British man who perished in Antarctic glacier found 65 years later

Georgina rangard

Climate and science correspondent

Dennis Bell was on a two -year assignment in Antarctica

David Bell is a sepia's picture wearing a fur hat appearing below on a desk of a man. He has icicles in beard and mustache. He is holding a magnifying glass and looking at the papers, while holding a pencil in his hand. A gas lamp on the desk. The picture has a feeling of serious work in the condition of cold. — Dennis Bell was on a two -year assignment in Antarctica

The bones of a British person killed in a terrible accident in Antarctica in 1959 have been discovered in a melting glacier.

In January, by a Polish Antarctic campaign, a wrist clock, a radio and a pipe along with the remains were found.

He is now formally identified as Dennis “Tink” Bell, which fell into a cravus at the age of 25, when he was working for the organization that became a British Antarctic survey.

David Bell, 86, said, “I left my brother for a long time. It’s just notable, amazing. I can’t finish it.”

Dennis Bell at Admiralty Bay Station in 1959 – He was known for his love for Huski dogs

The British Antarctic surveyed a black and white picture of a man wearing a white shirt (Dennis Bell), and with black hair and deep beard, holding a small hoarse dog next to him with his face. Another man and a dog are partially visible, and they are inside a cabin. It gives the feeling of men who have fun inside the cabin. — Dennis Bell at Admiralty Bay Station in 1959 – He was known for his love for Huski dogs

Professor Dame Jane Francis, director of the British Antarctic Survey, says, “Dennis was one of the many brave personnel, who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under exceptionally harsh conditions.”

“Even though she was lost in 1959, her memory was inherited among allies and in the legacy of polar research,” she says.

The bones were found on the peacock and surface of the ecological glacier on the western edge of the admiralty bay

Dariusz Puczko is a picture of a large glacier that is black and brown on its surface. It is melting and has accumulated large black boulders in the foreground, called the peacock. It looks like a separate and rigid environment. — The bones were found on the peacock and surface of the ecological glacier on the western edge of the admiralty bay

It was David who responded to the door in his family’s house in Harrow, London in July 1959.

“Telegram boy said,” I am sorry to tell you, but it’s bad news “,” He says. He went up to tell his parents.

“It was a terrible moment,” he says.

Talking to his home in Australia and sitting next to his wife Yavon, David smiles as his childhood stories in the 1940s.

He is the memories of a younger brother praising an attractive, courageous elder brother.

David says, “Dennis was a brilliant company. It was very entertaining. Wherever he happened, his life and soul.”

86 -year -old David Bell spoke to BBC News from his home in Australia

A man with white haired smiles because he sees in the camera. He is sitting on a couch with a red and white painting in the background. — 86 -year -old David Bell spoke to BBC News from his home in Australia

“I still cannot reach it, but one evening when I, my mother and father came home from cinema,” he says.

“And I want to say this in fairness for Dennis, they placed a newspaper down on the kitchen table, but above it, he would separate a motorbike engine and it was all on the table,” he says.

“I can remember the style of her dress, he always wore a duffle coat. He was just an average type of companion who enjoyed life,” he says.

Dennis Bell is on the right side of the picture, celebrating Christmas in Antarctica in 1958 – he died seven months before he died

D. Bell wearing festive outfits at Christmas party, a black and white photograph of five men. A compromise, and behind them are the remains of dinner and drinks on the table. — Dennis Bell is on the right side of the picture, celebrating Christmas in Antarctica in 1958 – he died seven months before he died

Dennis Bell, named “Tink”, was born in 1934. He worked with RAF and trained as a meteorologist, before joining the Falkland Islands dependence survey to work in Antarctica.

“He was suffering from Scott’s diary,” says David, referring to Captain Robert Scott who discovered the South Poll and died in a campaign in 1912.

Dennis went to Antarctica in 1958. He was deployed for two -year assignment in Admiralty Bay, a small UK base on King George Island, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Based on King George Island, men rely on sled and dogs to go around the hard terrain

Russell Thompson two men stand on ice in front of one-storey hut. They are wearing clothes for sub-zero situations including hats and shoes. They are standing in front of a large sled. — Based on King George Island, men rely on sled and dogs to go around the hard terrain

The British Antarctica survey holds careful records and its radical Ieuan Hopkins has dug up a detailed base camp report about the acts of Dennis and the “ridiculous island”.

Reading loudly, Mr. Hopkins says: “She is cheerful and hardworking, with a mischievous sense of humor and hobby for practical jokes.”

Dennis Bell (on the left) was known for his understanding – he is re -applying an advertisement on ice in this picture

Russell Thompson is a man in a suit and a bowler hat on snow, while another man stands on the sky on a suit and dupatta — Dennis Bell (on the left) was known for his understanding – he is re -applying an advertisement on ice in this picture

Dennis was to send a meteorological season balloons and send radio to the UK every three hours, including firing a generator in sub-zero situations.

Described as the best cook in the hut, she was in charge of the food shop in winter when no supply could reach them.

Antarctica felt even more cut compared to today, with extremely limited contact with the house. David, along with his parents and sister Valerie, sent a Christmas message to the BBC Studio and sent his brother.

He was best known for his love, which pulls sled around the island, and he picked up two liters of dogs.

