This week the expeditioners of Macquarie Island braved the usual high winds to commemorate ANZAC day. Gathering by the flag poles in the shadow of the ANARESAT dome, the station paid its respects to the men and women of the Australian and New Zealand armed forces who served and died in war and on operational service, past and present. For the commemorative address our station leader Bec paid particular attention to Leslie Russell Blake. Blake's work on Macca as part of Mawson's expedition, before serving in the Great War and being killed in action, produced the Macquarie Island maps that were used for over 100 years until modern techniques were used to update his technically excellent work. (An extract from the address is below.)
After the dawn service, the commemorations continued with expeditioners enjoying a gunfire breakfast with bacon and egg rolls, lovingly served up by Chef Annie and Slushy of the day Duckie as well as ANZAC biscuits baked by plumber Pat.
The station was treated to a feast for lunch, provided once again by Annie and Duckie but with a pig on a spit, cooked up by Pete and Cris. Afterwards a raucous game of two-up was facilitated by the ring master Gary in the green store, raising $400 for charity. The day finished up with wine club run by Adam and the viewing of an ANZAC film.
It is a privilege to work and live on this beautiful green sponge and Macca wishes to thank all current and former serving members for all they have done.
Lest We Forget.
Josh Konatar, Comms Tech (and RAAF Leading Aircraftman)
ANZAC Day Commemorative Address (Extract):
Let us also remember those Antarctic expeditioners who have served in the defence forces in times of conflict. Mawson, Hurley and Wilkins are such men, names that we all recognise, but there are many more.
One such man whom I want to concentrate on today is Leslie Russell Blake. He was one of the five men who remained on Macquarie Island for nearly two years while Mawson’s party travelled south on the Aurora. He was appointed as geologist and surveyor of M.I., at the age of 21. On return to Australia in Feb 1914, Blake was conducting geological work in Bowen, QLD, when he heard the news that Great Britain had declared war on Germany. He tried to enlist a number of times but was always found medically unfit until eventually after an operation he was able to enlist in the Artillery on 4th August 1915.
Blake arrived in the Middle East about the time the allies withdrew from Gallipoli, and in March 1916 deployed to France, to the Somme. It seems his time on Macca was good training for life in the trenches. He was awarded the Military Cross for his courage under heavy fire while surveying no man’s land between the front lines from Pozieres to Mouquet Farm. Wounded twice during his two years in France, Blake died on 3 October 1918 when a stray artillery shell exploded under his horse while he was supervising the unloading of an ammunition train behind the lines. This was just 39 days before peace was declared.
Blake’s work on Macquarie Island was eventually published in 1943, 25 years after his death, as the “Geology of Macquarie Island” (with Mawson as the author). The map that Blake produced of Macquarie Island remains his crowning achievement – it remained the standard for over 100 years until modern techniques - aerial photography and satellite imagery - enabled the island to be mapped in detail.
As expeditioners of Macquarie Island, today we should remember Leslie Russell Blake. So much of his too-short life spent either on Macquarie Island or at war. With him, we should also remember those men who survived polar expeditions only to be cut down in battle just months after their return. These brave, hardy men who displayed the characteristics of the Anzac spirit when at war, and when exploring this hostile part of the world.
