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The Whalers' Story

What would lead someone to leave home and set sail as a young lad for a remote land over 8,000 miles away? It must have seemed daunting to some, an adventure perhaps, but for many it was the only option of work. In this section using many of the photographs, film and voices of those who were there, it shows what life was really like in the sub-Antarctic on the whale catcher boats, the shore stations and factory ships. It was tough and it was challenging but it was a job and the camaraderie and humour also shines through.

Be warned… honesty is what the whalers wanted. In telling the unvarnished and raw reality of this story, the accounts and imagery can be visceral, vivid and sometimes shocking.

Becoming a Whaler

Becoming a Whaler

The Whale Catcher

The Whale Catcher

The Shore Station

The Shore Station

The Factory Ship

The Factory Ship

Life at South Georgia

Life at South Georgia

Food & Drink

Food and drink

Fun & Games

Fun and games

Life & Death

Life and death

A Long Way from Home

A Long Way From home

The End of Whaling

The End of Whaling

Southern Venturer in South Shields. Source: John Alexander