in area. Pride of Race. very cruel the ice can then be. The The numerous whales fully justified the Here is an extract from a letter written by barometer is not of such great value in the name, having been attracted there by the Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous Australian Antarctic in forecasting weather. Weather, abundance of whale food — plankton. explorer, to the RS.S.I.L.A. in Sydney: “I good or bad, just happens, with a change Surrounded on all sides by ice cliffs, the take care to mention my association and often swift and dramatic. temperature fell to 26 degrees below have to fight to maintain it: for what with freezing. Before leaving this wonderland my close association with the USA., * * * * we visited Ross Island, the base used by Norway, Canada, and England, there is Scott on his fateful polar dash. This island generally, when I get to a foreign city, a Animal and bird life is not very abundant is another wonder for here are two scramble between the Ambassadors and but on the other hand the sea is teeming mountains, Mts. Terror and Erebus, 10,000 Consuls of those countries to see which one with life varying in form and size from the and 12,000 feet high respectively. The latter of the officials I accompany to public (or whale down to microscopic organisms. In is an active volcano. What a sight these private) affairs. In Russia, lately, it took me fact, there is more marine life in the mountains present, rising from the shores of a couple of days to straighten things out. Antarctic than in tropical waters, much of it the island, one surmounted by a plume of The papers had me as representing each being in an arrested state of evolution. A sulphurous smoke. of those countries, but I finally got them bird the size of a pigeon and of snow white “Come to Antarctica” will someday be a (partly because of the controversy) to plumage is a feature of these regions. It tourist slogan. headline ‘Australian explorer.’ I would like seems to emphasise the solitude of the West Australian (Perth, WA), Saturday 8 to see many other Australians insisting on scene, flying swiftly and gracefully over the October 1938, page 11. their nationality.” ice, merging into the dazzling whiteness as https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), Tuesday 25 it goes. Aptly is it named the Snowy Petrel. 6481991 October 1938, page 2. Then there are those inquisitive little men in evening dress, the Adelie penguins, their https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 17 October 1938 comical gait and almost human antics ever 69405031 SIR HUBERT WILKINS. being a constant source of amusement. Swimming to them is no effort at all, and Starts On Voyage To The Pole. the ease with which they leap back to the ice is amazing. Many seals sleep peacefully on the ice floes, and whales are often to be seen up for a blow in clear patches of water. Progressing slowly but steadily on the Discovery, we eventually came up with the fearsome “bay ice,” often up to 20 feet thick. The presence of icebergs and “growlers” added to the difficulties and navigation called for extreme caution. Splitting such ice of course, is out of the question; the ship must nose its way through lanes as they present themselves. The wind and ocean currents keep the ice moving, thus affording the ship opportunities to advance. We sighted many 12 November 1938 tremendous icebergs, one in particular Sir H. Wilkins May being 16 miles long and four miles wide Become an American and rising some 200 feet out of the water. Lady Suzanne Wilkins, wife, of the There is approximately eight times that Australian explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, is volume beneath the water line. reported to have said that she was taking Some days later the Great Ross Ice out American naturalisation papers, adding, Barrier loomed ahead of us. Its ice cliffs “I’m sure Sir Hubert will also become an extending east and west for some 600 miles DURBAN, October 16. American.” and rising to 200 feet above water. This Sir Hubert Wilkins arrived at Durban Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), age-old frozen sea is practically permanent from Australia aboard the liner Anchises Saturday 12 November 1938, page 3. in outline and might well be called the and left immediately by air for Cape Town, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7 nursery of the icebergs. Icebergs do not where he will join the base ship Wyatt 8178186 15
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
19 November 1938 been excessive. Though much has been broke away from the berg, hurling men into FILM FOLK and Talkies Shots done in the way of discovery and the freezing water, in which they From J. M. Ruddy And Barbara O’Connor exploration in the Antarctic there are still floundered. One of Mr. Llavaag’s knees wide fields to be explored, but I have done was jammed between two pieces of ice and all that is possible this season and my his thigh was broken. He was in grave peril, arrival in port tonight brings to a close my but eventually the men on the ship threw a fourth Antarctic expedition.” rope round him and hauled, him up the As a result of his expedition Mr. ladder. The two seamen thrashed round in Ellsworth has claimed for the United States the water for some time, but were drawn on 81,000 square miles north of Princess board uninjured, except that one had his Elizabeth Land. His two visits to the face cut rather badly. The accident occurred Antarctic have gained for America more on January 16. than 430,000 square miles. “These areas,” Four days later the Wyatt Earp cleared Mr. Ellsworth said, “are mostly snow- the pack ice and made for Hobart. covered now, but they might well someday Favourable conditions enabled the ship to be found as rich in minerals and oil as the make port in the good time of 15 days." Mr. United States. Minerals and oil have been Ellsworth emphasised that the accident to ON THE SET OF DAWN PATROL—Sir Hubert and Lady Wilkins, who were recently in Australia, visited the Dawn found in the Antarctic. There are Mr. Liavaag had not interfered with the Patrol set at Warner studio in Hollywood. Here you see indications of there once having been in expedition. All his surveys were successful, them with Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven, Antarctica all conditions which might, he said, and the ship was making for Hobart Donald Crisp with his dog Arno, and {next to Crisp) Michael Brooke, who is the Earl of War-wick in private result in deposits of oil. when the trouble occurred. life. The Wyatt Earp showed signs of gruelling experiences. Since she left Cape Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 19 Town she had passed through pack ice November 1938, page 2. extending 813 miles north and south on the journey towards the barrier, and through https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 about 220 miles of ice on her way back. Her 4817111 paintwork is worn, her hardwood planks are deeply scored with the gouging of ice, and in her bridge is a gaping hole through which 1939 a high sea thrust its weighty head the day she started homeward from the edge of the 6 February 1939 barrier, but she has served her purpose well OUT OF ANTARCICA. and has voyaged the equivalent of more ELLSWORTH’S SHIP AT HOBART than three times round the world —78,000 Big Area Claimed for U.S.A. miles—so that Mr. Ellsworth could make The Wyatt Earp. HOBART, Feb. 5. two long flights of discovery. Mr.
