Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995

Date: 1934-1935

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PAColl-8102-1

Description: Photographs taken during the second Ellsworth Trans-Antarctic Flight Expedition of September 1934 to January 1936. The expedition left Dunedin on the 19th of September 1934 for Deception Island off Graham Land from where Lincoln Ellsworth made his second unsuccessful attempt to fly across the Antarctic Continent. The expedition's ship "Wyatt Earp" was crewed by Norwegians. When it arrived in Dunedin one of the crew had to leave the ship because of ill health. Ellsworth advertised for a replacement and from over 400 aplicants chose Alister Duthie, particularly for his skill at skiing. Quantity: 146 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1938-1973

From: Grainger, J :Negatives and photographs relating to Campbell Island

Reference: PA1-q-048

Description: Photographs of ships and personnel on Campbell Island relating to Cape Expedition (code name of the War Cabinet venture to establish coast watching stations on Sub-Antarctic islands for security reasons during World War II), and relating to the establishment of meteorological research stations on Campbell Island. Album created by Ian Stratford Stewart in preparation for his book "Campbell Island, a history" published by A.H. & A.W. Reed in 1976. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album in black vinyl ring-binder, with images attached to pages with self-adhesive strips, 31 x 27 cm

Date: 1944-1945

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PAColl-8102-3

Description: Landscape and coastal views of Norfolk Island and Philip Island; the remains of convict settlements and prisons at Kingston; Duthie and collegues visiting seabirds nesting on Philip Island; photographs of Gannets, Terns and Bosun Birds taken while on Philip Island; group photographs of Duthie and other men of the military meteriological service, one group taken outside "Pine Villa Weather Office." Photographs of Alister Duthie and collegues in military uniform; photographs of New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands, which are mainly views of local places and people, most unidentified. Quantity: 76 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1931-1934

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PA1-o-1244

Description: A record of climbing expeditions in the Southern Alps made by Alister Duthie and other mountaineers from 1931 to 1934. The first is a single group photograph of a party of eight, one of whom was A P Harper, leaving 25 Mile Hut in the Rees Valley in 1931/1932. Another copy of this print is in the collection at Photo Archive ref PAColl-8102-5-63 and it carries a caption naming each person in the party. The print in this album is surrounded by their signatures. The caption on the copy print also states that this photograph was taken on the occasion of the first New Zealand climbing camp. The second expedition recorded took place from the 4th of January to the 10th of February 1934. Initially the party comprised Alister Duthie, Lella Davidson, and Greta Stevenson. It involved climbing mountains in the general vicinity of Mount Cook. They began by crossing the Copland Pass to Welcome Flat. At Waiho the party was joined by Kurt Suter who was working as a guide at Franz Josef Glacier. The party did much climbing which included Mount De la Beche, the Minerets of Mount Drummond, Mount Spencer, Glacier Peak, Mount Lendenfeldt, ending up at De la Beche Hut on January the 24th, at which point Lella Davidson left to return to Dunedin. The remaining three continued their climbing expedition during which they made the first crossing of the Southern Alps divide by way of Clarke Saddle, a high col at nearly 10,000 feet between Teichelmann Peak and Mount Bountier. The third expedition recorded took place earlier from the 25th of December 1933 to the 2nd of January 1934 when Alister Duthie and W H W Walker made an usuccessful attempt on Mount Aspiring. They were foiled by the weather and their tent was "blown to bits." However, from the 12th to the 19th of April 1934 a party consisting of Kurt Suter, R Pinney, and Alister Duthie climbed Mount Aspiring via the north-west ridge, and also climbed Plunket Dome and Cascade Saddle. As well as photographs relating to these expeditions, the album contains many other images of mountain peaks and river vallies in the Southern Alps. An article by Alister Duthie on the first crossing of the Southern Alps divide via Clarke Saddle is housed at Photo Archive ref PAColl-8102-7. It is from The New Zealand Alpine Journal, Vol 5, June 1934. The crossing of the Southern Alps divide via Clarke Saddle was reported in the "Star." A photocopy of the report can be found in the collection at Photo Archive ref PAColl-8102-6-12. Quantity: 1 album(s).

