South-Bound Frigates’ Radio Link With N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 6

South-Bound Frigates’ Radio Link With N.Z.

I From. DENTS WEDERELL, ef P-zxr’ -eporriwg staff, with the Royal New Zealand Navy frujates, esovrtmp NJZ. Antarctic expedition ship Endeavour J

ABOARD H-MNZB. HAWEA. Latitude 60 Deg. South. Decernoer 25. As the Hawea rolled steadily southward toward the pack ice today. Chief Petty Officer Fred Ghest and hisjeam of radio operators worked 'for more than 12 hours to establish contact with Wirratangi radio so that those on board could speak to their families in New Zealand. On the air shortly before 7 30 they were continually frustrated by fadeouts and, in one unfortunate instance, by human ! error. With each watch a new operator name on to pick up the thread Those who had the longest day were Trading Telegraphist Dennis

, Heme snd Ordinary Telegraphist Pfaihp Mercer. Then, at 8 o’clock ■ this evening, after three previous; ■ -chethL.es had broken down, a - ‘ink was established and a small; : group of seamen cadets and offi- • cers began to gather outside the ’ after radio cabin and take turns s?peaking to their ' ives. families. i parents, and sweethearts. = In the next hour about 25 calls, were put through, conditions vary-: I ing as the operators changed from i ■, one frequency to another. s I Any hour now the first iceberg i i will be sighted. Although well I within the dangerous southern • waters, neither a berg nor a floe . has yet been seen from either of r the escorting frigates, the Pukaki : and the Hawea. or the Endeavour. The albatrosses are beginning to fall behind now. but there ’are still many mutton’eirds and whale- ! birds about, and the Antarctic and snow petrels which live in the ice • pack are wheeling about in our! wake.