Ellsworth’s immediate concerns are When I left on this expedition I expected to exercise and complete retirement. Since the find rugged, mountainous land. On the Wyatt Earp left Cape Town he has been contrary I found a great desert of ice unable to obtain the exercise he needs and extending hundreds and hundreds of miles his demands are for mountain climbing and to the south. walks of 20 miles a day. When I left the Wyatt Earp by aeroplane His stay in Tasmania will last about three the ice barrier was 1,500ft. high. Gradually weeks and he expects to leave Sydney for the plain rose until 300 miles to the south it America by the Monterey early in March. was 7,500ft. above sea level. Probably it Sir Hubert Wilkins, who was in charge of continues to the polar plateau. I took an the ship and supplies, has no plans, except emergency sledge, but it was not used. To that he expects to leave Hobart in the Wyatt have, done so would have entailed great Earp, which may be in five or six days. danger because of wind ridges about 20ft. West Australian (Perth, WA), Monday 6 high which corrugate the plain of ice. Cruising at 135 miles an hour we reached as February 1939, page 18. far as 72 degrees outa latitude. “The land I https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 saw was totally different from that over 6298277 which I few on the South American side of the Pole on my 1935 expedition. Then I 6 February 1939 RETURN TO CIVILISATION. Mr. LINCOLN ELLSWORTH. flew over mountains up to 12ft high. Our trip south from Cape Town was a slow one, Wyatt Earp Reaches Hobart After 100 eventful days, in which vast for we were 65 days out before’ we reached From Antarctic. tracts of Antarctic territory never before the ice. Ice two or three years old added to INJURED MAN RUSHED seen by man, were claimed for the United our difficulties. TO HOSPITAL States, Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth reached Occasionally we appeared to be caught in Day of Individual Exploring Hobart in the Wyatt Earp yesterday a vortex. Once in .such a situation we did Done, Says Ellsworth evening. Among the 19 men who returned hoot know when we would be able to get A hundred eventful days out from Cape to the comforts of civilisation was First- out. For instance, we were bound in one Town, during which vast tracts of Antarctic Officer Liavaag, who was rushed to place for 13 days unable to move.” territory never before seen by man, were hospital for treatment after having endured claimed for the United States, Commander great pain since his right thigh was broken Near to Catasrophe. Lincoln Ellsworth reached Hobart in the in the pack ice on January 16. He will “It was the nearest I have ever been to Wyatt Earp on Saturday evening. Among undergo an operation tomorrow morning. catastrophe, said Mr. Ellsworth, referring to the 19 men who returned to the comforts of “The day of individual exploration and the accident in which Chief Officer. Lavaag civilisation was First Officer Liavaag, who polar expeditions with small finances is was injured. “Mr. Liavaag was one of three was rushed to the Royal Hobart Hospital for about done,” said Mr. Ellsworth. “In future men who were on a small iceberg chipping treatment after having endured great pain Governments will have to take over the ice to obtain water for the ship, which was since his right thigh was broken in the ice- work. Rising costs in recent years have 10ft. away. Suddenly a large mass of ice pack on January 16. 16
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
“The day of individual exploration and 15 years that weather stations should be indifference to the profits to be gained by polar expeditions with small finances is established in the Antarctic. For a long whaling in Antarctic seas has puzzled many about done,” said Commander Ellsworth in observers, especially in view of the an interview with a representative of “The exploitation carried on there in recent years Mercury” shortly after the Wyatt Earp had by Japan, Norway and other nations. The berthed. “In future governments will have methods of these Antarctic whaling fleets to take over the work. Rising costs in recent have seriously reduced the number of years have been excessive.” whales in South Polar regions. It has been estimated that, since 1905, 300,000 whales, re-presenting £70,000,000 sterling, have been taken.
Mineral Wealth But whales do not represent the only possible source of wealth offered by the Antarctic. Sir Douglas Mawson believes that valuable mineral deposits, including gold and coal, exist there. Pointing out recently that his Australian expeditions had found small quantities of almost every The Wyatt Earp in harbor. known metal at the Pole, he said that no insuperable obstacles to mining were time, his was a voice crying in the present. “Coal mining is in progress at wilderness, but eventually his proposal won Spitzbergen, latitude 80 deg. north, and the support of no less an authority than the active mining has been conducted for nearly Director of the United Kingdom 100 years in Greenland,” Sir Douglas Meteorological Office (Sir George Clarke added.
SAFE RETURN FROM POLAR SEAS Simpson). But there is not complete agreement on After more than three months confined in the tiny Wyatt the possibilities of commercial exploitation, Earp, Commander Lincoln Ellsworth (below on left) steps Seasonal Forecasting in these frozen areas. Mr B. R. O Brien, a briskly ashore at Hobart. The Wyatt Earp, below on the right, draws into Queen’s Pier at the end of her long Now, Australia’s purchase of the Wyatt member of Admiral Byrd’s second voyage. At the bottom of the picture First Officer Liavaag Earp seems to bring Sir Hubert's proposal expedition, declared while visiting Sydney is seen as he was carried ashore on his way to the Royal within measurable distance of reality. A last year that such projects were Hobart Hospital a few minutes after the ship's arrival. For 19 days he lay in the rolling vessel with a broken thigh. message today from Hobart, where Federal impracticable. “The bitter cold eventually Cabinet is meeting, suggests that Antarctic strains the heart,” he said. “The strongest weather stations “for seasonal forecasting in Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), Monday 6 men have developed heart trouble down Australia and New Zealand” may be there. When machinery is set in motion in February 1939, page 7. established. The Commonwealth the Antarctic it must be kept running all the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 Meteorological Service has yet to be time. 558518 convinced that Antarctic data will assist in Therefore production costs would be the infant science of seasonal forecasting. enormous. Investigations by the Wyatt Earp 8 February 1939 However, it would welcome the chance to may help to prove either Sir Douglas ANTARCTIC and Our Climate decide the point. The Commonwealth Mawson or Mr O’Brien correct. Purchase a Using the Wyatt Earp Meteorologist (Mr Watt) said today that a Bargain A T least, there is no doubt that By A Special Correspondent great deal was known of climate in the Australia has scored a bargain in its A new era of Australian activity in the Antarctic by reports from various purchase of the Wyatt Earp, which has just Antarctic is foreshadowed by the expeditions, but no regular observations had successfully carried 55-year-old Lincoln Commonwealth Government's decision to ever been made. Weather stations where Ellsworth, America’s millionaire buy Lincoln Ellsworth's Expedition ship, observation could be taken over n adventurer, to the end of his fourth Wyatt Earp. No programme has yet been prolonged period would be required for any Antarctic journey. The ship’s equipment decided for the 400-ton vessel, with its two study of the influence of Antarctic includes two planes, the larger of which aircraft and other special equipment, but conditions on weather conditions cost £8500 sterling, a wireless short-wave there is work in plenty for it to do in elsewhere, he said. “At least 15 or 20 years transmitting and receiving set worth £1500, helping to develop Australia’s 3,000,000 would be required to determine with and diesel engine spare parts valued about square miles of ice-capped territory in the certainty the value of these observations,” £1000. Antarctic. It is only a few years since all but Mr Watt added. The price paid by the Commonwealth a few men of vision regarded these white will be about £4400. The planes were wastes, separated from the rest of the world Annual Visits specially chosen for reconnaissance work by 500 miles of wild, ice-strewn ocean, as Tentative plans for establishment of over ice-bound regions. The larger made a completely lacking in value to mankind. Australian weather stations in the Antarctic long-range non-stop flight over the Today the general spirit of scepticism is fast envisage them as part of a chain of stations Australian sector of Antarctica during the disappearing. It has been dispelled by the operated also by New Zealand, Argentina, expedition which has just ended. The constant hammering of men like Sir Hubert and South Africa. The cost of servicing four smaller is used for short flights from the Wilkins and Sir Douglas Mawson — men stations which it is considered, would be ship to search for openings in the pack ice. who have been to the Antarctic and seen for required in the Australian sector would be It will be interesting to see if the sole of the them-selves. They believe that the Antarctic about £15,000 a year. The Wyatt Earp Wyatt Earp really marks Lincoln is destined to be vitally important in future would visit each station once a year, Ellsworth’s retirement from the frigid commercial and scientific enterprise. carrying student meteorologists and business of Antarctic exploration. Before Especially do they see it as vitally supplies and bringing back the records and leaving on his latest expedition Ellsworth important to Australia if the the staff being relieved. The ship would announced that it might be his last but Commonwealth is prepared to exploit its’ also carry out exploratory work. The cautiously added, “I’ve said that twice possibilities. Sir Hubert Wilkins, who commercial possibilities of the Antarctic before.” commands the Wyatt Earp, and will bring have received less notice than the scientific, the adventurous little ship from Hobart to but Sir Douglas Mawson and other experts Melbourne, has been urging for more than believe that vast wealth lies under the ice cap, waiting to be tapped. Australia’s 17
