Explorer’s grandson on way south

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 18

Explorer’s grandson on way south

A grandson of the leader of the first expedition to winter in the Antarctic—more than 70 years ago—will fly to the Antarctic today.

He is Ensign Bernard de Gerlache de Gomery, of the Belgian Navy, who is the guest of the United States Navy. He will return to Christchurch in February next year. During his visit, he will act as an observer for the Belgian Navy and the Belgian-Netherlands Antarc-

tic Expeditions Committee. Ensign de Gerlache, who has a doctor’s degree in law and economics, is completing his national military service. In 1898, his grandfather, Adrian de Gerlache, led a Belgian expedition in the Belgica. The ship sailed as far south as Alexander Island and was then beset in the pack ice and drifted for 12 months, thereby gaining the distinction of the first exploring vessel to winter in the Antarctic. An American member of the expedition was Dr F. A. Cook, who later achieved some notoriety as a rival to Peary. His claim to have reached the North Pole was discounted by geographers. Another member of the expedition was Roald Amundsen.

Ensign de Gerlache’s father, Baron de Gerlache, was the leader of the Belgian station, Roi Baudouin, established on the Queen Maud Land coast during the International Geophysical Year. In 1961, he visited McMurdo Station and Scott Base.

In spite of his family association with the Antarctic, Ensign de Gerlache has no intention of following in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father. He intends to go into business on his return to Belgium.

Explosive stolen.—Several sticks of gelignite were stolen at the week-end from a hut at the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s quarry at Gollans Bay, according to the Lyttelton police, who are investigating.