Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer
A brief overview of the life of Ireland's greatest Antarctic explorer.
Category: 1961
On This Day – May 31st 1961
Michael Barne
Second Lieutenant – Discovery Expedition
Born 15th October 1877 – Died 31st May 1961
Michael Barne, who was Second Lieutenant on Robert Falcon Scott’s, Discovery Expedition, died on the 31st of May 1961. He was the last surviving member of the expedition, and passed away at the age of 83.
Born at Sotterley Park, Suffolk in 1877, he joined the Navy as Midshipman in 1893. In 1901 Scott appointed him Second Lieutenant for the Antarctic expedition, and he would earn the Polar Medal for his contribution. He had written extensive notes on his experiences over the course of the expedition, detailing both his specialist fields of magnetronemy and soundings.
He married after returning from Antarctica, and later served in the First World War, earning the Distinguished Service Order medal. He retired with the rank of Captain in 1919, but during the Second World War he returned to duty to command an anti-submarine patrol ship.