Launched: 19 April 2003. Last updated: 9 January 2005.
Queries, requests for information, etc., that we have posted for readers.
Rip Bulkeley e-mails the following:
"The first child born in Antarctica is usually said to have been an Argentine boy, Emilio Marcos Palma, in 1978. But there has always been a question mark over this, because of rumours about a pregnant crew member on the Soviet Union's whaling flotilla, which operated in Antarctic waters for many seasons from January 1947 onwards. So my first question is, does anyone know any more about the rumoured Soviet candidate for this distinction?(9 January 2005)And secondly, since Emilio Palma was pretty certainly the first person born on land in Antarctica anyway, (a) who were his parents and (b) what is interesting about his younger brother Juan Luciano Palma, now about eight years old?
I don't know the answer to the first question. Nor did Bob Headland when I discussed it with him at the Scott Polar a dozen years ago. On the second question, I have put the answers--which very few English-speakers know--into a message ready to send you, but perhaps you would like to run the quiz without knowing them yourself?"
A second query from Stephen Haddelsey, biographer of Frank Bickerton (AAE, 1911-14):
"I would very much like to hear from anyone with information regarding Frank Wild and James McIlroy's cotton-planting experiment in Nyasaland (modern Malawi) between 1920-21. It is believed that Bickerton was also in Nyasaland at this time and any corroborating information would be gratefully received. Email:
A query from Stephen Haddelsey:
"I am currently researching a biography of my relative, Francis Howard Bickerton, who accompanied the AAE (1911-14), as engineer in charge of the air-tractor sledge.
Originally employed to maintain the Vickers REP monoplane, he was later responsible for its conversion to a motor-sledge. This became necessary after Lieut. Hugh Watkins crashed the plane in Adelaide. Bickerton led the Western Sledging Party (Dec.'12 to Jan.'13) and the sledge was used during the earlier portion of this journey.
Not only was he directly associated with this first attempt at taking an aeroplane to the Antarctic but he was also heavily involved in the first attempt to use wireless equipment in the Antarctic and, with Leslie Whetter and A.J. Hodegman, the first to discover a meteorite in the Antarctic.
My biography of Bickerton will cover his entire life, which included WWI and WWII aviation, treasure hunting in the South Pacific, farming in Newfoundland, the founding of one of California's most famous golf clubs, involvement in the British film industry and some years in East Africa. Incidentally, he was also
recruited by Shackleton for the 'Endurance' expedition but, after assisting with the selection of wingless aeroplanes etc, he elected to fight on the Western Front.
While I am fortunate in having unique access to family papers, photographs etc, I should very much welcome the input of any of your readers / contacts who can
shed any additional light on his career or on the relations between Bickerton and other members of the AAE."
Stephen Haddelsey
A query from Chris Albury of Dominic Winter Book Auctions:
"I am wondering if anyone can help with some research about a 'Polly' known to both J.M. Barrie and Captain Scott. I have a copy of The Voyages of Captain Scott, by Charles Turley, with an Introduction by Sir J.M. Barrie, 1st edition, 1914. On the front endpaper Barrie has inscribed in blue ink: 'To Polly / You were his great love / JMB / Dec 1932'. What I'm trying to find out is who Polly was and if Barrie is referring to an affair between Scott and Polly. It would seem that Barrie was a close confidante of Scott's private life and knew of his affair with the actress Pauline Chase, Barrie's favourite Peter Pan. Polly is usually a dimunitive of the name Mary, though it could possibly refer to a Miriam, a Martha or even Apollonia. Any bright suggestions will be
gratefully received and acknowledged. The book itself will be sold in our
book auction on Wednesday 25 June [2003] for which the catalogue is available free online from about ten days prior to the sale."
Chris Albury
Pamela Stevenson e-mails and asks about J. Gordon Hayes:
"I would appreciate any information relating to Rev.J.Gordon Hayes. I have endeavoured to find out as much as possible about this author but apart from his being born in 1877, being at Cambridge University in 1906 and being ordained Vicar of Storridge in
Malvern in 1923 plus taking six years to write Antarctica - A Treatise
on the Southern Continent published in 1928 and 1932 when he published
Conquest of the South Pole and in 1934 Conquest of the North Pole. He died in a nursing home in 1936. I found his first book Antarctica to be quite hostile--especially towards Scott and I wonder why. Where was Hayes born? He was 9 years younger than Scott; why was he so against him, when--at that time Scott was such a hero? Did Hayes ever travel
to the Antarctic? I found it odd that such a 'christian' man could write such a critical book as 'Antarctica' and then do a complete turn around with Conquest of the South Pole. Thank you for any information."
Pamela Stevenson
Francis Howard Bickerton, Mawson's AAE
E-mail: sphaddelsey@yahoo.co.uk
Captain Scott / J.M. Barrie--Who's Polly?
Cataloguer and Valuer
Dominic Winter Book Auctions
The Old School, Maxwell Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5DR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1793 611340 Fax +44 (0)1793 491727
E-mail: info@myom.fsnet.co.uk
www.dominicwinter.co.uk
J. Gordon Hayes
E-mail: pamela@treeregister.fsnet.co.uk