A GREAT ADVENTURER

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1926, Page 3

A GREAT ADVENTURER

(By Guy Innes in "Daily Mail.”)

Captain George Hubert Wilkins, a

slim and bearded man of 38, with tin

calculated bravery which led Sir John Aionash to describe his as “the most coolly intrepid man in the Australian Army,” is about to attempt a dash by aeroplane over the frogen wastes between Canada and the North Pole.

By temperament and training AYilkins is well qualified to undertake such n desperately hazardous exploit, for there is not much about flying or about exploration that he has not learned in the hard school of experience. He knows most of the races of the world from Australia’s aborigines to the Esquimaux. Soldiers and sailors have been his comrades and friends, and lie is equally at home driving a dog team or addressing the Royal Georgrnphical Society.

Wilkins intended, when lie returned recently after leading a natural history expedition through the least known parts of Northern Australia and its islands, to undertake research in the Antarctic, but owing to lack of financial support ho turned his face northwards. He knows the Arctic well and learned that most valuable of lessons—how to live on the country—when with Stefansson in 1913-17.

Wilkins has civ.mimed into the past 15 years the achievements of a lozen tolerably adventurous lifetimes. Ho was the first man to take moving pictures of troops in action—a feat he accomplished when with the Turkish forces in the Balkan War of 1912. Among other adventures in that campaign he was arrested and very narrowly escaped death. Later, a balloon exploit in London led to his being blown out to sea and searched for by destroyers. Then, in 1913, after a visit to the West Indies, he joined Stefansson in the North.

Long afterwards—for news travels slowly in those icy spaces—he heard of the war. He hastened back to Australia, gained a commission in the Australian Flying Corps in 1917, and in the same year became Australia’s official photographer, in which capacity he obtained, by bis daring pictures of unique historic value. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the Military Cross and Bar. Bored with peace, he has returned to his exploring. In 1920-21 he was second in command of the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition; in 1921-22 ho accompanied the Shackloton-Rowstt Expedition as naturalist.; and now he is attempting to explore lrom the air ;l region which may test even his nerve, daring and resource.