Editing Operation Tabarin (section)

==Background==
Following the outbreak of [[World War II]], [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] shipping across the globe became vulnerable to attacks by [[Kriegsmarine|German Navy]] [[commerce raiders]] and [[U-boat]]s. The War also threatened to reignite the longstanding [[Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute]] with neutral Argentina.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=19–28}}

The important trade routes round Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope made the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean a particular target, with a corresponding threat to the [[Falkland Islands]] and its Dependencies.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=15–19}} In January 1941, the German cruiser {{ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Pinguin||2}} attacked the unarmed and unescorted Norwegian whaling fleet. ''Pinguin'' seized a haul of 20,320&nbsp;tons of [[whale oil]], one of the largest prizes seized by a commerce raider during the war.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=17–18}}

In response, the British authorities sent the armed merchant cruiser {{SS|Queen of Bermuda||2}} to patrol the area between South Georgia, the [[South Shetland Islands]] and [[Weddell Sea]].{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=18–19}} On 5 March, ''Queen of Bermuda'' visited the abandoned Norwegian Hektor Whaling Station in [[Whalers Bay (South Shetland Islands)|Whalers Bay]], Deception Island, which was a well known safe harbour, destroying stocks of coal and oil, and associated equipment, to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=19}}{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=7}}

The entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 increased the threat, with fear that Japan might seek to seize the Falkland Islands as a base in the South Atlantic. The Islands' defences were minimal and approaches to the USA for support were unsuccessful, though endorsed by the British prime minister, [[Winston Churchill]].{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=20–21}}{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=15}}

In January 1942, Argentina's Comisión Nacional del Antártico dispatched the transport {{ship|ARA|Primero de Mayo||6}} to Deception Island, afterwards sailing to the [[Melchior Base#History|Melchior Islands]], [[Palmer Archipelago]] and [[Winter Island (Antarctica)|Winter Island]]. Argentine flags were raised in these locations and all territories south of 60°&nbsp;S and between 25°&nbsp;W and 68.34°&nbsp;W were declared annexed.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=19–28}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica-8/Transp1deMayo.htm|title=Transporte ARA ''Primero de Mayo''|last=Ahumada|first=Benicio Oscar|website=www.histarmar.com.ar|language=es|access-date=2020-02-28}}</ref>

On 28 January 1943 a meeting of the War Cabinet, chaired by [[Clement Attlee]] considered [[Foreign Office]] proposals to address what were seen as mounting Argentine encroachments on British territory. These were to dispatch the armed merchant cruiser {{HMS|Carnarvon Castle}} to the Dependencies to make landings, carry out administrative activities and remove marks of Argentine claims, and, crucially, to establish permanently occupied bases at strategic locations. Both were approved.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=9}}

Upon reaching Deception Island, ''Carnarvon Castle'' replaced the Argentinian flag with the Union Jack and placed four British Crown Land signs. A month later ''Primero de Mayo'' returned and duly replaced the Union Jack with the Argentinian flag. The British concluded that occupation was indeed necessary to end these tit-for-tat tactics.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=19–28}}

===Planning and preparation===
In May 1943, following a number of interdepartmental meetings, planning started for an expedition to occupy sites in the Falkland Islands Dependencies (FID).{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=29}}{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=22}} A meeting on 27 May set the objective of establishing permanent bases on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, and on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, funded through sales of a new FID stamp issue to philatelists, though in the event most costs were met through the Admiralty.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=10}} During the planning stage the priority for the location of the second base was changed to Hope Bay, since it was on the mainland, with an option to erect a hut on Signy Island if resources allowed.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=11}}{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=25}} Final instructions were issued in November 1943, clarifying the physical and political objectives, importance of the issuing of stamps, appointment of magistrates and other acts of sovereignty. In the field the expedition was under the authority of the Governor of the Falkland Islands, who received instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|pp=45-50 full transcript of instructions}}<ref>{{cite archive |item = Tabarin instructions, regulations and political instructions|type= Textual record|item-id= AD6/1/ADM1/88027-43|date= 1943|fonds= Records of The British Antarctic Survey|series= Records of Operation Tabarin|file= Expedition Committee Minutes|collection= British Antarctic Survey|collection-url= |repository= British Antarctic Survey Archives |institution= British Antarctic Survey}}</ref>

An Expedition Committee was established in June 1943, chaired by A.B. Acheson, Colonial Office Under-Secretary, with members from the Colonial Office, Foreign Office, Admiralty, Treasury, Crown Agents, Ministry of War Transport and [[Discovery Investigations]].<ref name=bas-ad6-1-adm1>{{cite archive |item = Minutes of Expedition Committee |type= Textual record|item-id= AD6/1/ADM1|date= 1943|fonds= Records of The British Antarctic Survey|series= Records of Operation Tabarin|file= Expedition Committee Minutes|collection= British Antarctic Survey|collection-url= |repository= British Antarctic Survey Archives |institution= British Antarctic Survey}}</ref>

