Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: la Grange, meteorologist on the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1955-58) and subsequently leader of the first South African National Antarctic Expedition (1959-61), died suddenly on 21 April 1999 at his daughter's home in South Africa at the age of 71.La Grange was born on 13 October 1927 at Ladismith in the western Cape Province of South Africa.Coming from an unsophisticated background of hard-working and down-to-earth Afrikaners of seventeenth-century French Huguenot stock, he was educated at the De Villiers Graaf High School in Villiersdorp in the western Cape, and he obtained his matriculation certificate at the age of 17.He was then employed by the South African Weather Bureau in Pretoria, and subsequently took charge of several weather stations in South Africa.From 1950 to 1952 and again in 1954 he served as meteorologist at Marion Island, where he became involved in detailed bird observations in addition to his normal duties.In 1955 la Grange was initially seconded by the South African Weather Bureau for one year to participate in preparations for the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE).In fact, he was later selected as the expedition's meteorologist, and, at the time, Vivian Fuchs remarked: 'Hannes was a blind date, but we need not have worried as he was as solid in character as he was tall and heavy in build.'La Grange was an extremely popular member of the expedition.He was both meticulous and painstaking in all he did, and during the crossing of Antarctica he participated in the seismic programme, in addition to his meteorological duties.He achieved the distinction of being the first South African to set foot at the geographical South Pole.On his return to South Africa after the TAE, la Grange resumed his duties in the South African Weather Bureau and also began part-
Source: Polar Record
Language: English
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4211089781