Editing Operation Tabarin (section)

===1st year – Antarctic summer 1943/44 and winter 1944===
[[File:BAS174 Deception Island with attributes - Operation Tabarin Base B.jpg|thumb|Base B, Whaler's Bay, Deception Island]]
The two ships left Port Stanley on 29 January.{{sfn|Fuchs|1982|p=24}} In addition to the expedition, the ''Fitzroy'' carried Tim Hooley, his wife and 14-year-old daughter. Hooley was taking up a two-year post as wireless operator for the Government station on South Georgia, and the family were only landed there once the priority objectives of establishing two Tabarin bases was achieved.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|p=35}} On 3 February 1944 the expedition arrived at [[Port Foster]], Deception Island. This being the most likely place for Argentine or German vessels to shelter, they were relieved that there were no signs of recent occupation, other than an Argentine flag painted on a fuel tank, which was promptly erased.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=56}} Few of the buildings were inhabitable, but one of the [[Hektor Station]] buildings was selected for Base B. Unloading commenced immediately and by 6 February the two ships were able to depart, leaving geologist Flett as leader of a five-man party.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=57–58}}<ref name="TNAWA"/>

The expedition sailed for Hope Bay, arriving on 7 February, to find that the approach to the bay from [[Antarctic Sound]] was through a 10-mile wide band of pack ice.{{sfn|Wordie|1946|p=373}} This posed a risk to the safety of the ''Fitzroy'', which was not ice-strengthened in any way. ''William Scoresby'' proceeded through the sea ice and landed a reconnoitering party, but, though urged to follow, the ''Fitzroy''{{'}}s captain, Keith Pitt, and Captain David Roberts (a representative of the Falkland Islands Company), decided they could not risk the ship. The following day the attempt was reluctantly abandoned and the decision made to proceed south-west along the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in search of an alternative mainland site.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=46-47}} Due to thick fog, it was not until 10 February that the ships left Bransfield Strait and began the search. With ''Fitzroy'' now running low on coal and no suitable landing site having been found, Marr agreed that the expedition should make for Port Lockroy, Wiencke Island, a well known safe harbour with several low rocky islets where the base could be built. The two vessels arrived there on the afternoon of 11 February.{{sfn|Wordie|1946|p=374}}{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=48-50}}{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=60–72}}
[[File:BAS174 Port Lockroy with attributes - Operation Tabarin Base A.jpg|thumb|Base A, Port Lockroy, Goudier Island, Wiencke Island]]

Although long-used by ships visiting the area, Port Lockroy's location restricted the range of scientific activities possible because the [[Gerlache Strait]] rarely froze, so cutting off access to the mainland. In addition, as an island location, it was inferior to Hope Bay, on the Peninsula mainland, from the perspective of strengthening British sovereignty, though this was somewhat mitigated by it being so well known. Both these factors added to the pressure Marr was under. Nevertheless, a site for the hut was chosen on [[Goudier Island]], Base A was established, and discharging of cargo began at once.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=60–72}} Signs of Argentine territorial claims left by ''Primero de Mayo'' were removed.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=79}}
[[File:British Antarctic Survey 1944.jpg|thumb|left|Personnel unload supplies at [[Port Lockroy]] in February 1944.]]

The main hut, named Bransfield House in memory of their original expedition ship, was a prefabricated design by the Norwich firm of [[Boulton & Paul Ltd|Boulton and Paul]]. On 15 February the generator was successfully installed, enabling wireless communication with Stanley and Base B to be established.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=70}} Three extensions to the hut were added between February and April, using materials brought from Deception Island or found nearby, and also a Nissen hut for storage.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=60-61}} The postmarking of mail at Port Lockroy began on 12 February, indicating the importance given to philatelic duties. Falkland Islands stamps overprinted with the inscription "Graham Land, Dependency of" were used.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=82}} The ''William Scoresby'' and ''Fitzroy'' left the new base on 17 February for Base B, Deception Island, before visiting Signy Island, arriving on 20th. A landing was made and a Union flag nailed to a disused whaling hut. Mail was processed using South Orkney overprinted stamps.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=99}} From there the vessels sailed to Grytviken, South Georgia, where the Hooley family disembarked, before returning to the Falkland Islands, taking official mail.{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=107}}

''William Scoresby'' visited Base A twice more before winter set in. On 19 March she brought Falkland Islander John Blyth, who joined the team as a cook/handyman in place of Blair.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=82}} On 17 April, she delivered a large quantity of mail to be stamped and cancelled.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=61-62}} On 22 April Marr and others were aboard when the vessel visited [[Cape Renard]] to erect a Union Jack and British Crown Land sign.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=81}} Port Stanley Town Hall, in which the Post Office was located, was destroyed by fire on 16 April. In addition to the loss of expedition mail, this compromised the expedition's secrecy as correspondence now passed through Montevideo. Tabarin's existence became known to the outside world through a [[BBC]] announcement and press releases on 24 April.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=84-85}}{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=141}}

Both bases made meteorological observations, transmitted twice a day to the meteorological station in Stanley, and sea ice observations during the winter. At Deception Island upper air observations were made using meteorological balloons. A geological survey was also undertaken, and aspects of glaciology and physiography observed.{{sfn|Wordie|1946|p=374}} At Port Lockroy scientific work began in early May with the collection of rock samples from the foot of [[Jabet Peak]] and [[Savoia Peak]].{{sfn|Wordie|1946|p=374}} A botanical survey was made by Lamb, mainly of lichens, that included the discovery of a number of unrecorded species, including ''[[Verrucaria serpuloides]]'', the then only known true marine lichen, thus making a considerable contribution to the taxonomy of Antarctic lichens.{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=80–90, 106}} During the winter the nine men practised skiing, prepared equipment for planned field trips and Taylor carried out local mapping work. In September a party of four, man hauling two sledges, undertook a topographic survey of Wiencke Island over 25 days, in challenging terrain and poor weather conditions.{{sfn|Wordie|1946|p=374}}{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=88-111}} As spring advanced Lamb took advantage of the low tides and melting snow to conduct an ecological study of the local beaches, Marr encouraging the others to collect zoological specimens. On 18 November Lamb led a field party back to Blyth Point (on Wiencke Island) to complete his botanical collecting there. Bird and lichen specimens were gathered, the former for the needs of the [[British Museum of Natural History|British Museum (Natural History)]].{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|pp=117–120}}

'''List of Winterers 1944'''{{sfn|Fuchs|1982|p=347}}{{sfn|Robertson|1993|p=3}}{{sfn|Pearce|2018|p=247}}<ref name="TNAWA"/>{{snd}}British Antarctic Survey{{snd}}Operation Tabarin List of personnel

Base A, Port Lockroy
* James W.R. Marr{{snd}}expedition commander, base leader, zoologist
* Lewis Ashton{{snd}}carpenter
* Eric H. Back{{snd}}medical officer, meteorologist
* A. Thomas Berry{{snd}}purser/ storeman
* John Blyth{{snd}}cook (replaced Kenneth C.G. Blair in March 1944)
* Gwion Davies{{snd}}handyman, scientific assistant
* James E.B.F. Farrington{{snd}}senior wireless operator mechanic
* [[Elke Mackenzie]]{{snd}}botanist
* Andrew Taylor{{snd}}surveyor

Base B, Deception Island
* William R. Flett{{snd}}base leader, geologist
* Gordon A. Howkins{{snd}}meteorologist
* Norman F. Layther{{snd}}wireless operator mechanic
* John Matheson{{snd}}handyman
* Charles Smith{{snd}}cook