It was agreed that scientific research and mapping should be undertaken by the expedition and three scientists with significant Antarctic experience were involved. Two joined the committee from the outset: geologist and polar explorer [[James Wordie]], a member of Shackleton's [[Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition]] and one of the founders of the [[Scott Polar Research Institute]], and Neil Mackintosh, a zoologist and Director of the Discovery Investigations. The third, [[Brian Roberts (polar expert)|Brian Roberts]], was an ornithologist on the [[British Graham Land Expedition]], who was working with Wordie in the Admiralty Intelligence Department on cold-climate clothing and equipment. He was formally involved after February 1944, when he took up a post at the Foreign Office Research Department.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=29}}{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=11}}{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=23}} Mackintosh prepared a detailed scientific programme for the shore parties.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=11}}

The expedition code name 'Tabarin' was acknowledged in October when departments within the Admiralty were informed,<ref>{{cite archive |item = Secret Branch acquaint from Head of Military Branch|type= Textual record|item-id= ADM1/16175|date= 23 Oct 1943|series= Admiralty and Ministry of Defence, Navy Dept.: Correspondence and Papers  |file= Admiralty, Commonwealth of Nations, Foreign Countries: Falkland Islands|collection= The National Archives|collection-url= https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/|repository= The National Archives |institution= The National Archives Kew}}</ref> though it is likely to have been in use earlier. A hand-written note by Roberts explains that the name, after the Paris night club [[Bal Tabarin (Paris)|Bal Tabarin]], was chosen because of the amount of night work required and the chaotic organisation.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=32-33}} According to some sources the expedition was briefly code named Operation Bransfield, after Royal Navy officer [[Edward Bransfield]].{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=30}} The Forces mail address Naval Party 475 was allocated for the bases to be established, and Naval Party 470 for the expedition ship.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=32}} The expedition was considered top secret but by April 1944 news of it had leaked out, not least because of the philately work undertaken at the direction of the Colonial Office.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|pp=11-12}}

Marine biologist and polar explorer [[James Marr (biologist)|James Marr]] was selected as leader of the expedition. His experience included participation in [[Shackleton–Rowett Expedition|Shackleton's last expedition]], during 1921–22, as an 18-year old; the [[British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition|British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition]] (BANZARE) 1929–30; and as a scientist on the Discovery Investigations 1928–1929, 1931–1933, 1935–1937.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=11}} At the time of his recall, Marr was serving as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the Far East. He arrived in the UK in July 1943 and joined the expedition committee.{{sfn|Dudeney|Walton|2012|p=11}} He was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant Commander.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=256}}

[[File:Veslekari.jpg|thumb|Norwegian sealing vessel '''Veslekari''']]
Marr's priorities were to find an expedition vessel and recruit suitably experienced volunteers. In the circumstances of war and time constraints it was difficult to find a ship built to navigate through sea ice and with sufficient cargo capacity. He flew to [[Iceland]] to inspect a Norwegian sealer ''Veslekari'', built in 1918, that had been used on Arctic expeditions in the past. After further inspection by a surveyor, she was considered suitable,{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=24}} brought to Tilbury, London for a refit and requisitioned by the Admiralty under the name HMS ''Bransfield''.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=18-19}}<ref name=bas-ad6-1-adm1/> Lieutenant Victor Marchesi, Royal Navy, was appointed as her captain and second-in-command of the expedition.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|p=19}} Marchesi had served on the Discovery Investigations with Marr.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=27}}

Potential recruits were identified by Marr, assisted by Wordie and Mackenzie, and interviewed by him at the Colonial Office in September. Most were serving in the armed forces or the merchant navy, but some were still in civilian roles. Several were well known to them through the Discovery Investigations, including the chief steward Thomas Berry, ship's carpenter Lewis Ashton, senior wireless operator James Farrington, handymen John Matheson and Gwion Davies. Other specialists recruited were surveyor Andrew Taylor, a Canadian with cold-weather experience; medical officer Eric Back; meteorologist Gordon Howkins; botanist [[Elke Mackenzie|Ivan Mackenzie Lamb]], then working at the British Museum of Natural History; and two geologists, William Flett, from Glasgow University and Buck, who withdrew from the expedition before it left the UK; and wireless operator Norman Layther, a New Zealander.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=35-36}}{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=20-25}}