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Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs 1908-1999

Two of the support vessels carrying supplies for the Commonwealth Trans- Antarctic Expedition of 1955-58 (TAE) were the Theron and the Magga Dan. Although they never sailed together, (Theron, Advance party 1955-56 and Magga Dan, Main party 1956-57), both are shown on the same stamp halted by dense pack ice on their way to the main base of Shackleton on the Filchner Ice Shelf.

Expeditions: Greenland as geologist, 1929. East Africa 1930-38. Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey and British Antarctic Survey 1946-73, latterly as director 1959-73. TAE 1955-58. Achievements: First successful crossing of Antarctica, 1957-58. Discoveries: Theron Mountains, Shackleton Range. Service: Army Officer 1939-45.

Magga Dan, Length 246 feet, beam 43 feet, 1850 grt. Built, Denmark 1956. Polar Voyages: Polar supply vessel 1956-69. TAE 1956-57. Sold 1969. Broken up Ghent, Belgium 1984.

Theron, Length 180 feet, beam 33 feet, 839 grt. Built, Port Glasgow 1950 as a modern sealer. Polar voyages: TAE 1955-56. Used extensively for hydrographic survey work in Canadian Arctic 1950-75. Fate: Unknown.

BAT 2008 SG?
Detail from BAT philatelic

Built as a cargo vessel under yard No 373 by J.Lamont & Co. Ltd., Port Glasgow for the Christensen Canadian Enterprise Ltd., Montreal.
22 November 1949 launched as the THERON.
Tonnage 849 gross, 417 net, 820dwt., dim. 60.62 x 10.09 x 4.97m.
Powered by an 8-cyl. M48M direct reversing British Polar diesel engine. 1.520bhp., speed 12 knots.
February 1950 completed. Port of registry Halifax, Canada.

She was also regular chartered by the Canadian Hydrographic Service for coastal surveys on the Canadian east coast.
Between the charter periods used as a sealer with a crew of 52 and a capacity of 40.000 pelts.
1955 Chartered as supply vessel for the Commonwealth Trans Antarctic Expedition.
14 November 1955 she sailed from London under command of Capt. Harald Marø for the Antarctic waters.
24 March 1956 returned in London.
After the charter returned to Canadian waters as sealer and survey vessel.

1980 Sold to Puddister Trading Co. Ltd., Canada, renamed POLAR EXPLORER.
1996 Sold to Iceport Transport Ltd., Belize, renamed in ICEPORT.
1998 Sold to Barefoot Rogue S.A., Honduras and renamed ROGUE.
February 2001 deleted from Lloyds Registry.

British Antarctic Territory 2008 £5 sg?, scott?

Source: info received from Hr. Erhard Jung. http://www.polarhav.com/ms%20theron.htm
Marine News. Lloyds Register 1955/56.