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STORIES FROM THE WOMEN

Few women had the chance to live in South Georgia during the whaling industry but a great many were still affected. Our stories below highlight women who lived in South Georgia and who had family that were employed there.

Jenny Bonner, Husvik, February 1959. Source: Jennifer 'Jenny' Bonner

Jennifer 'Jenny' Bonner

Jenny and her husband, Nigel Bonner, met at University College London in 1950 as students of Zoology.

Nigel left for South Georgia in 1953 on a two-man expedition to study seals and penguins returning home in 1955 when they got married. Nigel was offered a job for another summer season on South Georgia to supervise the sealing operations on island, monitoring the stock and ensuring conservation measures were applied.

Jenny received a cable while he was away – ‘Can you come South Georgia’? Jenny replied, ‘Yes, but how’? In February 1957 Jenny spend a few months touring South Georgia with Nigel. That same year Nigel was offered a five-year contract and headed back south. In 1958 Jenny had her first child, Martin on 22 August. On 30 August Jenny and Martin boarded the Highland Princess for Montevideo and then onto South Georgia to join Nigel. Travelling to their new home, they were accompanied by five tons of luggage including 1,200 tins of Heinz baby food.

The family lived in a building in King Edward Point, learning how to live with a different diet and climate. They lived in a small community of men, women, children and a number of pets for nearly 3 years.

The family returned home again in March 1961. Arriving in Holland after the three-week journey from South Georgia, Martin has his first taste of fresh milk and gets to see trains and cars for the first time.

Jenny Bonner spoke with the British Antarctic Oral History Project about her time in South Georgia - click here to listen

Life at King Edward Point 1958 - 1961

Footage shot by Nigel Bonner of Jenny Bonner and their son Martin at King Edward Point and Grytviken in South Georgia. Also seen in the footage is Einar Strand, the local Norwegian blacksmith who became an unofficial bestefar, or grandfather, to Martin at South Georgia.

Ina with puppies, Grytviken. The family of William and Christina 'Ina' Barlas

Christina 'Ina' Barlas

Ina grew up in Pitlochry where she met and became engaged to William ‘Wullie’ Barlas. Wullie went to work in the Falkland Islands, first as a school teacher before various government appointments, including several secondments to South Georgia. Wullie and Ina were engaged for 12 years before they finally got married and were able to live together.

On 27 September 1928 Wullie was officially appointed as the magistrate and postmaster at South Georgia,

Now married, in 1932, Ina set off on a 6 week journey to go and live with her husband. Setting out from Liverpool to Buenos Aires, Argentina then onto Stanley, Falkland Islands before finally arriving in South Georgia.

Ina had the opportunity to travel home to Scotland several times for a month during the British summer. Ina mostly travelled on the Royal Mail ship from Liverpool and would often stop by her cousin in London to buy new outfits for the trip.

Tragically, on 2 September 1941, Wullie, was killed by a snow slide which pushed him into the sea while he was walking along the track between King Edward Point and Grytviken. By this time, Britain was at war with Germany and so Ina was unable to travel home to her family in Scotland. Her journey was long and eventful, but she finally made it back to Liverpool in September 1944. Ina returned to Scotland to live with her sisters in Pitlochry.

Ina’s story and photographs were shared by her niece, Audrey Currie, who fondly remembered the stories and lives of ‘the aunts’.

Ina at Stanley, Falkland Islands and King Edward Point, South Georgia at the time of the visit of HMS Exeter in 1938. Footage from one of 11 reels of 16mm film shot by William Barlas MBE, Magistrate and Postmaster at South Georgia. Source: Audrey Currie and family of Christina Barlas.

Ina and other families at King Edward Point having fun in the snow. Footage from one of 11 reels of 16mm film shot some time before WWII by William Barlas MBE, Magistrate and Postmaster at South Georgia. Source: Audrey Currie and family of Christina Barlas.