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
25 February 1939 aerial search for the lost Russian. Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Saturday 25 ADVENTURE BOOK. Levanevski during the course of which the February 1939, page 9. Sir Hubert Wilkins Exploratory Feats. Australian flew a total of 30,000 miles back https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 The purchase of the Wyatt Earp by the and forth over the most inaccessible parts of 88020772 Common wealth Government on the return the frozen Arctic. Much of this flying was of the American explorer, Lincoln done by moonlight during the Arctic winter Ellsworth, from the Antarctic recently, and night. At one stage Wilkins was hard the subsequent negotiations with Sir Hubert pressed for cash and the wrecks of two Wilkins regarding a projected voyage of Fokker planes practically comprised his survey of the huge territory in the southern total assets. continent claimed by the Commonwealth, Another Australian bought the wrecks, again directs attention to Australia’s from him, put together one navigable plane greatest present-day explorer. and completed the world's most hazardous By A . L. VOWLES trans-ocean flight. The flyer was Kingsford- During the last 10 or 12 years, Wilkins, Smith arid the plane the first Southern who was knighted for his remarkable trans- Cross. The sale enabled the other “crazy Arctic flight from Point Barrow, cutting Australian” to purchase a Lockheed for meridians at a sharp angle which made an further Polar flights. allegedly impossible navigation problem, to Nobody is better adapted for the Spitzbergen, flying an unerring course, has responsibility of commanding an expedition periodically cropped up in the news. such as the Wyatt Earp is to undertake shortly for Australia than Sir Hubert Fantastic Voyage under Polar Ice Wilkins. Ten years ago he was a seasoned In that fantastic underwater voyage, polar explorer seized with the importance to however, the Australian proved pet theories humanity of the establishment of of his on which Russia now is cashing in. meteorological stations adjacent to the His aim right through his career has been, Poles. When a number of such stations are not to seek the plaudits of the crowd by established it is believed that more accurate spectacular dashes to either of the Poles, but long-range weather reports, of great his most publicised exploit — one which at economic value, will be possible. His the time was rated rather, as a crazy stunt efforts in the Arctic have resulted in his Lady Wilkins, wife of the well-known explorer. than at its true worth — was his submarine theories being vindicated, to the advantage trip to the Arctic. Ellsworth, the explorer, of Russia. Now he is to turn his attention, it 3 March 1939 and Hearst, the newspaper magnate, is hoped, to the Antarctic again, with his THREE POLAR EXPLORERS MEET assisted in the finance of this undertaking, own country the beneficiary. but even then Wilkins was forced to set out The name of Sir Hubert Wilkins must go quite inadequately equipped, in a down in Australian history with those of superannuated United States navy other great explorers in Eyre, Leichhardt, submarine, rather to accumulate scientific Burke, Wills, and Cunningham, to name but data, that will be of commercial and a few. economic value. Peary, Byrd and Amundsen had been to the North Pole and the Australian in his Polar flights 12 years or so ago concentrated on totally un-known areas of the Polar Sea. Landings on the ice proved Three Polar explorers met yesterday at the Australian his contention that the Polar Sea was quite Club. From left they are: Sir Douglas Mawson, Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth and Sir Hubert Wilkins. Mr. Ellsworth suitable for the establishment of frequent sailed for America today. landing grounds. In fact, this region provided emergency landing grounds at Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Friday 3 March short intervals comparable with, If not 1939, page 5. superior to those on the average commercial https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 air route. In his subsequent submarine 85993475 voyage the Australian headed courageously under the ice, reached calm open waters and probed that meteorological and flying stations such as he had visualised could be established and equipped by submarine transport.
Sir Hubert Wilkins shakes hands with the United States Russia Profits explorer, Rear-Admiral Byrd at the Explorers’ Club, New A year or so ago Russia, profiting by the York. Australian's pioneering work, established a floating meteorological station at the North Pole. Flights subsequently have been made by them non-stop to America by way of the Pole, and now we learn that Russia has organised duel bases at known coal and oil deposits in the Arctic. It is believed that these fields now are employing, upwards of 40,000 persons and they apparently are proving a valuable investment in the direction of making Russia's Arctic shipping self-supporting. An advertisement from the (Maitland Daily Mercury One of Wilkins’s greatest but (NSW), Friday 3 March 1939, page 6.). comparatively unheralded feats was his The Wyatt Earp which Australia has bought. 18
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
3 March 1939 Sir Hubert Wilkins and Mr. Ellsworth most remote regions of the earth, leaving South Magnetic Pole dined with Sir Douglas Mawson, who later behind all the comforts of civilisation. Proposed Establishment of Scientific left on his return to Adelaide. All three of
Station. the greatest living Antarctic explorers had PLANS DISCUSSED. not met until their conference in Sydney. Sir Douglas Mawson, the noted scientist and explorer, has submitted to the Commonwealth Government a plan for the establishment of a permanent scientific station, approximately at the South Magnetic Pole. His proposal is that scientists from Australia should be landed there each summer by the Wyatt Earp, which has been acquired by the Commonwealth Government, and should be replaced in the following summer. Sir Douglas Mawson discussed Antarctic question's with Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth and Sir Hubert Wilkins, and made a thorough NEAR THE POLE — but Sir H. Wilkins plans to go inspection of the Wyatt Earp and the two UNDER the ice. aeroplanes which were included in the equipment purchased by the The submarine trip has appealed to the Commonwealth Government from Mr. imagination of women all over the world, Ellsworth. said Sir Hubert Wilkins in a special “The ship is ideal for Antarctic SIR HUBERT WILKINS interview. work,” said Sir Douglas Mawson. “The old “I have had applications from women in Discovery 1 was more elaborately built, but Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW), Friday 3 Russia, Spain, Italy, England, America and the Wyatt Earp is a splendid sea boat, and, March 1939, page 6. a number in Australia.” whether used for Polar work or fishery https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 “Some of them nave scientific surveys, is a sound investment. “Now that 26383451 qualifications and want to take part in the Australia has this ship, we should be able to scientific side of the expedition. find out much more about this great 11 March 1939 “Others want to make the journey purely continent to the south. It is as large as Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Comment as an adventure. Australia itself. We are only a small number Sir Hubert Wilkins said yesterday that “Then there are many, probably girls, of people, but we are the only ones in the last January Norway had made an official working in shops and offices, who say they world whose territory extends from the claim to the area apparently explored by the are tired of the monotony of their lives and equator to the Polar Regions!” German expedition. The Norwegian long for a complete change. Sir Douglas Mawson said that he doubted expedition, however, would not have seen “Some of them are so keen to join the whether he would be able to take the active more than a few miles inland, thus raising crew that they have been writing to me ever leadership of an Antarctic expedition in the again the question of recognition of sector since my plans were announced several Wyatt Earp. He was not now able to make claims. years ago. the long sledging trips he did 20 years ago. “The sector method of establishing “Many of them send photographs of “But I would like to go back down there for claims to Antarctica has been long themselves — and very pretty girls some of a year,” he added. “What I want to do is to established,” Sir Hubert Wilkins added, them are, too. co-ordinate the scientific work to be done “but for the Germans to describe their there, and to establish a permanent station. claims as ‘discovery’ is scarcely right; “Men at Sydney University are doing a exploration would be a better word. great deal of research into the ionosphere But, then, you can’t explore an area from and terrestrial magnetism, and we could 12.000 feet above it. “They have apparently thus have men highly trained in this work. found the eastern edge of the mountains The ionosphere is the uppermost layer of which run across the continent,” he went the earth’s atmosphere, which reflects on. “While it has been no more than an wireless waves and .makes broadcasting aerial reconnaissance, the German flight has possible. It comes down to earth near the shown that aeroplanes can now be used for Magnetic Poles, and thus Sydney men who geological survey. Mr. Ellsworth are already leaders in this field of research demonstrated that, too, three years ago.” Wilkins in civies on the deck of the Nautilus. *OS U Polar could advance their investigations Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Saturday Archives [wilkins33_11_48]. considerably.” 