Page 95 - South Georgia

Postal History of Operation Tabarin, 1944 ~ 1945

OPERATION TABARIN

Operation Tabarin was conceived by the British Cabinet in
1943 in response to the perceived threats of German naval
activity in the Southern Ocean and of attempts by Argentina, or
Chile, to assert sovereignty in the South Antarctic whilst
Britain was otherwise engaged. Royal Navy Party 475 was
formed, led by Lt.-Commander James Marr, a veteran of
Shackleton's 'Quest' expedition and 'Discovery' investigations.

Although tasked with establishing bases and scientific work,
the expedition’s primary aim was political. Establishment, and
demonstrable ongoing use, of official Post Offices was
accepted as a proof of territorial Sovereignty, so each base had
a post office.

MV Highland Monarch transporting the expedition party,
materials, stores and sheets of stamps departed Portsmouth
Harbour on 14 December 1943, docking on 26 January at
Stanley. On 29 January 1944 HMS William Scoresby, laden
with stores transferred from Highland Monarch, set off for the
South to establish the Antarctic bases.

Tabarin was successful, achieving two Bases in the first season, Map of Tabarin - FIDS - BAS Bases,
and a third in the second year, all with Post Offices.
Acknowledgement : ‘Of Ice & Men’.

OFFICIAL MAIL
Official mail, for retention by British Government, was posted on the opening day of each new Base Post Office

1944 Base B Post Office was the first post office to be established under Operation Tabarin.
It should be said “re-opened” in part of the abandoned whaling station on Deception Island on 5 February 1944

Unusually, this item of official mail required just internal mail to reach its Naval destination in Stanley

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