This month’s choice of article is taken from the 1945 journal, the end of World War II is imminent, however, the wartime feel is present, especially in the Proceedings of the Club.
A concise journal with fine articles and illustrations, including:
* PE Brockbank on the Marsden to Edale, almost a pub crawl in those days!
* Frank Kiernan on a leave trip to Kashmir while on service in India;
* a report on the newly formed BMC, ever controversial;
* and a sobering In Memorian, of the eight tributes four were lost inaction, three were original members, the last joined in 1910;
* and a lapsed tradition, on the Easter meet the President gifted a nine gallon cask of Tetley’s mild, followed by the gift of a firkin of ale on the President’s meet.
My choice is a reflective account of the Polish ascent of Nanda Devi East in July 1939 by Jakub Bujak.
This a personal and honest account of high altitude mountaineering.
Here’s a link to the article.
And a link to the Himalayan Journal expedition article reproduced in the Alpine Journal, more immediate and factual and with excellent photos, worth a look for those alone. Here’s the link.
After the expedition on his return to Poland Bujak decided to make his way out, via the Carpathian mountains, first to Paris then the UK, where he joined the RAF, and was involved in aircraft design, and also joined the Rucksack Club. Sadly he did not return home, he disappeared mysteriously off the Cornish cliffs in July 1945.
His obituary is in the 1946 journal, and the 1945 journal ‘proceedings’ includes a report on Bujak’s indoor meet lecture about his trip to the Caucasus in 1935.
You can find the complete 1945 journal on the website here. Below are some photos and illustartions taken from the journal.