Date: 1941

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PAColl-8102-2

Description: Photographs taken over two winters when Alister Duthie was employed on the Homer Tunnel between 1937 and 1939. Photographs taken while Alister Duthie was a member of the "Cape Expedition" which established coastwatching functions in New Zealand's subantarctic islands during the Second world War. While employed at the Homer Tunnel Alister Duthie's main job was to patrol the power lines and report any breakages or other damage. According to Alister Duthie The first trip of the "Cape Expedition" in 1941 was in the "Ranui". The time was spent on board coastwatching, going ashore mainly to hunt fresh meat. Dr Robert Falla, then Director of the Canterbury Museum, was also on this trip, specifically because of his knowledge of the subantarctic islands. The second trip which Duthie made was on the "Tagua" to Campbell Island where they spent their time doing meteriological work. At the end of this term of duty he returned to New Zealand on the "New Golden Hind." The "Ranui," "Tagua," and "New Golden Hind," were three small ships used by the New Zealand Goverment to service its coastwatching committments, not only on its subantarctic islands, but throughout the Pacific. The "Cape Expedition" itself was operational from 1941 to 1945. Quantity: 132 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1931-1932

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PA1-o-1245

Description: Photographs of friends, family, mountaineering expeditions in the Southern Alps, and a mountaineering training camp. The mountaineering expeditions are as follows;- 1. Mount Cook climbing expedition, Easter 1932. 2. A climbing expedition in the Forbes Range, Christmas 1931-1932. 3. A trip to the Remarkables in 1931. 4. Climbing Mount Eley in 1931-1932 Three groups of photographs relate to the occasion of the first New Zealand climbing camp in the Rees Valley area in Decenber 1931/January 1932. One of the participants in this event was A P Harper who features in the group photographs. A photograph of HMS "Diomede," and groups of sailers on board HMS "Wakakura." Two views of the interior of a naval arsenal, probably in Dunedin. There are also many unidentified photographs of Mountains, River vallies, waterfalls, and glaciers in the Southern Alps. Also unidentified climbers, and climbing parties on mountains, at camps and mountain huts. Quantity: 1 album(s).

Date: [ca 1929-ca 1934]

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PAColl-8102-5

Description: Views of river vallies, ranges and mountains in the Southern Alps. Also men and some women mountaineers on expeditions. These include Alister Duthie, mountain guide Kurt Suter, and veteran mountaineer A P Harper. There is a photograph of Alister Duthie, Greta Stevenson, and Kurt Suter taken in 1934 on their return from the first crossing of the main divide of the Southern Alps by way of Clarke Saddle between Teichelmann Peak and Mount Bountier. Two images record skiing parties and there is a copy print of a photograph taken on the 26th of December 1931 of a party leaving from 25 Mile Hut, Rees Valley, which includes A P Harper. The occasion of this photograph was the first New Zealand mountain climbing camp. Images of mountain huts include Howden Hut Greenstone Saddle, Matukituki Hut near Mount Aspiring, a hut in the upper Holyford Valley built by Alister Duthie and Kurt Suter, a hut in the Huka Valley near Mount Cook, and several unidentified huts. Quantity: 187 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 3 Jul 1991 - 03 Jul 1991

From: Cape Expedition Oral History Project

By: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995

Reference: OHInt-0328-08

Description: Alastair Duthie born 1912 in Dunedin. Talks about early life in Dunedin and early experiences on boats and in the outdoors. Describes experiences as a member of the Cape Expedition in World War II: selection and preparation for the expedition, voyages to the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island, navigating and handling the boat, daily routines and duties. Discusses ships the Tagua, the Ranui and the Golden Hind and talks about Captain Webling, Jack Ohlson, engineer Tommy Pook, Doug Knowles, Wally Ineson, Jack Trigger, Jack Sorenson, Bill Dawbin, George Jones. Mentions Robert Falla and Charles Fleming. Recalls expedition to Enderby Island: 'butcher's picnic' shooting cattle, using survival techniques when abandoned for three days, finding the figurehead and other relics from the 'Derry Castle'. Talks about weather, storms and the effects of weather on morale. Describes confinement on boat, cooking, rum ration, leisure time, making a still on Campbell Island and brewing beer. Talks about Carnley Hut, Grafton wreck, cutting of rata for the Erlagen, waterfall lookout hut, Dent Island, Fairchild's Garden on Adams Island. Describes marine mammals and birds, including muttonbirds and albatross. Recalls returning home to Dunedin, working as meteorologist in the airforce and life after the expedition. Interviewer(s) - Fergus Sutherland Relationship complexity - Alastair Duthie's papers relating to the Cape Expedition are held in the Manuscripts and Archives collection at MS-Papers-8117. Alastair Duthie's photographs relating to the Cape Expedition are held in the Photographic Archive collection at PAColl-8102-2 Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010021 - OHC-010023 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3342.

