Arduous Task Well Done
Local Soldiers Helped Build Observatory on Mountain
Sgt. G Gear (Somerset Light Infantry), of 10, The Paragon, Bath, and Spr. A. Burridge of West End, Wellow, were members of a band of 22 British soldiers who have just completed an arduous four months at the summit of a 6,000 ft. mountain in Austria, writes a military observer.
All members of the 110th (East Lancs) Army Troops Squadron, Royal Engineers, they have, without outside assistance, constructed an observatory which will play an important part in European scientific research. It has now been handed over to the Austrian Government for use by astronomers of Graz University.
The purpose of the observatory is principally to house a coronascope, one of only four existing in Europe, and by their work the Sappers have brought to realisation a plan first conceived by Austrian astronomers in 1944.
At that time they had an observatory on the Kanzel slopes at a height of 4,600 ft., but it was found that this was not high enough to be in the proper atmospheric layer. It was impossible then to move to the higher Goerlitzen mountain, but, after the war, the project attracted the attention of the British Astronomer Royal.
Soldier Killed
The Goerlitzen mountain site was first reconnoitred in June this year by Dr. Atkinson, the Deputy Astronomer Royal, and work on the foundations was started towards the end of the following month.
From that moment the 22 R.E.s were employed continuously on the site. Every scrap of material had to be taken to the summit of the mountain from the nearest town, 6,000 feet below, by overhead cable railway, snowmobiles, Jeeps and ski hoists. Some of the material was pre-fabricated in the workshops at the foot of the mountain.
It was a close race against time to complete the constructional work before the arrival of the snow and frost, and in transporting the material up the mountain-side, one British soldier lost his life.
In spite of the difficulties, the work was completed by November 27th, just as the first heavy snow of Austria’s bitter winter was falling. To reach the site for the ceremony was a test of nerve and endurance for some of the more aged Austrian scientists who were to accept the gift on behalf of their Government.
Guard of Honour
Battling their way over treacherous slopes, through a blinding snowstorm, they eventually reached the tiny observatory to be greeted with a smart “present arms” by the 22 Sappers, who had built the place, and who were specially selected to form a guard of honour for this occasion. Despite the intense cold, these Sappers were as immaculate as Guardsmen, and were praised by the chief British representative, Brigadier T. B. L. Churchill, who deputised for the British Commander-in-Chief, at the ceremony.
In handing over the key of the Observatory to the Austrians, Brig. Churchill said the British Forces in Austria were particularly glad to have this opportunity of offering something tangible to the Austrian people—something which was of British workmanship, and which would assist Austrian science and education in this post-war world which they were all trying to build.
“Let us hope that our endeavours in this larger field will ultimately be as successful as this project,” he concluded
Speeches by the Austrian scientists all emphasised the important bearing this generous act on the part of the British Army would have in cementing the friendly relations between the two countries, apart from helping the cause of world science.
Up to the discovery of the coronascope by Professor Lyot, a French astronomer, the corona of the sun could only be examined during a total eclipse. Since these are rare, attempts were made to make the corona visible at all times, and after half a century of unsuccessful trials by well-known scientists, Lyot succeeded in constructing a workable coronascope.
With its aid it will now be possible to carry out continuous research work which will be of value in many branches of science, since there is no other method of studying the behaviour of matter at a temperature of one million degrees. Already it has been found that the corona has a considerable effect on wireless rays and on the earth’s magnetic field.
Source: Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer of 2 January 1948.