British North Greenland expedition facts for kids
The British North Greenland Expedition was a science trip to Greenland led by Commander James Simpson from the British Navy. It lasted for two years, from July 1952 to August 1954. About 30 men took part in this adventure, though some stayed for only one year.
The main goal of the expedition was to study different scientific areas. These included glaciology (the study of ice and glaciers), meteorology (the study of weather), geology (the study of rocks and Earth's structure), and physiology (the study of how living things work). The team also measured gravity and studied earthquakes (seismology). They even looked at how radio waves travel in the Arctic from their special station called "North Ice". The expedition also helped the armed forces learn how to operate in very cold Arctic places. Most of the team members were serving in the military. They traveled over the ice using dog sleds, on foot, or with special tracked vehicles called M29 Weasels. The explorers also made the first climbs in the Barth Mountains and Queen Louise Land.
Contents
History of the Expedition
Before the main trip, Commander Simpson explored the area in 1951. He flew in a Short Sunderland plane to Seal Lake. From there, he walked across a glacier to Queen Louise Land. He found a lake without ice that would be perfect for planes to land. He named it Britannia Lake, thinking of the future expedition. His small team stayed for three weeks before flying back to Britain.
In July 1952, the main expedition began. One ship, the Tottan, sailed from Deptford, England. Another ship, carrying four Weasel vehicles, sailed from Hull. The team had 25 members, including military personnel, scientists, and a Danish army officer. They picked up sledge dogs in south-west Greenland. Then, both ships sailed to Young Sund on the north-east coast. From there, RAF Sunderland planes flew the team to Britannia Lake in Queen Louise Land. This became their main base camp.
Commander Simpson then led a group with dog sleds to set up the North Ice station. This station was about 230 miles (370 km) to the west. The Weasel vehicles were unloaded on the coast and driven 100 miles (160 km) inland to the base camp.
Once the team reached North Ice, their supplies were delivered by air. Over 86 tons of equipment were dropped from two RAF Handley Page Hastings planes flying from Thule. During one supply drop on September 16, 1952, a Hastings plane got caught in a white-out. This is when snow and clouds make it impossible to see the horizon. The plane had to make an emergency landing. Three crew members were hurt but found shelter in the plane. They were rescued by a US Air Force plane. The rest of the crew were picked up two days later.
In early 1953, the scientific work began. Teams studied glaciers and measured gravity and seismic activity between North Ice and Britannia Lake. They continued their observations through the second winter. In 1954, a group traveled across the ice cap from North Ice to Thule. They tried to measure the ice sheet's thickness using seismic sounds, but it didn't work. However, they placed markers on the ice to track how it moved and how much snow built up. At North Ice, they also drilled out ice cores 14 meters (46 feet) deep to study past climates.
The expedition had one sad event in 1953. Captain H. A. Jensen, a surveyor from the Danish Army, died after falling on a steep snow slope.
In August 1953, the expedition received new supplies by sea and air. Eight team members who had planned to stay for only one year left. Five new members joined the team. The expedition returned to England by ship in August 1954.
All members of the expedition received the Polar Medal in November 1954. Commander Simpson also received the Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society in 1955. He was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1956.
Temperatures Recorded
The expedition faced extremely cold weather. At the North Ice station, temperatures below -59.4°C (-75°F) were recorded 16 times. On January 9, 1954, the coldest temperature was recorded: a chilling -66.1°C (-87°F).
Expedition Members
Here are some of the people who were part of the expedition:
- Captain Michael Edward Borg Banks, Royal Marines, who led a vehicle team.
- Instructor Lieutenant-Commander Richard Brett-Knowles, Royal Navy, an Assistant Scientist and Radio Officer.
- Lieutenant Francis Richard Brooke, Royal Navy, a Surveyor.
- Colin Bruce Bradley Bull, a Geophysicist and Senior Scientist.
- Chief Petty Officer Herbert Randle Dean, a Senior Radio Operator.
- Lieutenant Angus Bruce Erskine, Royal Navy, in charge of the sledge dogs.
- Edward Owen Jones, Merchant Navy, in charge of the central ice-cap station and a vehicle team.
- Harold Lister, a Senior Glaciologist.
- Surgeon Lieutenant John Potter Masterton, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, the Medical Officer.
- Ronald William Moreton, Merchant Navy, the Stores and Equipment Officer.
- Staff Sergeant John William Oakley, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, a Vehicle Mechanic.
- Instructor Lieutenant Graham Rollitt, Royal Navy, a Meteorologist and Second-in-Command.
- Commander Cortlandt James Woore Simpson, Royal Navy, the Expedition Leader.
- Petty Officer Telegraphist Kenneth Earl Taylor, a Radio Operator.
- Peter Francis Taylor, an Assistant Glaciologist.
- Peter John Wyllie, a Geologist.
First Year Only
- Captain John Stanley Agar, Royal Corps of Signals, a Radio Officer.
- Acting Quartermaster Sergeant Sidney Peter Boardman, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, a Vehicle Mechanic.
- George Frederick Cadd, a Seismic Operator.
- Richard Alexander Hamilton, the Chief Scientist and Second-in-Command.
- Captain Hans A. Jensen, Danish Army, a Surveyor (who sadly died in 1953).
- James Douglas Peacock, a Senior Geologist.
- Charles George Malcolm Slesser, an Assistant Physicist and Surveyor.
- Harold Ellis Lewis, a Physiologist.
- Captain James Douglas Walker, Corps of Royal Engineers, in charge of vehicles.
Second Year Only
- Keith Charles Arnold, a Surveyor.
- Robert John Maurice Bruce, a Seismic Operator.
- Captain George Raymond Fletcher, Corps of Royal Engineers, a member of a vehicle team.
- Warrant Officer Class II Desmond Edgar Lemuel Homard, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, a Vehicle Mechanic.
- William Stanley Bryce Paterson, a Physicist.
