Records of the Joint Services Expedition to Brabant Island

Interim reports for the JSE to Brabant Island detailing scientific objectives including geology, biology, physiology, psychology, geography, botany, meteorology. In JSE/1/1 ski mountaineering is covered on page 18 whilst equipment trials are covered on pages 19-22, in JSE/2 ski mountaineering is on pages 31-32 and equipment trials on pages 33-38. Maps of Argentina and South Georgia are also included

Original order maintained

<p>Papers of Flight Lieutenant Ted Atkins (ATK) are also held by the Mountain Heritage Trust</p>

This collection is open for consultation. Readers are advised to contact the Mountain Heritage Trust in advance of their visit in order to make an appointment.

Donated by Robin Ashcroft

Received as two separate deposits

The Joint Services Expedition was a pioneer in respect of lightweight expeditions in Antarctica. The reports illustrate how lightweight techniques were developed and adapted and became the blueprint for running private expeditions.

Until the late 1980's the only persons to be operating in Antartica were those employed by Government Scientific Agencies who undertook very little mountaineering, purely for scientific purposes or surveying.

This documented expedition, the largest known at that time, was the only one to achieve mountaineering ascents on Antarctica until the early 1990's when Adventure Network International start to fly commercially to Patriot Hills.

The JSE expeditions, in conjunction with Robert Swann's more high profile "Footsteps of Scott" expedition in 1986, essentially ended the Government/Scientific agency monopoly on visiting Antarctica. The political backlash at this time was quite considerable.

Brabant Island is in the Antarctic Peninsular