Account of Australasian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson to Governor-General Lord Denman

Radio message from Douglas Mawson to Governor-General Lord Denman.

Transcript

Form 2 – Received Message Form

RADIO TELEGRAM

Forwarding Charge – Deld. Date: 24 February 1913.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

DEPARTMENT OF POSTMASTER-GENERAL

PREFIX: 3 CODE: - WORDS: 153

OFFICE OF ORIGIN: Winter Quarters

SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS: Aust. Antarctic Expedition Commonwealth Bay Antarctica

TO: Professor David Sydney

OFFICE RECEIVED FROM: MQI (Macquarie Island) TIME RECEIVED: 11:50

BY WHOM RECEIVED:

MESSENGER:

TIME SENT OUT: 12 midday

BY WHOM SENT:

To: His Excellency Lord Denman, Melbourne The sledging season has been successful in opening up a large area of new land east and west of Commonwealth Bay and in obtaining at a number of Stations in close proximity to the magnetic pole important data It is probable that six of the staff and myself will be unavoidably detained here for another year Unfortunately Lieut Ninnis and Doctor Mertz both lost their lives all others alive and well please communicate following message to his Majesty the King – as leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition now operating in Antarctica I take this opportunity of the first regular wireless communicating between our main Antarctic base and other portions of your majesties [sic] dominions to request permission to name a large area of newly discovered land King George fifth land this lies between Victoria land and Adelie Land our main sledging efforts have been concentrated upon it – Douglas Mawson

About this record

This was the first regular wireless communication from the Australian base in Antarctica and was sent before it was confirmed that Mawson and the rescue party would not be collected by the Aurora.

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