South with Mawson; Reminiscences of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14

Laseron wrote South with Mawson; Reminiscences of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14 in 1947, some 35 years after the fact, and because of this it does read as a look back on the expedition rather than reading ‘as it happens'. This however doesn't detract from a very good book. What the reader will notice though is he refers to Antarctic landmarks by names not given until well after the expedition.

Laseron was American born, Australian raised and was on the expedition as the zoologist - primarily to collect animal samples - sea creatures and birds, as well as participating in the general activities of the group. In preparation for the expedition he trained in skinning and preserving birds.

Mawsons Australasian Antarctic Expedition explored, surveyed and charted the largely unexplored Antarctic coastline. The expedition was not without its drama, when Mawson and his sled team failed to return by the deadline and the ship which was to collect them Aurora had to departed to pick up the other base team, unable to return. Unfortunately two of the men had perished and Mawson very nearly too, although he proved himself with admirable stamina and determination to make an against the odds return. His prize of course, along with 6 other men, was to spend a further 12 months to await the return of the ship.

Notwithstanding this, a huge amount of geographic and scientific knowledge was gained by the expedition, and in spite of the deaths of Ninnis and Mertz, it was judged a successful expedition from a research perspective, but ran at a considerable loss. Of course, World war I limited the ability for Mawson's book, Hurleys film and photography to claw back money to settle debts.

In Laseron's narrative, as we might expect in a personal description of the expedition, he talks in the most detail about his specific involvement and although the men worked mostly as a team. The overall expedition was split into three bases which did not interact for the year on the ice. One was at the Australian Subantarctic Macquarie Island, one (Mawson's, in which Laseron participated) was based at Cape Denison to explore Adelie and King George V lands; the Western base was somewhat further way than hoped - far enough that communications were not possible - as the weather and geographical conditions were too challenging.

Laseron took part in the establishment of the base and running out of depots in preparation for the sledging expeditions which were to take place in the Antarctic Summer. He took part in two of these, as did most of the other men.

Within his narrative Laseron shares lots of anecdotes from Antarctic base life, generally funny and someones expense, but all all in good fun. Any other work he was involved in he gave a good description of, and a general description of other peoples work. He has a natural admiration for Mawson, and seems genuinely fond of many of the members of the team. Frank Hurley, the photographer, plays a large part in the narrative.

I found the book interesting and varied, well written and well paced. Hard to believe there are no other who have read on GR.

4 stars