11 March 1939, page 12. Sir Douglas Mawson said his proposal Could Do the Work was to form a club of some of the younger https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 “Quite a few, especially in Australia, scientists, who were keen to continue their 7566475 have descended on me in person to ask for a researches in the Antarctic, and who would job aboard the submarine. Two or three give a year of their time with little prospect 1 April 1939 have even offered to help finance the of any monetary recompense — unless the 800 women want to go on trip under ice expedition. Government helped. “Sir Hubert Wilkins is Seek jobs on submarine with Polar “Their ages vary from early teens to very interested, I know, in the Indian Ocean expedition. thirty and thirty-five. section of Australia's territory,” said Eight hundred women have applied to “It would not be impossible to make the Sir Douglas Mawson. “He has told me that join the crew of Sir Hubert Wilkins’ expedition with a crew composed entirely he would like to go back there for a winter, submarine when he goes to the North Pole of women. and that he has found a splendid site for a next year. “From the point of view of handling the winter camp. That expedition, of course, In spite of permanent waves and submarine it would not require great would cost much more than my scheme, lacquered fingernails, the spirit of adventure physical strength or endurance. And from just a little backing from the Government or is as strong in women as it is in men. the scientific point of view there are women some private citizen would make it They are prepared to share with men the and girls all over the world, especially in possible.” hardships and dangers of exploration in the Spain and Russia, already doing similar 19
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
passengers on sailing ships, and in several telepathic messages Wilkins would send at Utopian schemes for colonies on tropic the same time. islands there have been plenty of women At intervals Sherman mailed his volunteers. transcript of these impressions, and Wilkins Australian Women’s Weekly, Saturday 1 reported upon their accuracy. April 1939, page 23. To provide a scientific check on their https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 experiment, Sherman also mailed a copy of 2257911 his impressions to Samuel Emery, a mutual friend and a sceptic regarding what they called “extra sensory perception.” After reading the reports Emery put them away. Later Doctor Gardner Murphy, a psychologist at Columbia University, was also enlisted as a witness. When radio conditions were favourable Wilkins sent correspondence to the New York “Times.” The “Times” head radio SIR HUBERT WILKINS with his wife. Lady Wilkins wants operator began his contact with the to go on the submarine, but her husband says “No.” experiment as a sceptic. At the end he testified that at no time during the six work to the surveys and observations we months did Harold Sherman seek shall make. any information about Wilkins and his “The work we shall do requires qualities activities, and admitted that Sherman that most women have — patience, tenacity actually had a more accurate knowledge of of purpose, resourcefulness, and a lively Setting up experiments on the ice during the Nautilus what was happening during the search for interest in the journey. voyage. . *OSU Polar Archives [nautilus-5]. the lost fliers than he himself was able to “But there will not be even one woman gain in his attempts to keep in touch by member of my crew. The presence of 22 April 1939 radio. women on the submarine would cause too AMAZING TEST – IN MENTAL For the first three months of his journey much public censure. TELEPATHY. through Canada and Alaska Wilkins was so “We would be accused of exposing FRIEND PICKED UP MESSAGES 3000 preoccupied with weather, equipment women to what are believed to be MILES AWAY. difficulties, and search flights that he was hazardous conditions. One of the most amazing experiments in unable to fulfil his part of the experiment. “Actually, the expedition on the mental telepathy is revealed by Australian Later, Wilkins was able to keep his submarine will be much less hazardous than explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins, who has left appointment with Sherman occasionally. many journeys that have been undertaken Adelaide on his way to England. by women. While he was in the Arctic a friend in New Report of “talks”. “We will travel under water most of the York got his brain messages with The following comparison shows the time coming up for exercise on the ice at extraordinary clarity. amazing accuracy of the pictures seen in the intervals. We will not be exposed to By means of these thought messages Sir dark by Sherman as he sat alone in his weather conditions, and as we will be Hubert and a companion, Harold Sherman, study. surrounded by water we will not be American author, carried on Sir Hubert Wilkins’ mind messages from subjected to very cold temperatures.” “conversations” although Sir Hubert was in Arctic snows, although he was in the Arctic Women’s interest in this submarine the Arctic Circle and his “companion” was Circle Sir Hubert Wilkins’ thought venture is but another want to join the in New York 3000 miles away. transference messages were received with expedition. An American magazine investigated the amazing clarity by Harold Sherman in New amazingly accurate telepathy talks at the York, 3000 miles away. SEEK ADVENTURE. time, and Sir Hubert confirmed them when interviewed in Adelaide by ‘The Australian Sherman’s Impressions Women’s Weekly.’ Oct. 28: “It was the most amazing thing that ever C. is with you. Carries good-luck charm. happened to me,” he said. Nov. 8 Barrow: There was no possibility of outside This word came to me after I first saw assistance. The sender of the telepathic mental picture of a wheelbarrow. messages was cut off from radio contact Now I see a long pointer and draw and civilisation in the snowy wastes of the inference “Point Barrow” Are you going Arctic Circle. there for some reason? Is there snow there? Sir Hubert met Harold Sherman on the Have you decided shift operations where eve of his flight in 1937 to search for six weather can be more immediately Russian fliers lost near the Arctic Circle. favourable? Both Sir Hubert and Harold Sherman Nov. 8: believed in telepathy and clairvoyance. “7” This number came. The Russian fliers had disappeared on a Nov. 11: flight from Russia to California, via the You in company men in military attire — North Pole, and Wilkins was employed by Some women, evening dress — you appear Hundreds of girls want to join the expedition. the Soviet Government to search from the to be in evening dress yourself. (Sherman air the rough country in Alaska, north-west knew with his conscious mind that Wilkins Women’s interest in this submarine venture Canada, and the ice-bound ocean beyond. carried no formal clothes and recorded his is but another instance of their readiness to The two men agreed to experiment in surprise when his subconscious mind engage in any activity today — no matter telepathy. recorded this impression) how daring. Three nights a week between 11.30 and Nov. 22: For many, such adventures offer relief midnight eastern standard time Wilkins was You following Mackenzie River in flight — from the boredom of their routine lives. to seek solitude and open his subconscious. weather, fog and snow — down at town Some of the most intrepid air feats in At the same time Sherman was to sit in with old stone fort — expect flight on recent years have been performed by darkness in his study in New York, and, tomorrow morning Aklavik goal. women. Women have signed on as crew or making his mind a blank try to “get” the Nov. 30: 20
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
