POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Men's balaclava worn by Morton Henry Moyes

Object No. H9550-2

This balaclava was worn by Morton Henry Moyes who worked as meteorologist during Sir Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE), Antarctica, 1911-1914. A balaclava is a woollen, close-fitting head covering worn to protect the face, neck and even the shoulders. The name recalls a famous site of the Crimean War where in 1854 the small harbour of Balaclava served the British forces as their base. The shocking conditions there were exacerbated by the harsh winter so the soldiers were issued with special hoods to protect their heads from the biting winds. The hoods were kept after the war and were found useful items of clothing in very cold weather. One of the objectives of this expedition was the exploration and charting of the largely unexplored coastline of Antarctica. This included meteorological and magnetic observations, and the collection of biological and geological samples. It also aimed to establish a wireless weather station to assist with weather forecasting. Sailing on the Newfoundland sealing vessel 'Aurora', the team entered a part of the world which was then little known. During the summer of 1912-1913, through an unavoidable accident, Moyes was left to carry on work alone at Winter Quarters for a period of nine weeks. Moyes later published several reminiscences describing the hardships endured throughout the expedition. The expedition was not without tragedy. During a sledging trip to the east of the base with Douglas Mawson, Xavier Mertz and Belgrade Ninnis, a crevasse swallowed up Ninnis, a team of six dogs, and the sledge containing most of their food. The survivors began the arduous journey back to base, some 500 kilometres away, during which they ate the remaining dogs for food. Mertz died during the return, leaving Mawson to travel the 100 kilometres back to base alone. At Mawson's request, Moyes was seconded to the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE), 1929-1930. The expedition aimed to assert British territorial claims in Antarctica. Serving as survey officer for the scientific staff he was responsible for operating the expedition echo-sounder, taking sights and drawing charts, helping with tow-nets, and assisting Mawson in executive matters. The AA and BANZAR expeditions were two of the most important Australian scientific expeditions of the 20th century, laying the basis for Australia's claims to almost 42 per cent of the Antarctic continent. The balaclava is part of a collection of protective clothing worn by Moyes during the AA expedition, and is indicative of some of the equipment necessary to survive and work in the harsh conditions of Antarctica. Along with related items in the collection, they give insight into a story of adventure, hardship, and tragedy in a time of heroic Antarctic exploration. In addition they form part of a collection that signifies Australia's immense contribution to exploration and scientific research of the Antarctic region. REF: Haywood, Elizabeth, 'Australian Antarctica: Celebrating fifty years of Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions', Australia Post, 1997 Mortimer, Gavin, 'Shakleton and the Antarctic Explorers: The men who battled to reach the South Pole', Carlton Books Ltd, Dubai, 1999 Australian Dictionary of Biography Online: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au Australian Antarctic Division: http://www-new.aad.gov.au/ Brasch, Dr R. and L., "The Book of Beginnings: A Miscellany of the Origins of Superstitions, Customs, Phrases and Sayings", ABC Books, Sydney, 2005, p.58.