Claiming the Ice

It is over a hundred years in Antarctic history since the British Government formalised its claim to the Falkland Islands Dependencies, and 75 years since continuous occupation began. This book explains why and how, using the voices of the Ministers, and more particularly their officials, who shaped government policy. Until now the unsung heroes of Britain’s long involvement in Antarctica, they collectively had a far greater impact than any of the famous Antarctic explorers of the last century. The book draws heavily upon documentation from The National Archives to chart the twists and turns of policy making for the first 50 years of the last century, showing how the priority shifted from a focus on sovereignty to the first glimmerings of internationalisation. It is a story of a great whaling industry, of territorial conflicts and tensions, and how science ultimately came to underpin Britain’s policy aims.