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Remembering the 1955-56 Scientific Survey of Gough Island
On Sunday 12th February 2006 the RMS St Helena diverted to Gough Island while on the return trip to Cape Town. The reason for the unusual visit to Gough was the presence on board of six original members of the 1955-56 Gough Island Scientific Survey. The six men made the emotional return to Gough Island in order to mark the 50th anniversary of the original survey. RMS St Helena spent time sailing round the island and, while nobody was able to land, radio conversations took place with the South Africans working at the Meteorological Station on the island.
Back in 1955 little was known about Gough Island and it was John Heaney of Cambridge University who originally proposed organising a survey. Unfortunately poor health meant Mr Heaney was unable to sail on board HMS Magpie when it eventually sailed from Cape Town and Robert Chambers had stepped in to lead the expedition.
The survey team arrived on Tristan da Cunha on 30th September 1955 where they spent six weeks before weather and transportation allowed them to travel to Gough Island where they arrived on 14th November 1955.
Soon after the team's arrival stand in leader Chambers suffered an injury that required him to be evacuated back to Tristan. As a result Martin Holdgate took over as the third leader of the expedition before John Heaney, now recovered, finally arrived on Gough. The expedition went on to produce a thorough survey of the island's wildlife, geology and fauna without further mishap.
The expedition operated a temporary Post Office which meant many covers bearing a Gough Island single ring c.d.s. cancellation were produced. While many of these were philatelically produced, expedition members also wrote to colleagues, friends and family using envelopes serviced by the postmark. Gough Island expedition post has now become keenly collected with the non-philatelic covers proving most sought after.
During their time on Gough the survey party sent weather reports to South Africa. Following the expedition's departure the South African Government, now wanting to maintain the reports, established their own weather station on Gough Island which still operates to this day. Thus the story returns full circle to the six surviving members of the expedition who were able to talk by radio to the South African meteorologists during their 50th anniversary return visit to Gough.
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