Life and death

Accidents and deaths while at the whaling were uncommon. When they did happen it touched the whole community.

The cemeteries on South Georgia give us an interesting insight into life at the shore stations. Many of the gravesites are from epidemics which hit South Georgia particularly hard in the 1910s. All together 247 deaths were registered in South Georgia between 1904-1962. The majority of these deaths occurred within the first 30 years of the whaling industry, and many would have been prevented with modern medical intervention. Many funerals were conducted in the only church on the island in Grytviken. The pastor from Grytviken would also attend other whaling stations to provide spiritual support in periods of grief.

After the Second World War there were some accidents and deaths which had an effect on the members of the community of Christian Salvesen workers. They are remembered as sad events to this day, by the whalers who knew those involved or witnessed it for themselves.

On 11^th January 1947 the whale catcher Simbra was lost south of South Georgia. The only person who survived was John Leask from Shetland who recounted his memories in Shetland’s Whalers Remember… compiled by Gibbie Fraser.

Leask recounted that he had been on watch in the crow’s nest and noticed that the ship was keeling too far over, with fewer ‘bunkers’ aboard than usual he suggested that it was possible that the stability was reduced. Simbra kept keeling and began to capsize, with huge amounts of water being taken aboard. Leask had to make an escape from the crow’s nest on hands and knees towards the lifeboat.

Although they made a good effort to launch the lifeboat and get it turned the right way round, none of the rest of the crew who had made it to the lifeboat lasted the night with Leask. He was picked up the following morning after attracting the attention of a nearby whale catcher and spent some time recovering in the hospital aboard the Southern Harvester.

Many skilled people were employed at the whaling, some who could fix things that seemed beyond repair or create something new with few materials. One incredible feat was attempted on Southern Venturer, when a young man on board became increasingly unwell. He was suffering from paralysis, which unfortunately was fatal at that time. A decision was made to keep him comfortable on board.

The doctor on board Southern Venturer would normally have used an iron lung in that situation. With limited information which was transferred to the ship via cable, Chief Engineer Jim Still and his team of British and Norwegian crew managed to build one which worked. This incredible feat was completed but within a few days the boy sadly died. The story still speaks to the ingenuity and skill of the men who were working at the whaling and highlights how far they would go to help those who needed it most.