landing meant death from exposure or starvation. From this time onward the impressions of Sherman, sitting in a darkened room three or four thousand miles away, grew more and more accurate and vivid. His telepathic record of when Wilkins was flying and when, for various reasons, he had to postpone flights, was so accurate that he missed the mark only three or four times in five months. On several occasions his impressions actually forecast events several days before they happened. On March 7 and 8 nothing worthy of note happened to Wilkins. But on those two nights Sherman found himself unaccountably agitated. He recorded these dramatic impressions: “Was tail of plane slightly damaged in bumpy landing? Seem to see some work, in rear of plane, fleeting vision of your face quite a strained, intent expression, seems as though flight started and down at some point or turned back, plane motionless, snow or sleet-like weather, strange feeling in pit of stomach, as if I’ve gone through close scrape or acute experience, you concerned about something.” Strong impression ping-pong balls. Is there unfavourable weather arising to prevent On March 11, three days later, the table in town where people play? action on 16th. expedition, carrying heavy Arctic Dec. 7: A prominent citizen in Aklavik has died equipment, with 1200 gallons of petrol, Don’t know why but I seem to see crackling — and I seem to catch glimpse of funeral hopped off intending to make one of its fire shining out in darkness at Aklavik — service — strange sensation this connection longest flights” get a de-[?] that an Aklavik doctor is also an undertaker A brief despatch from Wilkins to "The or somehow associated. Times” describes the event: Wilkins’ Report Is there some man you deal with Aklavik They took off on a light and clear morning. Cheesman joined expedition this day. by name of Webb or Weber? Name comes But shortly after they were enveloped by a Carries a penguin (small wood) charm. to me and man seems medium height, snow-laden storm that was “as black and Possibility of going via Alaska because of heavy-set, heavily clad, hooded garb. sudden as a thundercloud.” warm weather in Canada. This also (The amazing accuracy of this particular Wilkins decided to return and land. The received intensive thought during day — “session” is only marred by the fact that pilot brought the plane down expertly, but it and Pt. Barrow was often in mind. Sherman saw Wilkins in Aklavik when he struck a sharp ridge of snow which tore the Someone telling my fortune with cards. No was actually at Pt. Barrow) tail-skid from the fuselage. Although 7 was referred to repeatedly. Dec. 21: Wilkins made light of the accident it was Armistice Ball at Regina. Many officers of Sudden severe pain comes to me — right really a close brush with death. army and police in uniform. My appearance side of head Wilkins’ Report only four In discussing the experiments with a made possible by the loan to me of evening telephones at Barrow. It was an Eskimos representative of The Australian Women’s clothes. Followed the Mackenzie River shack on fire. Weekly, Sir Hubert said: “I think I have from Port Resolution to Aklavik this day. The chimney blazed up and the roof took always been interested in thought Flew through snow and fog. Two of the fire, but it was soon put out. Some damage transference and extra sensory powers. men, Cheesman and Dyne, were playing mostly from efforts of zealous firemen. “You see, I had seen so much of it among ping-pong in the school gymnasium. Was pretty cold that night with a light wind. natives and believed in it even before our While I was in radio office at Pt. Barrow Description of plane practically exact. experiment. “In thought transmission the fire alarm rang. A long ring on the tele- Weather was and remained unfavourable tremendous powers of thought and body are phone (There are Sherman’s Impressions, over whole moonlight period, 15th to ?th involved. “Impressions are picked up better finite are impression as though house inclusive. than actual thoughts, and if the transmitter burning . . . you can see it from your There was a funeral service. An Eskimo is involved in any sort of pain the receiver location on ice. baby died. The natives act as their own may suffer more acutely because he is I first thought fire on ice near your tent, but undertakers concentrating on it. “I know of a business impressions persist it is white house An owner of a store at Aklavik is Peffer - man in America who uses thought burning and quite a crowd around it . . about as description. transmission in connection with his office. people running or hurrying toward flame . . I am not sure that it happened this day but “He travels a lot and at specified times . bitter cold stiff breeze. each one of us could not seem to avoid makes his mind void of other things, Your plane looks like a silvery ghost in bumping our heads on a sharp - edged concentrates on his message, and has a moonlight . . . I seem to be almost under stovepipe in the kitchen. trained receiver in his office.” nose of it Wilkins’ adventures began in earnest on Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - 1982), . . . standing in snow — looking up it January 17. Within the next six weeks he Saturday 22 April 1939, page 3. towers over me. I’ve never seen plane, of made a series of long and dangerous flights https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 course, but it seems to have high bow with over the Arctic Ocean and the glacial 624804 two huge propellers either side of cabin or mountains bordering it. cock-pits (A long detailed description of the The adventure of the spirit on which he 17 July 1939 plane followed). and Sherman had embarked seemed to keep Explorer Honoured. 17th comes to mind as real take-off for pace with the increase of his emotions when search flight — day later than you had he matched his skill and courage against Sir Hubert Wilkins originally contemplated, seem, foresee storms and icy wastes where a forced Montreal July 14.— 21
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
The New York Explorers’ Club has upward to the base of the ring, or Apollo, awarded their medal to Sir Hubert Wilkins finger. There it ends, flanked by two short for work of exploration, it being the 15th parallel lines. The latter, in conjunction time the honour has been recorded to with the strength and position of the first anyone. Only six recipients are living. The line, reveal the scientific ability of the list includes Byrd, Stefansson, Peary and explorer. Greeley. (Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), Monday 17 July 1939, page 7.). https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 69829968
11 July 1939 Sir Hubert Wilkins’ Offer to Conduct Australian Expedition to Antarctic. This map from “The Christian Science Monitor” shows NEW YORK, July 10. the areas claimed by the various nations in the Antarctic.
Sir Hubert Wilkins, the noted Australian Polar explorer, in a statement to the Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Tuesday 11 July Associated Press, said he cabled the 1939, page 3. Australian Prime Minister (Mr. R. G. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Menzies) offering “privately to equip and 88593480 Sir Hubert’s dominant urge is for maintain” a landing party of Australian conquest. He is in the highest sense of the naval men and scientists for the Australian 17 July 1939 word, a great adventurer who opens new sector of Antarctica, to take advantage of SIR H. WILKINS HONOURED. vistas in science and does it with drama and co-operation with the Byrd Expedition, NEW YORK, July 15.— excitement. Each time he departs on one of provided the Australian Government would The Explorers’ Club has awarded its his expeditions, the pages of geography are transport thorn on the Wyatt Earp. medal to Sir Hubert Wilkins (the Australian enriched with his notable contributions, and Earlier fears of a possible European explorer), for work of exploration. the art of polar navigation progresses a step. disturbance, he said, had ostensibly made Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Saturday 22 the Australian Government reluctant to lend July 1939, page 21. the Wyatt Earp for that purpose in case the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 vessel should be needed for military 88592380 purposes. But the improvement in European conditions, concurrently with the Byrd venture, made an .Australian expedition 20 December 1939 timely. Sir Hubert Wilkins Volunteers Australian Associated Press Would Postpone Submarine Venture Ottoway, December 19. — Sir Hubert Wilkins said he had in the past Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Polar explorer, is talked with Rear-Admiral Byrd on the offering his services to the Canadian possibility of co-operation, and he (Sir Government. He said that the Australian Hubert) was prepared to postpone his Government had told him that his services submarine expedition to the Arctic in order were not needed immediately. “Being to do the Antarctic job. He said he had until ‘Colonial’,” he said, “I am more anxious to the middle of next week to give the sub- serve in the Dominion forces than in those marine builders notice if he intended a of the Netherlands or the Motherland.” postponement of construction. Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Wednesday 20 December 1939, page 1. Time Opportune For Co-operation https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 Sir Hubert pointed out that the sector Sir H. Wilkins 0901233 claimed by the United States joins the Ross This is only the fifteenth time this honour Sea sector under New Zealand supervision has been accorded to anyone. Only six of and the Australian sector to the westward of the recipients are living. The list includes Ross Sea, and that the present time was Admiral Byrd, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, opportune for co-operation with Rear- Robert Edwin Peary (the first man to reach Admiral Byrd, whose observations would the North Pole), and Horace Greeley. last three years. Sir Hubert said he believed (Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 17 it would be a serious loss of a year if the Australian expedition waited until next July 1939, page 7.). year. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 He stressed the point that there was no 0847017 question of a condominium, but that it was purely a matter of international co- 22 July 1939 operation in the interests of all countries SIR HUBERT WILKIKS concerned, and that although African and “HANDS OF FORTUNE” South American countries had not by Dr. Joseph Ranald dependencies in Antarctica co-operative Were you born to lead a life of travel and work from the scientific viewpoint with adventure? So destined is the distinguished Britain, the United States, New Zealand, Australian, Sir Hubert Wilkins, who in and Australia would be of great importance 1927 astonished the world by his epic flight to them. from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Spitsbergen. In the palm of Sir Hubert’s hand we see the symbol of his life work clearly etched. An advertisement from the Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : It shows in the sketch as the heavy line 1933 - 1954), Wednesday 20 December 1939, page 1. which begins at the line of life and extends 22