Source: South Georgia Museum

Life At King Edward Point 1932 - 1943

The Biggs family on skis. Betty Biggs with (L-R) Peter, Coleen and Jan

Jan Cheek

Janet Cheek (nee Biggs) moved to King Edward Point, South Georgia, with her family in the mid-1950s as a 5-year-old. In an interview with the BBC, Cheek recalled that “even through a child’s eyes it was very beautiful.” Reflecting on the imagery of the ice-capped mountains, in contrast to the scenes from the whaling station across the bay in Grytviken.

Her family relocated in order for her father, Basil Biggs, to take on the post of Policeman for South Georgia. A post which was necessary due to the constraints on alcohol. Occasionally, he would also have to restrain rowdy men from the whaling station who had over-imbibed on ‘home brew.’ If someone spent a night in the jail, Cheek’s mother, Betty, would provide them with a hot home-cooked meal.

Jan Cheek, was the oldest of three siblings. She, Coleen and Peter were homeschooled by their mother, although she often let them play outside. Letting them learn how to move through the rocky landscape for themselves. Enjoying their chances to get outside with their shorts and t-shirts, when weather allowed!

In 1995, Cheek became a Trustee for the South Georgia Whaling Museum, and when the South Georgia Heritage Trust began, she joined the board of Trustees. Although no longer a Trustee, she maintains a strong connection to the charity and other bodies interested in the preservation and conservation of South Georgia.

Jan Cheek spoke with the BBC about her time in South Georgia - click here to listen
A whale being processed at Grytviken, 1959. Betty Biggs and childring Jan and Peter look on. Source: South Georgia Museum
Policemen Basil Biggs (left) and Melvin Pederson (right). Source: South Georgia Museum

Andrina Tulloch

Andrina Tulloch (nee Clark) heard many stories of the island of South Georgia growing up. Both her father and older brother were away, working on South Georgia, for much of her childhood. Her upbringing in a small community on the Shetland island of Yell was typical of the time.

Many other homes in Yell and in communities around Shetland were experiencing similar situations. With male family members being away for prolonged periods to make money for the family at home. This ultimately altered dynamics at home, with children and mothers taking on different responsibilities around the home.

Tulloch remembers feeling sad that they had to leave to find work, but it was normalised at the time and she knew it had to be done. Even as a young person. Having your father and brother away during the Christmas period was the biggest miss.

When those who had been away returned it was cause for celebration. Music was often played in their house and her family were involved with sailing regattas. She was also gifted presents when her family members arrived back after so many months away. She was gifted a particular present which gave her freedom around the island – a bicycle!

Tulloch’s connections to the whaling industry has remained strong. She recorded her brother Davy speaking about his time at the whaling and produced a book based on these recollections, Fast Fish. She continues to play music at gatherings organised by the Shetland Ex-Whaler’ Association.

"Need makes the naked man run!"

Andrina Tulloch, about the situation in Shetland that led to men searching for work
Interview coming soon
Fast Fish by Andrina Tulloch

The chase was resumed, full speed. The harpoon reached the target: ‘Fast fish!’ The young man – a boy really – struggled to keep his balance as the ship staggered south, one moment shuddering as she crested the huge rollers, the next plunging down again, salt water cascading all around and plastering his blond hair to his face. Even for a Shetland youngster as familiar with the sea as Davy Clark this was something new. His thoughts were also in tumult as he reflected on the home life in Yell left far behind what seemed a lifetime ago. Six weeks! And here he was battling his way to the Antarctic whaling. His experiences were perhaps typical of the men who went south with Salvesen’s in search of work. They found it. Rough, tough, dirty and dangerous work at that, as they endured the stink and grime of a foul trade and even the horror of seeing shipmates lost overboard. But they found something else too. Davy, like many others, found the friendships and cameradie which has remained at the heart of the strong bonds of the declining band of Shetland ex-whalers to this day. Davy’s story is related through his sister Andrina Tulloch, from his early life including working on the Yell Sound ferry with his father, through his whaling adventures, his successes at local regattas to his varied life as a professional seaman and his eventual retirement as a tug skipper at Sullom Voe.