Dennis Bell, on the left, with dogs at Admiralty Bay Station in 1959

The British Antarctic surveyed a black and white picture of three men holding big hoarse dogs. — Dennis Bell, on the left, with dogs at Admiralty Bay Station in 1959

He was also involved in the survey of King George Island, which produced some of the first mapping of a large -scale unexplained place.

It was on a survey trip that the accident occurred a few weeks after his 25th birthday.

On 26 July 1958, Deep Antarctic in winter, a man named Dennis and Jeff Stokes left the base to climb and survey a glacier.

In the records of the British Antarctic survey, the accounts say what happened next and desperate tries to save him.

The ice was deep and the dogs began showing signs of fatigue. Dennis proceeded alone to encourage him, but he did not wear his ski. Suddenly he disappeared in a cravus, causing a hole behind him.

According to accounts, Jeff Stokes called deeply and Dennis was able to shout back. He grabbed on a rope that was lowered. The dogs pulled on the rope and Dennis was taken to the lips of the hole.

But he tied the rope on his belt, perhaps he lay down due to that angle. As soon as he reached the lips, the belt broke and he fell again. His friend called again, but this time Dennis did not respond.

David says, “This is a story that I will never be able to be able to.”

The base camp report about the accident is like business.

“We heard from Jeff […] Yesterday the tink fell down from a craveus and was killed. We expect to return tomorrow, allowing sea ice, “it continues.

Mr. Hopkins says that another person named Alan Sharman had died weeks ago, and the morale was very low.

“Sled is back. We have heard the sad details. Jeff has cut the frostable hands badly. We are not taking any other risk to recover,” the report reads the day after the accident.

While reading the reports again, Mr. Hopkins found that in the first season, it was Dennis that created a coffin for Allen Sharman.

Dennis Bell (left) and Jeff Stokes (right) photographed before the accident. Jeff Stokes died five weeks before hearing the news found by Dennis.

Russell Thompson is looking at the two men wearing a suit with a camera — Dennis Bell (left) and Jeff Stokes (right) photographed before the accident. Jeff Stokes died five weeks before hearing the news found by Dennis.

David says, “My mother never happened. She could not handle her pictures and could not talk about her.”

He recalls that two people visited the family on the basis of Dennis, bringing a parchment as a gesture.

“But there was no conclusion. There was no service; there was nothing. Just Dennis went,” says David.

Dennis Bell passed away near Point Thomas in Admiralty Bay

British Antarctic Survey A Map showing a map showing King George Island in Antarctica, and a second map is showing details of King George Island Admiralty Bay — Dennis Bell passed away near Point Thomas in Admiralty Bay

About 15 years ago, David was contacted Rod Rice Jones, president of the British Antarctic Memorial Trust.

Since 1944, according to the trust, 29 people have been killed while working on the British Antarctic region on scientific missions.

Rod was organizing a journey to see a luxurious and remote place for relatives of some of the 29, where his loved ones lived and died.

David joined the campaign, called South 2015.

“The captain stopped at places and gave four or five hoots of Siren,” he says.

C-I was very thick for David to reach his brother’s hut on King George Island.

“But it was very, moving very much. It lifted the pressure, a weight from my head, as it was,” they say.

This gave him a feeling of closure.

“And I thought it would be,” they say.

Scientists found the remains of Dennis by Henric Archtovski Polish Antarctic Station

Dariusz Puezco a single -storey long yellow building in the foot of the snow -covered mountains. The back is a blue sky and the moon is visible. — Scientists found the remains of Dennis by Henric Archtovski Polish Antarctic Station

But on 29 January this year, a team of Polish researchers working from Henryc Archtovski Polish Antarctic Station practically stumbled on some at their door.

Dennis was found.

Some bones were in loose ice and rocks stored in the leg of Ecology Glacier on King George Island. Other glaciers were found on the surface.

Scientists say that fresh snowfall was adjacent, and he placed a GPS marker down so that his “fellow polar colleagues” would not be lost again.

Researchers at Henryik Archtovski Polish Antarctic Station carefully recorded residue

Dariusz Puzco to a person wearing a colored woolen cap and wearing icy cloth to a large camera on some rocks on the knees on the icy surface, to give the objects around it a sense of marking a position. — Researchers at Henryik Archtovski Polish Antarctic Station carefully recorded residue

Lodes at the Polish Academy of Sciences and Fellow Researcher Artur Edmac, a team of scientists made from Piyoter Kittail, Paulina Borovka and Artur Ginter at the University of Darius Puzco carefully saved the remains in four trips.

According to the Polish team, it is a dangerous and unstable place, “cross-cross with Chris-Cross”, and with slopes up to 45 degrees.

Climate change is leading to dramatic changes in many Antarctic glaciers, including ecological glacier, which is under acute melting.

The team says, “The place where Dennis was found is not the same as where he went missing.”

“Glacier, under the influence of gravity, move the mass of his ice, and with it, Dennis traveled,” he says.

Bamboo ski pole pieces, residues of an oil lamp, glass containers for cosmetics and pieces from military tents were also collected.

“Every effort was made to ensure that Dennis could return home,” the team says.

Rod Rice Jones says, “This is an opportunity to assure the contribution of these men, and is an opportunity to promote science and what have we done in Antarctic in several decades.”