Michael Barne (1877 - 1961) - Biographical notes

Second lieutenant - Discovery 1901-04

Born into a well to do family, his father was Frederick Barne, Member of Parliament for East Suffolk, his mother was Lady Constance Adelaide Seymour, the daughter of Francis Seymour, the 5th Marquess of Hertford.

He was educated at Stubbington School with the plan of joining the Navy on leaving when he joined the training ship "Britannia". Barne served with Scott aboard the "Majestic" where he impressed his future commander:

"...I thought him, as he proved to be, especially fitted for a voyage where there were elements of danger and difficulty."
Robert Scott

Michael Barne was appointed second lieutenant on the Discovery, a rank to which he had only just been promoted on his previous vessel. He trained at the Ben Nevis Observatory in the winter of 1900 specifically for the Discovery expedition where he took a course in magnetism.

He took responsibility for magnetometry and depth soundings also participating in several sledge journeys making copious notes throughout his three years with the expedition. He was awarded the Polar Medal for his contributions and efforts to the expedition.

On return from the Antarctic in 1904 Barne was married and returned to active service in the Royal Navy with the command of the Coquette. In the First World War he was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) following service in the Dardanelles and Dover patrol.

In 1914 he was awarded the Royal Humane Society's silver medal for diving overboard and attempting to rescue a sailor during a gale in the Atlantic.

While he retired from the Navy in 1919 with the rank of Captain, he returned during the Second World War to take command of an anti-submarine patrol ship.

Born 15th October 1877 at Sotterly Park, Suffolk - died 31st may 1961, the last surviving member of the Discovery expedition.

Landmarks named after Michael Barne

Feature Name: Cape Barne
Type: cape
Elevation: 120
Latitude: 77°35´S
Longitude: 166°14´E
Description: Steep, rocky bluff rising to 120 m between Cape Royds and Cape Evans on the W side of Ross Island.

Feature Name: Barne Glacier
Type: glacier
Latitude: 77°36´S
Longitude: 166°26´E
Description: Steep glacier which descends from the W slopes of Mount Erebus and terminates on the W side of Ross Island between Cape Barne and Cape Evans where it forms a steep ice cliff. Discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-04, under Scott. Named by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09, under Shackleton after nearby Cape Barne.

Feature Name: Barne Inlet
Type: bay
Latitude: 80°15´S
Longitude: 160°15´E
Description: A reentrant about 17 mi wide occupied by the lower part of Byrd Glacier, lying between Cape Kerr and Cape Selborne on the W side of the Ross Ice Shelf. Discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901-04) named for Lt. Michael Barne, who with Sub-Lt. George F.A. Mulock, RN, mapped the coastline this far south in 1903.