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
1940 20 December 1939 Government itself owns approximately one- Sir Hubert WilkinsVolunteers. third of the Antarctic continent and Australian explorers have for many years 19 January 1940 (Australian Associated Press) OTTOWA December 19.— directed their energies and efforts to this A.I.F. EXPLOITS FILMED region. Sir Hubert Wilkins the polar explorer, is Blast of Mines at Messines Ridge “It was at first thought that ample Probably the greatest man-made offering his services to the Canadian material was available in Australia for the explosion of all time was the blast of 21 Government. compilation of the map, but a close mines that shattered Messines Ridge in He said that the Australian government examination of the documents and records 1917, obliterating the German trenches and had told him that his services were not showed many divergences and opening the way to one of the greatest needed immediately. discrepancies. Maps and sketches made by A.I.F. successes. various explorers in the same sectors “Being Colonial,” he said, “I am more The spectacular explosion is one of the differed in many important details, and highlights of “We of the A.I.F.,” compiled anxious to serve in the Dominion forces there was often a conflict of place names from motion picture records at the than in those of the Netherlands or the and geographical positions. Consequently Australian War Museum, Canberra. The Motherland.” research had to be carried far afield and film, showing the achievements of the The Courier Mail, (Qld), 20 December original sources consulted wherever original A.I.F., will on Saturday night begin 1939 p. 1. possible. Information was obtained from a a three weeks’ season at the Town Hall. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 number of countries and from most of the The editor of “We of the A.I.F.” is Captain recognised authorities on the subject. As a 0901233 D. G. Mitchell, who from 500,000 feet of result, the map which has now been film — about 100 miles — chose and compiled gives a clear picture of the condensed 12,500 feet, running two hours progress of the exploration of Antarctica and 20 minutes. and of the geographical configuration of the The film was collected from many continent and surrounding waters.” sources. Some was taken by Turkish photographers, showing Kemal Pasha THE RESEARCH WORK directing the Turks’ gruelling reception of Both Mr. Bayliss and Mr. Compston the Anzacs at the Gallipoli Landing. Other have spent an immense amount of time on film was taken by the official Australian research, and although an invitation is cinematographers, Sir Hubert Wilkins and extended to all who are interested to submit Captain Frank Hurley. suggestions with a view to incorporation in Cameramen have never faced higher a future edition it is doubtful whether adventure than photographing that war. anyone in any country has given so much Wilkins was awarded a Military Cross with study to the Antarctica as these two have Bar. In one shot it can be seen that a bomb done. blast rocked his camera. A French Wing Fabric ripped off by bullets from Nazi fighters did Something like 250 documents, cameraman was killed while taking a not prevent this R.A.F. bomber from reaching its home base after a successful reconnaissance flight over the including books, original reports and picture and his camera wrecked, but his North Sea Similar reconnaissance flight led to the biggest charts have been consulted, as well as film was saved. air battle of the war, over Heligoland Bight. Departmental files. The material The Governor-General (Lord Gowrie) (Photo on the same page of the above article.) information resulting from this and the Governor (Lord Wakehurst) will examination has been correlated and attend the opening performance. The 2nd 30 January 1940 incorporated in the new map. Garrison Battalion, composed entirely of ANTARCTICA Additional first-hand information has also Diggers of the old A.I.F., will provide a NEW MAP AND HANDBOOK been obtained through personal contact guard of honour, and its band will render Notable Production with prominent explorers. Especially famous marching tunes. (From Our Canberra Representative) valuable assistance was given by Sir Sun (Sydney, NSW), Friday 19 January A noteworthy achievement in the way Douglas Mawson, Professor F. Debenham, 1940, page 5. of cartography stands to the credit of Mr. Captain J. K. Davis, Sir Hubert Wilkins, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 E. P. Bayliss, F.R.G.S., of the Dr. C. Coleridge Farr and Mr. John Rymill. 31235775 Department of the Interior, Canberra. Regret is expressed, however, that the He has produced a map of Antarctica information collected by Lars Christensen which will be hailed by cartographers all during his recent voyages has not been over the world as the work of a master. available. Not only is it notable for its execution, The main map features the Antarctic but also for the up-to-date completeness continent and surrounding waters, and there of the data it contains. are two insets, the one showing on a larger, The map has just been issued, together scale the coastal area of the Australian with a handbook in which Mr. J. S. Antarctic Territory, and the other the Cumpston, B.A., LLJB, D.P.A. of the relationship between the Antarctic continent Department of External Affairs, has and Australia, South Africa and South collaborated with Mr. Bayliss. The map is America. available in two sizes, the larger one, in The introduction of definite political two sheets, being 60 by 40 inches, and the boundaries between the various land smaller one 40 by 30 inches, and the divisions in the Australian Territory is an purchase price, with handbook included, is innovation in South Polar maps. These 7/6 and 5/- respectively. boundaries have been determined after very careful consideration by the Department of MINISTER’S FOREWORD External Affairs. Upwards of 600, political Both the Minister for the Interior and physical names are shown on the map. (Senator H. S. Foil) and the Minister for External Affairs (Sir Henry Gullett) have OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES contributed forewords to the handbook In connection with the bathymetrical A cartoon from the (Sun (Sydney, NSW), Friday 19 “The Antarctic is of direct concern to the information, it may be mentioned that the January 1940, page 5.). Commonwealth of Australia,” remarks Sir soundings indicated on British Admiralty Henry Gullett. “The Commonwealth charts have been supplemented by upwards 23
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day of 5000 additional soundings from Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate of the Cowra Aero Club's hangar next Discovery Committee reports, Norwegian (NSW), Tuesday 30 January 1940, page 3. Sunday. and other sources. The compilation of the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Now owned by the Canberra Aero Club, the bathymetric information, which covers an 32620688 Aeronca will be flown across country by area of more than 20 million square miles, members of that club, in company with a entailed considerable labour, but has resulted in a valuable and important contribution to Antarctic oceanography. Amongst the interesting features presented, attention is invited to the submarine ridge which indicates the continuation of the Andean chain through South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the South Orkney islands to Graham Land; the possible continuation of the mountain chain in Victoria Land to New Zealand and Australia; and the ridge from Kerguelen Island to the Antarctic continent. Two soundings of over 8000 metres A cartoon from the (Advertiser (Adelaide, Piper Cub, another small light plane. As a occur on the area covered by the maps, SA), Monday 4 March 1940, page 19.). Moth Major will be in attendance from viz., one of 8264 metres off the South Airflite, of Sydney, there will be at least Sandwich Islands and one of 8012 metres eight machines of varying types at the aero- 4 March 1940 to the north-east of New Zealand. drome for the opening. When the Wilkins- Sir H. Wilkins’s Plans For Arctic Trip Computations regarding the position in Ellsworth exploration ship, the Wyatt Earp, 1939 of the South Magnetic Polar Area was making her way through the Barrier Ice have been made by Dr. C. Coleridge Farr, MONTREAL, March 2. in January of last year, the Aeronca was of Canterbury. University College, New Sir Hubert Wilkins is on his way to North flown by Pilot Limburner in advance of the Zealand, and his determinations, as well as Canada to prepare for an Arctic expedition. ship, to choose the best path. previous determinations by other He plans to construct a 45-foot submarine, Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW), authorities, are shown in a tabulated and to establish a base on the Mackenzie Monday 4 March 1940, page 4. River, far to the south of Aklavik. statement inserted adjacent to that area. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Sir Hubert said that he would portage the 44265792 submarine around the unnavigable stretches FROM COOK TO PRESENT DAY In February, 1775, Captain James Cook of the river. He believes that the craft can 16 March 1940 wrote: “That there may be a continent or be operated by a crew of four under the ice, Flying epics of the twentieth century large tract of land near the Pole I will not where the party will study polar marine life. deny; on the contrary, I am of opinion there (Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Monday 4 GREAT FLIGHTS, by E. Colston is, and it is probable that we have seen a March 1940, page 19.). Shepherd. London: A. & C. Black. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. part of it. The excessive cold, the many https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7 It is good to see so many Australian islands and vast floats of ice, all tend to 4435863 names featured in this new-style flying prove that there must be land to the South. ... The risque one runs in exploring a coast book. in these unknown and icy seas is so very Ross and Keith Smith, Hinkler, “Smithy,” and Sir Hubert Wilkins get great that I can be bold enough to say that 4 March 1940 chapters to themselves. Twenty-eight years no man will ever venture farther than I have POLAR SUBMARINE. done, and that the lands which may be to ago, Wilkins photographed the Balkan War Sir H. Wilkins’s Plans. with a cine camera. the South will never be explored.” MONTREAL March 3._(A.A.P.) If Cook could only see this map of In 1913 he went to the Arctic with Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Australian Stefansson. In 1917 Wilkins returned to Antarctica which has been produced at explorer, who is travelling to North Canada Canberra he would indeed be astonished civilisation to learn that there was another to prepare for his Arctic expedition, plans to war on. at all that has happened since his day. construct a 45ft submarine and establish a And yet nothing, very much happened He scurried back to Australia to join the base on the Mackenzie River, south of Australian Flying Corps. Late though he for long, long years after he wrote the Aklavik. words just quoted. was in entering the war, he was awarded the He said yesterday that he would have the Military Cross and bar. As Lars Christensen put it in 1935, “for submarine carried round unnavigable many years the continent remained In 1920 he was off with a British official stretches of water. He believes that the craft expedition to the Antarctic, and from that unknown, and it was not until the period can be operated with a crew of four. It will 1901-20 that the blank spaces on the map time his life has been spent mainly away travel under the ice to enable the crew to from civilisation on the work of the began to decrease and the coastline of the study polar marine life. continent to take form and emerge from this explorer and the naturalist. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Monday 4 At 38, Wilkins was as slim and fit, bald mist of centuries.” March 1940, page 12. All the history of Antarctic exploration is and bearded as ever. Men still wanted to https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 know whether there was land between the admirably summarised by Mr. Cumpston 7649966 up to the period of the German Antarctic most northerly points of Europe and America, and the North Pole. Wilkins expedition in 1938-39, in the handbook 4 March 1940 accompanying Mr. Bayliss’s map, Mr. decided to find out. After numerous ANTARCTIC PLANE Cumpston, by the way, is a son of Dr. J. H. crashes, forced landings and failures, this FOR COWRA AERO DISPLAY L. Cumpston, C.M.G., Commonwealth cheerful be-whiskered Australian flew from The trim little Aeronca scouting plane Director General of Health. Alaska to Spitsbergen and demolished the which was used by Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth Major George Gibson, until recently in old theories of land between Greenland and and Sir Hubert Wilkins in their Antarctic charge of the Salvation Army Corps at the Pole. Like “Smithy’s” first great explorations a little more than a year ago, Dubbo, has been, awarded the Order of venture, this flight was made on American and which was subsequently purchased by Long Service. This decoration comes to money. the Australian Government, will be one of officers after 25 years’ unbroken service in Some of the earliest pioneers of flying the visiting planes for the official opening the Army. were Italians. The Marquis de Pinedo’s seaplane odyssey earns a whole chapter, 24
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day and General Nobile’s Arctic exploits are Under the patronage of the Governor- of dust to cross, the Canal and add a described. Two years ago when I was in the General, Lord Gowrie, , V.C., and Lord modern Book to the Old Testament. Arctic, Norwegians and Swedish ad Wakehurst, the State Governor of N.S.W., The one to freeze and flounder try mud as venturers snorted at the mention of the and in the presence of a distinguished the iron-lipped gods of Hate spewed death Italian general’s name. gathering which in eluded Dr. Bean, the and destruction upon them — the other to Umberto Nobile was an engineer. He Official Historian ; representatives of the stifle in the breathless wadies ; to join battle built the Norge airship himself and flew it Returned Soldiers ; the heads of the fighting and emerge victorious, in a matter of mere over the Arctic. Then he built the fateful services ; and Captain Frank Hurley, the hours or perish when the only water lies Italia and went off to drop a cross on the intrepid cameraman who, in company with behind the enemy’s strongly held positions Pole for Pope Pius XI. On the way back the Sir Hubert Wilkins and others, helped to ; and to fulfil many an ancient prophecy, airship’s elevator control was damaged, and make it, this remarkable film unfolded the such as, for example, “When the waters of the ship came down on the ice-floes. graphic story of the part our men played in the Nile shall flow in Jerusalem,” which Some of the men were swept away with shaping history. they brought about by pushing a pipe line the envelope: Nobile and a few others in the Edited by the inimitable “Mitch’ (Captain from the one to the other as they, forced gondola drifted helplessly through the sea G. D. Mitchell, M.C., D.C. M.), four years their way forward. Back to the West where on an ice-berg. They prayed for rescue. of crystallised history spring to life and live the giant forces lie locked in the grim Biaggi went on tapping away at his radio. again with vital intensity through two and a struggle of the Somme. Pozieres! Days later they were found by French half hours of dramatic and, at times, The ghastly scar of Delville Wood. Flers! aviators who heard the call. Malmgren the poignant interest. Here and there we are The stagnant, morass gripped by the most Swede was the only one dead, and some of privileged to witness the resurrection of a vicious winter for sixty years and the the Italians were wearing his clothing. friend, to see again that quirk at the mouth, continuous hammering of the guns. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), Saturday the smile in the eye; though we know we The unremitting slavery of human ants in 16 March 1940, page 10. laid him with his boots on in a blanket by a world given over to spoliation by some https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 the sunken road near Flers away back in abstract maniac monster. Bapaume. 47487275 sixteen. Bullecourt. The mighty upheaval of We see the fellows “going in” and we Messines that rocked not only Flanders, but note that no footsteps falter. We see others Fritz’s faith in himself awe-inspired the vast “coming out,” and those of us who audience gazed along that stricken path to remember know that, though the ranks are Hell — the Menin Road, and were swept on closed and the men march in fours, there to Passchendaele. Passchendaele, that epic are in visible gaps which, if the missing of destruction and wastage ; that symphony files were filled in, would extend the of slime and mud end slaughter, where, column perhaps to half its length again. every ruin lay mirrored in the hate born Silently these phantoms glide across the quagmire at its feet ; where the stork bones screen with “Mitch’s” voice coming clearly of vehicles and of the animals that had from one corner of the darkened stage to drawn them were the outstanding features speak for them. And those who “sleep in of the blighted landscape. Flanders fields” may rest content in the Traversing across a continent the interest knowledge that he “does them proud.” centres on a new focal point. We are As the screen unfolds their visual story permitted to see something of the thankless their raconteur makes each epic point with task set the Dunster Force. This handful of dignity and with pride, and softens the stark picked Dominion and Imperial troops is Fossils collected in Antarctica by Wilkins. . *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_5_114]. reality, as they did, with the blessing of shown fighting a forlorn hope in its gentle humour. endeavour to electrify a disinterested, From the enlistment of the raw recruit the famine-stricken horde, already harassed by film bears us down the dim corridor of the Persian and Turkish marauders, into a war and out again into the daylight of the homogeneous body with sufficient national Armistice. It depicts the young men pride to protect itself and so save the oil streaming to the colours from every walk of wells of Baku from falling into the hands of life ; each, clad in his own particular taste the Turk. of the prevailing mode, coming up to be flung into the maelstrom of a training camp to emerge as a lithe component of what is yet only a potential fighting machine. But we mark quality in the step and the carriage of these boys that grants us more than a hint of the tremendous potentialities ripening within.
