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24p - Walrus Seaplane & Presentation Spitfire
Japan's entry into the war led to concern about the possibility of attacks on the Islands, due to their strategic position between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. To counter this perceived threat a small force, including the Walrus Seaplane, was despatched to the Islands from the Caribbean in January 1942. The Walrus was to carry out reconnaissance work to the south and south-west of the Islands and daily patrols commenced in February 1942. However no enemy activity had been spotted prior to 1 March 1942, when its engine stopped shortly after take-off. The pilot attempted an emergency landing which resulted in the aircraft bouncing twice on the water before turning over on its back. The pilot and crew escaped but the Walrus was totally wrecked. It was not until 11th August 1942 that the Falkland Islands Force, predominantly 11th Battalion West Yorks, arrived aboard the Esperance Bay. Prior to this, in 1940, the Legislative Council had voted £50,000 from the Colony Funds for the purchase of 10 Spitfires for the RAF. Funds for a further Spitfire were raised by the local Fellowship of the Bellows, which raised money by inviting members to subscribe one penny for each enemy plane shot down. On 25th July 1940 a message of thanks was received from Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister of Aircraft Production. "Will you please convey to the Legislative Council and people of the Falkland Islands the profound sense of gratitude and immense encouragement their gift brings to me? It is more than a contribution; it is an act of sacrifice and faith in an hour of crisis for our race in every continent and ocean. With the money we are enabled to add ten formidable aircraft to our squadrons. You help us to protect the safety of our homes and to ensure the future of your islands in peace and freedom" In addition to the Presentation Spitfires, Falkland Islanders paid for ambulances and contributed to many of the service charities (most notably the Red Cross) with a generosity displayed more recently with contributions of £28,000 to the Tsunami and £5,000 to the Grenada appeals, from a population of under 3,000 people. |  | |
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80p - HMS Exeter & King Edward Memorial Hospital photo
In the years prior to the outbreak of war the cruiser was based with the South American Division under Commodore (promoted after the battle to Rear Admiral) Harwood and was a frequent and welcome visitor to the Islands. During the Battle of River Plate on 13th December 1939 Exeter was badly damaged and sustained many casualties (64 dead and 45 wounded) during an heroic action in which she was outgunned and outranged. She was forced to break off and proceed to the Falklands with a sharp list and three feet down at the bow. She arrived at Port Stanley on the 16th December and was so badly damaged that most of her crew had to be temporarily billeted ashore with the people of Stanley. Among her crew were two Falkland Islanders. In the words of Captain Bell "our sick and wounded were taken in and cared for, homes were thrown open to us, and everybody, forgetting self, went out of their way to aid and welcome us". The acting Matron at the hospital, Frances Gowans (later Creece) organised staff and volunteers to tend the wounded with the medical officers. The staff were later presented by Captain Bell with inscribed silver compacts. The one presented to Frances (as seen on the stamp) was later to save several lives, including her own. Returning from leave in 1942 her ship was torpedoed and sunk. After 5 days at sea in an open boat a crew member was able to use the compact to signal an American plane. Frances was later honored with an MBE. Repairs to the Exeter were carried out in the Islands with the ship's crew augmented by Islanders and local facilities. It is understood that, when her abandonment was under consideration, Winston Churchill ordered her return to England. On 21st January 1940 she sailed for Plymouth, where she received a hero's welcome with enormous crowds, including Churchill. In his farewell message to the Islanders Captain Bell concluded "Long shall we remember you with gratitude in our hearts". |  | |
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£1 - Operation Tabarin I, 1943-44
Operation Tabarin was conceived at British Cabinet level in 1943 when there were fears of German naval involvement in the Southern Ocean and of Argentine Chilean attempts to assert sovereignty in the Antarctic whilst Britain was involved in the Second World War. A carefully selected party of naval men was formed under the command of Lt.Commander James Marr, a veteran of Shackleton's 'Quest' expedition and of the 'Discovery' investigations. The secret Operation was code-named after a Parisian night club, Bal Tabarin, in view of the long winter darkness of the Antarctic (its establishment also needed a lot of night work with some consequent chaos). A Norwegian wooden Arctic sealing vessel was chartered and re-named HMS Bransfield to carry the Party and equipment to the Falkland Islands, but she developed a leak and had to be abandoned, resulting in a switch of personnel and supplies to the Royal Mail liner Highland Monarch which was already scheduled to sail to the Islands. Although arrangements were made to detach to the operation the Antarctic Research Vessel, later converted to be a minesweeper, HMS William Scoresby this was clearly insufficient to transport all the cargo and men. So, upon arrival Lt. Commander Marr was able to requisition the Island's mail ship Fitzroy, the only link with the outside world. The Fitzroy was neither ice-strengthened, nor insured for operation in the Antarctic. Her loss would have isolated the Colony, which had already lost 'Lafonia', the other mail ship, following a similar requisition. Captain D. W. Roberts, the Colonial Manager of the Falkland Islands Company, strongly resisted the requisition but to no avail and therefore insisted on accompanying the Captain (Keith Pitt) and sailing with the ship. He was the most experienced mariner in the areas south of the Falklands. HMS William Scoresby was commanded by Captain Victor Marchesi. The operation was successful and established two Antarctic Bases, complete with Post Offices to enhance sovereignty. Without the Fitzroy or Captain Roberts it is questionable whether the mission would have been such a success. The Tabarin ships are painted by Gerald Roberts, the son of Captain Roberts, who was born and educated partly in Stanley. Later Gerald returned to Stanley (1947 - 1950) as Government Dental Surgeon. Of the two £1 stamps, one depicts Fitzroy against a background of Antarctic ice, the other HMS William Scoresby in wartime grey. In this image, painted specifically for this issue and based on his father's photographs, the William Scoresby is shown approaching the entrance to Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, with its distinctive stack later known as Petes Pillar. After peace returned it became a civilian operation, The Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey which, in 1962 became The British Antarctic Survey. Human occupation of Antarctica has been continuous since the establishment of the first Operation Tabarin bases. |  |
