Person

Webb, Eric Norman (1889 - 1984)

DSC MC

Born
23 November 1889
Lyttleton, New Zealand
Died
23 January 1984
Caterham, Surrey, United Kingdom
Occupation
Antarctic explorer, Antarctic researcher, Civil engineer and Magnetic observer

Summary

Eric Webb had graduated in civil engineering from the University of Canterbury before being appointed to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition in 1911. He was in charge of the magnetograph house at the main base, Cape Denison, where he took daily readings assisted by Edward Bage. Webb's results were highly praised after the Expedition. He was a member of the southern sledging party, with Frank Hurley and Bage, which attempted to reach the south magnetic pole. In a trek of 62 days, and in appalling weather, they reached within 80 km of the pole before diminishing stores caused them to turn back to base. Webb's results from the Expedition were published in 1925. After serving with distinction during WWI, Webb worked on hydro-electric schemes around the world. Cape Webb and other Antarctic landmarks were named in his honour.

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Details

Chronology

1911 - 1913
Career position - Chief Magnetician, Cape Denison, Australasian Antarctic Expedition
1915
Award - Polar Medal (Silver)
1915 - 1920
Military service - Served with the Australian Imperial Force
1916
Award - Military Cross (MC)
1918
Award - Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
1959
Life event - Retired

Related Events

Related People

Published resources

Books

  • Webb, Eric Norman; and Chree, Charles, Field survey and reduction of magnetograph curves, part 1: [together with] analysis and discussion of magnetograph curves, part 2 (Sydney: Government Printer, 1925), 285 pp. Details

Journal Articles

See also

  • Jensen, David, Mawson's remarkable men: the personal stories of the epic 1911-14 Australasian Antarctic Expediton (Sydeny: Allen and Unwin, 2015), 183 pp. Details
  • Mawer, Granville Allen, South by Northwest: the Magnetic Crusade and the Contest for Antarctica (Kent Town: Wakefield Press, 2006), 319 pp. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 21 November 2023

EOAS ID: biogs/P007310b.htm

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