Life at sea. Convoyed in that mighty armada across the Indian Ocean. The Sydney slipping away for a moment to attend to an over bold German-en passent. As envoys of an embryo nation to Egypt, cradle of civilisation, they come. Here their metal,
Photo from the (Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), Saturday tempered on the Lybian sands, is forged 16 March 1940, page 10.). into that gleaming blade with which the title to their nationhood was to be -carved from 23 March 1940 the hostile heights of Gallipoli. Back from “WE OF THE A.I.F.” that Homeric venture they momentarily The Commonwealth Government's hover at the dividing of the ways. Australian troops with their kangaroo mascot. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins52_1_51]. Momentous Film. The Infantry and the Artillery turn their Reviewed by Cyril Samuels. faces from the East to follow their fortunes All, however to little purpose. A quick The night of January 20 marked the amid the privations and the slaughter of view of the navy dealing with the Sydney premiere or. “We of the A.I.F.” Gaul as the Light Horse move off in a cloud submarine menace and we find ourselves 25
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day back in France in time to receive the full nice melody of words; he was stating a brunt of the great German offensive. We meteorological fact—the secrets of the see the A.I.F. rushed down from the North poles may be the key to more accurate to the Somme to be thrown into the rapidly weather forecasts of the future. widening breech. On arrival, Monash found The weatherman has charted the seas, our present Governor General and his chief checked the wind and measured the tides in doggedly holding the dwindling line against efforts accurately to indicate the weather. tremendous odds. Then in sequence follow Backed by research of organisation he the glorious chapters of Villers Bretonneux saves the nation millions of pounds a year and Mont St. Quentin. Whisked Eastward by giving flood warnings, forecasting heat- we ride again with the Light Horse. Loping waves and bushfire danger. in the dust of the Australian whalers we Wherever a farmer scans the sky for rain, descend with them a thousand feet below a grazier looks at the lowering sky, afraid sea level to the floor of the Jordan Valley. for the safety of his flocks should the floods Pestilence rides with us. Heat, flies, come, the weatherman can help them with dysentry, and worse—the malarial advice and forecasts backed by know-ledge mosquito! Driving on to the horses of the and experience. Sea of Galilee we watch these lean —THE EDITOR. Southland Centaurs unfurl their pennants in Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - 1982), A map from the (Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 3 June 1940, page 1.). Tiberius, the headquarters of long-departed Saturday 30 March 1940, page 20. Roman Emporers. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 Swiftly away. Enveloped in its own dust 7811561 the galloping host thunders into the desert. The sands are steadily running out, but on to Damascus clatter the hoofs to re-echo down the “street called Straight.” The Turks collapse. In the West the war is drawing to a close. Men of 1914 are granted leave to Australia. We see them entrain at Bray. Think of it! After four years of war one train to take home the remnant of the first thirty odd thousand. It pulls out and then — the Armistice. Wild rejoicings in Paris. The Victory March of the Conquerors in London. Then they came back —“ . . but “Not the six hundred.” “We of the A.I.F.” will be screened in Port Macquarie on Tuesday, 2nd April. Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate (NSW), Saturday 23 March 1940, page 4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 30482049
30 March 1940 An Editorial MARCH 30, 1940 THE WEATHER IS BIG NEWS. A Tourist, who arrived in Australia recently, was surprised on walking into a city church to find the congregation praying for rain for the farmers and graziers An advertisement from the (Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, outback. NSW), Thursday 20 June 1940, page 3.).
In Australia, a primary producing A cartoon from the (Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - country, the weather is a matter of life and 1982), Saturday 30 March 1940, page 20.). 20 June 1940 death. SIR HUBERT WILKINS AS CYCLIST On its favour depend the success of 3 June 1940 LONDON, June 18. crops, the survival of flocks and herds. Sir Hubert Wilkins Thinks U.S. Will Be Sir Hubert Wilkins, the explorer, who has Drought, floods, bushfires — the three great Drawn Into War arrived in England from France, was forced natural phenomena of Australian life make “The Telegraph” Special Service. to ride a bicycle from Paris to Bordeaux us more conscious of weather than any NEW YORK, June 2. — before he could obtain a plane. He went other race in the world. Sir Hubert Wilkin s boarding a Clipper from the U.S.A. to Paris, where he spent And yet many of us think the weather- for Europe, said: “I am sure the United several days before the Germans occupied man is a humorous person who encourages States will be drawn into the war. I think it the city. He was unable to get a plane in us to take an umbrella on a fine day and is likely, moreover, that United States Paris to take him to London. “I am over wear galoshes in a heat-wave. Fun for the troops will go to foreign soil, and that here representing a group of American cartoonist but as a tipster it’s not so hot. America will assist in the transportation of manufacturers, who are prepared to produce But meteorology is a vastly greater thing supplies to Europe.” 50 complete aeroplane fuselages a day,” he than that Australian explorer Sir Hubert Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 3 June explained. Wilkins said that it wasn’t adventure that 1940, page 1. Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), took him on polar trips; it was the infinitely https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Thursday 20 June 1940, page 3. greater task of mapping and charting 88191569 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 weather conditions. 835222 The poet who spoke of winds that blew from pole to pole was not merely making a 26
The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day
27 June 1940 TAKING OVER WAR ORDERS Daily Telegraph Service and A.A.P, LONDON, Wednesday. The British Purchasing Commission in the United States announces that it has taken over all French contracts let to American manufacturers of war materials. “The British Government has assumed all the liabilities of the French Government in connection with these contracts,” the announcement says. French contracts are understood to total nearly £220,000,000. Britain’s own contracts total about £156,000,000. They include warplanes, plane engines, tools, trucks, and munitions. The U.S. Advisory Defence Committee states that Henry Ford has refused to make Rolls Royce aeroplane engines for the British Government. Ford Plans Cancelled Because of this refusal, the Committee has cancelled negotiations with Ford for the early mass production of the engines. It had been announced earlier that Ford would make 6000 engines, some for Britain and some for the United States. Sir Hubert Wilkins. Australian-born explorer left England today for America after negotiating in Britain for the production of aeroplanes in the United Artist, Painting and subject all in one photo. *OSU Polar States. He said that his mission had been Archives [wilkins35_11_45]. satisfactory. He hoped to follow it up with swift action in the United States which would “result in considerable assistance to Britain's growing air strength.” Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), Thursday
27 June 1940, page 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2
47764089 Wilkins, Balchen 25 September 1940 and Walt Disney and a famous AMERICANS ASSIST AUSTRALIANS. mouse. A small paragraph in an American paper *OSU Polar which was received recently gives an Archives [wilkins35_13_1] interesting side-light on the work which is being done for the Australian and New
Zealand forces in that country. Headed, “Party to Aid Anzac Relief,” the paragraph gives details of a cocktail party to be held in aid of the Anzac War Relief Fund which provides comforts for the Australian and New Zealand men fighting in England and the Near East. The event was conducted under the combined auspices of the New Zealand Society and the Australian Society of New York, and patrons of the fund include Marjorie Lawrence, of the Metropolitan Opera Company, Percy Grainger, the pianist, and Sir Hubert Wilkins. Proceeds were to be sent to official Government representatives in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington and relayed to the fighting forces abroad. West Australian (Perth, WA), Wednesday 25 September 1940, page 10. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 6740098
27