Admiralty Despatches

Admiralty Despatches

Heaven High, Ocean Deep

Heaven High, Ocean Deep

The Secret South - A tale of Operation Tabarin, 1943-46

Ivan Lamb

This book is a key eyewitness account, illustrated with contemporary photos and expedition maps. Operation Tabarin is without doubt one of the most significant expeditions of what might be described as the 'post-Heroic' phase of Antarctic exploration; ultimately it would develop into the British Antarctic Survey, arguably the most important and enduring of all government-sponsored programmes of research in the Antarctic. Operation Tabarin also set in train a series of events that would lead, ultimately, to the Falklands War of 1982.
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Seventy years after the end of World War II, the full story of Britain's secret Antarctic expedition has still never been told. Launched in 1943, Operation Tabarin was an expedition to secretly establish bases, keep a watchful eye on German and Japanese activities, and curb opportunistic Argentinian incursions. Ivan Mackenzie Lamb was the expedition's botanist but, until now, his narrative has never been published. His account provides a fascinating insight into this top secret military operation. He was a member of the naval party that established three manned bases, he remained in the field throughout the operation's two-year duration and took part in all three major sledging expeditions. After the war, he used his diary to complete a vivid story of his time in Antarctica. It is a key eyewitness account and has been illustrated with contemporary photos and expedition maps. Operation Tabarin is without doubt one of the most significant expeditions of what might be described as the 'post-Heroic' phase of Antarctic exploration; ultimately it would develop into the British Antarctic Survey, arguably the most important and enduring of all government-sponsored programmes of research in the Antarctic. Operation Tabarin also set in train a series of events that would lead, ultimately, to the Falklands War of 1982.

ISBN:
Format: Hardback
Author(s): Ivan Lamb
First Publishment Date: 02 October 2018
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Author(s) Ivan Lamb
Customer Reviews
  1. This is an extraordinary story of an old fashioned Antarctic adventure under fairly basic conditions. Lamb’s account is an enjoyable, enlightening read and highly recommended.
    To say that this book is a revelation is an understatement. In 1942, a group of Argentine naval personnel went ashore in the South Shetland Islands (part of Antarctica) and claimed them and a large area of the Antarctic continent for Argentina. Sound familiar? The Argentines had assumed that the pressures of fighting a world war would mean that there would be no reaction from Britain. However, they were wrong. A combined scientific and service team was sent in December 1943 to establish a British presence and commence scientific work and exploration. This book was written by Ivan MacKenzie Lamb, a distinguished botanist working at the British museum with a lifelong interest in Antarctic lichen. Disillusioned by the horror of war, he welcomed joining the team as he hoped it would restore his faith in humanity. Lamb’s account doesn’t really say whether he found the philosophical answer he was looking for but his account of exploration in the pre-GPS and Goretex-era is fascinating. A private, somewhat introspective man, he proved to be a tough explorer. Supported by supply ships from the Falklands when the ice permitted, the small team of 13 had to construct their hut and use dog teams for their exploration. He writes that his tale is not one of gruelling hardship and icy wastes, but rather “an unassuming and straightforward account”, covering both the lighter side of life as well as the serious research. An avid expedition diary writer, the team’s isolation is best illustrated by an entry for 20 August 1945 that they had picked up a radio message that the Japanese war was over remarking: “Wonder why Japan collapsed so quickly.” Returning to UK in spring 1946, the expedition were surprised by the apparent indifference to all that they had achieved – “the quietness of our departure was only exceeded by that of our return”. On his return, Lamb continued his botany studies and writing. This is an extraordinary story of an old fashioned Antarctic adventure under fairly basic conditions. Lamb’s account is an enjoyable, enlightening read and highly recommended.

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