British Antarctic Monument Trust

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• 2: About us
  • 2.1: Ambassadors
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• 4: Those who died
  • 4.1: List by date
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• 5: Memories
  • 5.1: Dulcie Bailey remembers
  • 5.2: Ian Boyd remembers
  • 5.3: David McDowell remembers
  • 5.4: Russell Thompson remembers
  • 5.5: Jim Turton remembers
  • 5.6: AB Eddie Large remembers
  • 5.7: Steven Smith remembers
• 6: Memorial
• 7: Monument
  • 7.1: The sculptor
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• 11: Contact
• 17: Julian Paren

Monument

The purpose of the British Antarctic Monument is to promote good citizenship by honouring those explorers and scientists who have carried out hazardous duties in the pursuit of scientific knowledge in the British Antarctic Territory.

We want to advance education by increasing the understanding of how their exploration and scientific work has contributed to our knowledge of the natural environment, such as our climate and the movement of continents.

The monument will increase the awareness of the British peoples, and those of other nations, to the contribution that Britain has made to the exploration and understanding of this remote area and the significance their discoveries have on us today and our future lives.

We want to advance the appreciation of art by creating a unique and significant work which by its design and execution links two places that are far apart on the Earth yet are inter-connected.

We want this work of art to be seen by the public in the United Kingdom and by the thousands of tourists that visit the Antarctic region each year.

We want people to appreciate the scale of Antarctic scientific research, understand the implications of the discoveries and appreciate the endeavour of these young men and women.

The monument has been designed by the distinguished sculptor, Oliver Barratt. He has created a unique work which is in two parts - one in the United Kingdom and the other in Antarctica. This will reflect the environmental and scientific link between Britain and the Antarctic whilst at the same time recognising the emotional and physical separation experienced by explorers.

One part symbolises a mould from which the other part has been cast. The mould will be made in British Oak. The needle shaped casting will be made in stainless steel to reflect the surrounding landscape and to withstand the effects of snow and ice. It will be positioned in the Antarctic at an angle so that it points back through the Earth towards the mould in the United Kingdom. It is intended that the names of those who did not return should be inscribed in a spiral around the stele at about head height so that they can be read at close quarters.

You can see a slide show of the design here.