Latest news with #AntarcticExpedition
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
UK scientist's Antarctic remains found after 66 years, closing a frozen chapter
LONDON, Aug 12 — The remains of a British meteorologist who died in an Antarctic expedition in 1959 have been recovered six decades later from a glacier, the British Antarctic Survey said Monday. They were identified by DNA-testing as those of Dennis 'Tink' Bell, who died aged 25 when he was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which became the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the UK's polar research institute. Bell died on Admiralty Bay on King George Island, located 120 kilometres off the coast of Antarctica on July 26, 1959. He was stationed on the island for a two-year assignment at a small UK research base. Bell and three other men had set out to climb and survey a glacier, when he fell through a crevasse — a deep chasm in the ice. His body was never recovered. The remains, which were exposed by a receding glacier, were found on January 19 by a team from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station. 'This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science,' said BAS director Jane Francis. The bone fragments were carried to the Falkland Islands by the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, and then brought to London for DNA testing. Alongside his remains, the Polish team also found over 200 personal items including radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed wristwatch and a Swedish-brand knife. Bell's brother David Bell, who lives in Australia, said the discovery after 66 years left him and his sister 'shocked and amazed'. 'Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything,' said his brother. Francis said the confirmation of the remains 'is both a poignant and profound moment for all of us at British Antarctic Survey'. Bell 'was one of the many brave … personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions,' she added. — AFP
ABC News
6 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Remains of UK researcher who fell through crevasse in 1959 recovered from Antarctic glacier
The remains of a British meteorologist who died in an Antarctic expedition in 1959 have been recovered six decades later from a glacier, the British Antarctic Survey said. They were identified by DNA-testing as those of Dennis "Tink" Bell, who died aged 25 while working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which became the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the UK's polar research institute. Mr Bell died at Admiralty Bay on King George Island, located 120 kilometres off the coast of Antarctica on July 26, 1959. He was stationed on the island for a two-year assignment at a small UK research base. Mr Bell and three other men had set out to climb and survey a glacier, when he fell through a crevasse — a deep chasm in the ice. His body was never recovered. Mr Bell's remains, exposed by a receding glacier, were found on January 19 by a team from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station. BAS director Jane Francis said the discovery brought closure to a "decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science." The bone fragments were carried to the Falkland Islands by the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, and then brought to London for DNA testing. Alongside his remains, the Polish team also found over 200 personal items, including radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed wristwatch and a Swedish-brand knife. Mr Bell's brother David Bell, who lives in Australia, said the discovery after 66 years left him and his sister "shocked and amazed". "Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero, as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything," David Bell said. Ms Francis said the confirmation of the remains was "both a poignant and profound moment for all of us at British Antarctic Survey." She said Mr Bell "was one of the many brave … personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions." AFP
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Shackleton expedition pocket watch sells at Cotswold auction
A silver pocket watch, which travelled on explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic voyage more than a century ago, has sold for £2,000 more than its guide price at George V Antarctic Expedition open face pocket watch was taken on the SY Aurora during Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic Expedition between 1914 and May 1915, a blizzard caused the ship to break from its anchorage, and it spent 312 days adrift due to ice. It was freed by melting ice in March watch went under the hammer at Kinghams Auctioneers in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on Thursday and was sold to a private buyer for £2,600.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Watch with 'adventurous past' to be auctioned in Gloucestershire
A pocket watch which has been described as having an "adventurous past" by an auction house is set to go under the engraving on its dustcover details how the watch was taken on the SY Aurora by Sir Ernest Shackleton during his Trans-Antarctic Expedition between 1914 and open face silver pocket watch was inherited 40 years ago by the current watch is expected to fetch between £400 and £600 at Kinghams Auctioneers in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on 10 July. The engraving on the back cover reads: "This watch went to Antarctica in 1914. and was carried away on the S.Y. Aurora on her long drift returning when she relieved (sic) the party in 1917."The S.Y. Aurora transported and supplied the Ross Sea Party, a component of Sir Ernest's expedition, led by Joseph Stenhouse. In May 1915, a blizzard caused the ship to break from its anchorage and, with ice hindering its ability to manoeuvre, it spent 312 days was freed by melting ice in March said competitive bidding is expected on the watch because there is "a strong interest in anything expedition and particularly Antarctic-related amongst collectors".
CBC
10-06-2025
- CBC
Come aboard with us, breaking ice in Antarctica
Take a seat in the captain's chair, dodging icebergs and breaking ice, as CBC News gets exclusive access to the first all-Canadian expedition to the Antarctic. Come aboard HMCS Margaret Brooke on its historic journey.