Date: [1912-1995]

By: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995

Reference: MS-Papers-8117

Description: Papers relating to Ellsworth Transantarctic Flight Expedition, Cape Expedition, military service, activities as a seaman and launch master in the 1930s-1940s; also personal correspondence and papers Source of title - Supplied by Library Quantity: 7 folder(s). 0.08 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph, mss, typescripts and printed matter Transfers: To Photographic Archive - Transferred photographs in PAColl-8102.

Date: 21 Jan 1943

From: Fleming, Charles Alexander (Sir), 1916-1987 :Photographs relating to family and scientific interests

Reference: PA1-q-955-20-1532

Description: Coastwatchers on the Cape Expedition to the Auckland Islands, and wandering albatross, above number 2 station at Carnley Harbour, 21 Jan 1943. Shows J H Trigger, Laurie H Pollock, Geoff L Prichard, and Alister Duthie. Photograph taken by Charles Alexander Fleming. Other - Fleming photographed this albatross many times, recording its development(See PA1-q-955-21 to PA1-q-955-24) Caption - Caption in Fleming's 'Photographic Catalogue' held in a dairy in the Manuscripts section of the Alexander Turnbull Library reads "Ashley albatross with relief party etc". Note that the hill the albatross was hatched on was referred to as 'Ashley'. One of the members of the party had a son called Ashley, and the hill was named to celebrate his birthday. (Information from Fleming's daughter Mary McEwen, obtained from one of the Fleming diaries) Source of descriptive information - Dated using Fleming's 'Photographic Catalogue' in a diary held in the Manuscripts section, Alexander Turnbull Library Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - J Trigger, L H Pollock, G Prichard [sic], A Duthie; Recto - bottom right - 1532 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 6 x 6.1 (approx, unevenly trimmed)

Date: 1941

From: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995 :Photographs of Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, coast watching in Sub-Antarctic Islands, service in Pacific, 1939-1945

Reference: PAColl-8102-2-26-2

Description: Alistair Duthie skinning a sheep on Campbell Island during the Cape expedition to the sub-antarctic islands. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1941. The Cape Expedition carried out coast watching duties, and scientific work from 1941 to 1945. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 16.4 x 10.7 cm

Date: 1931-1944

By: Duthie, Alastair Simpson, 1912-1995

Reference: PAColl-8102

Description: Photographs taken and collected by Alastair Simpson Duthie, comprising: Scenes in the Southern Alps 1931-1934, including portraits of A P Harper and Kurt Suter, and New Zealand Alpine Club, Otago Branch, groups. Scenes taken on the second attempt of the Ellsworth Trans-Antarctic Flight Expedition to fly across Antarctica, September 1934-January 1935. Photographs of Homer Tunnel construction, 1937-1938. Photographs of Cape Expedition to Auckland and Campbell Islands, ca 1942-1943 Photographs taken while working with the Meteorological service in Norfolk Island, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands 1943-1945. letters and papers relating to Ellsworth Transarctic Flight Expedition, Cape Expedition, military service, personal papers, and activities as seaman and launch master, 1940s-1980s. The following documentation is held at PAColl-8102-7:- 1. Article by Alastair Duthie from vol 5 of the NZ Alpine Journal, June 1934. 2. Autobiographical account based on interviews with Alister Duthie. 3. Account of Lincoln Ellsworth and his antarctic flight expeditions. 4. Information on Ellsworth's Northrop Gamma aircraft, "Polar Star." 5. Information on Bernt Balchen. 6. Information on the Cape Expedition. Quantity: 2 album(s). 540 b&w original photographic print(s). Transfers: To Ephemera Collection - EPH-B-MOUNTAINEERING-1935-01 : Two copies of a Souvenir Programme for an event hosted by The New Zealand Alpine Club in the Dunedin Town Hall on the 16th and 17th of August 1935.

Date: 1970

By: Tremain, Garrick, 1941-

Reference: A-468-007

Description: Alister Duthie dressed as a pirate, a gun slung over his shoulder and a large keg of whisky or gunpowder at his feet. On his right shoulder in place of a parrot is a small hairy dog. Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s). Physical Description: Ink & gouache on parchment paper glued to card, 31 x 37 1/2 cm. on board, 322 x 242 mm Provenance: Donated by Donal Duthie, son of Alister Duthie.