Frank Bickerton
Encyclopedia
Frank Bickerton was an Antarctic
explorer, and engineer, and a pioneer in the usage of aircraft and telegraphy. He also led a three man sledging team which discovered the first meteorite to be found in the Antarctic.
in Oxfordshire, the son of Joseph and Eliza Bickerton, his father was a Solicitor and Town Clerk.
Bickerton moved to Plymouth
, Devon, as a child in 1895 and lived in the city until 1920.
Bickerton was a friend of author Vita Sackville-West
and was the model for the character of Leonard Anquetil in her 1930 novel, 'The Edwardians'.
's Australian Antarctic Expedition in 1911 as an engineer on the recommendation of the Royal Geographic Society and a member of an earlier expedition. Bickerton brought with him a Vickers REP monoplane
, which he intended initially to use as a means to expedite surveying of the region. The plane was badly damaged in an early test flight, and Bickerton converted it into a tractor sledge.
On his return from the Antarctic, he was invited by Ernest Shackleton
to join the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
, however the onset of World War I
led to Bickerton's withdrawal and his enlistment in the Royal Flying Corps
. Bickerton served again during World War II
in the Royal Air Force
.
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
explorer, and engineer, and a pioneer in the usage of aircraft and telegraphy. He also led a three man sledging team which discovered the first meteorite to be found in the Antarctic.
Life
Francis Howard Bickerton was born in the village of IffleyIffley
Iffley is a village in Oxfordshire, England, within the boundaries of the city of Oxford, between Cowley and the estates of Rose Hill and Donnington, and in proximity to the River Thames . Its most notable feature is its original and largely unchanged Norman church, St Mary the Virgin, which has a...
in Oxfordshire, the son of Joseph and Eliza Bickerton, his father was a Solicitor and Town Clerk.
Bickerton moved to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon, as a child in 1895 and lived in the city until 1920.
Bickerton was a friend of author Vita Sackville-West
Vita Sackville-West
The Hon Victoria Mary Sackville-West, Lady Nicolson, CH , best known as Vita Sackville-West, was an English author, poet and gardener. She won the Hawthornden Prize in 1927 and 1933...
and was the model for the character of Leonard Anquetil in her 1930 novel, 'The Edwardians'.
Expeditions
Bickerton joined Sir Douglas MawsonDouglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson, OBE, FRS, FAA was an Australian geologist, Antarctic explorer and Academic. Along with Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton, Mawson was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.-Early work:He was appointed geologist to an...
's Australian Antarctic Expedition in 1911 as an engineer on the recommendation of the Royal Geographic Society and a member of an earlier expedition. Bickerton brought with him a Vickers REP monoplane
Air-tractor sledge
Sir Douglas Mawson's air-tractor sledge was a converted fixed-wing aircraft taken on the 1911–14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, the first plane to be taken to the Antarctic. Expedition leader Douglas Mawson had planned to use the Vickers R.E.P...
, which he intended initially to use as a means to expedite surveying of the region. The plane was badly damaged in an early test flight, and Bickerton converted it into a tractor sledge.
On his return from the Antarctic, he was invited by Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE was a notable explorer from County Kildare, Ireland, who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...
to join the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition , also known as the Endurance Expedition, is considered the last major expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Conceived by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the expedition was an attempt to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent...
, however the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
led to Bickerton's withdrawal and his enlistment in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. Bickerton served again during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.