Eric Norman Webb, (23 November 1889 – 23 January 1984) was an engineer known for his role as chief magnetician on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.
Biography Eric Norman Webb was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 23 November 1889. He studied civil engineering at the University of Canterbury and worked at the Melbourne Observatory, carrying out observations for the Carnegie Institution for Science.
At age 22 he was selected as chief magnetician on Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Part of his role while based at Cape Denison was to take daily measurements from the Magnetograph House, which he carried out regardless of the sometimes difficult conditions. He took part in a sledging journey with Edward Frederick Robert Bage and Frank Hurley to the South Magnetic Pole, a round trip of . Both Cape Webb and Webb Subglacial Trench are named after him.
Webb served in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. He enlisted in the 7th Field Company Engineers and embarked from Sydney on 30 November 2015 on board HMAT A23 Suffolk. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC), Distinguished Service Order, 1914–15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and was twice mentioned in despatches. The citation for his MC, appearing in The London Gazette in February 1919, reads as follows:
Webb later worked in hydroelectric projects including the Churchill Falls Generating Station (then known as Hamilton Falls) in Labrador, Canada. He visited Australia in 1974 and was interviewed by ABC Television about his role in the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.
Eric Webb was the last surviving member of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. He died on 23 January 1984.
References
External links Eric Norman Webb 'Sledging Diary', 10 November 1912-11 January 1913 Eric Webb interviewed by Lennard Bickel (sound recording, available online)