James Edward Butler Futtit Farrington
Encyclopedia
James Edward Butler Futtit Farrington, known universally as “Fram” was a key member of a secret wartime
Antarctic
expeditionary force and the last surviving holder of the Polar Medal in Bronze, abolished after 1941.
, Co Antrim and educated first at the Belfast Royal Academy
. On leaving school, he tried to join the Army but was turned down because of colour blindness. He subsequently qualified as a marine radio operator and joined the Merchant Navy.
, Kemp Land
and Mac. Robertson Land
in Australian Antarctic Territory
. In addition to his radio duties Farrington took charge of producing the ship's journal Pelagic News. As a ship-based member Farringdon received the Bronze Polar Medal, a distinction which always rankled with him.
inspector based at Metropolitan-Vickers
in Manchester, until he was summoned to London for secondment to Operation Tabarin
, under the overall command of Lt-Cdr James Marr. Based on Deception Island, in the South Shetlands, Farrington had expected to spend the winter of 1945–46 at Hope Bay
, but his sense of duty made him exchange places with a less experienced radio operator. Thus, technically, he never wintered on the Antarctic mainland, with the result that he was not awarded the Silver Polar Medal
at Malvern
, moving two years later to the new electronics division at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
, Harwell
. He retired in 1975 and returned to Northern Ireland where he died on 4 October 2002, survived by his wife and son.
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...
Antarctic
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...
expeditionary force and the last surviving holder of the Polar Medal in Bronze, abolished after 1941.
Early life
Farrington was born, the son of a clergyman, on 6 April 1908, at DunmurryDunmurry
Dunmurry is an urban townland, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Located between Belfast and Lisburn, it was once a rural village, but is now within the Greater Belfast conurbation...
, Co Antrim and educated first at the Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
. On leaving school, he tried to join the Army but was turned down because of colour blindness. He subsequently qualified as a marine radio operator and joined the Merchant Navy.
First visits to Polar regions
After serving on P & O liners and cargo ships he began his Antarctic career as part of the Discovery Committee, voyaging south to the coasts of Enderby LandEnderby Land
Enderby Land is a projecting land mass of Antarctica, extending from Shinnan Glacier at to William Scoresby Bay at .Enderby Land was discovered in February 1831 by John Biscoe in the whaling brig Tula, and named after the Enderby Brothers of London, owners of the Tula, who encouraged their...
, Kemp Land
Kemp Land
Kemp Land is a thin sliver of Antarctica including, and lying inland from, the Kemp Coast. Part of the Australian Antarctic claim it is defined as lying between 56° 25' E and 59° 34' E, and, as with other sectors of the Antarctic, is deemed as being limited by the 60° S parallel. It is bounded in...
and Mac. Robertson Land
Mac. Robertson Land
Mac. Robertson Land is the portion of Antarctica lying southward of the coast between William Scoresby Bay and Cape Darnley. Mac. Robertson Land is located at . In the east, Mac. Robertson Land includes the Prince Charles Mountains. Mac...
in Australian Antarctic Territory
Australian Antarctic Territory
The Australian Antarctic Territory is a part of Antarctica. It was claimed by the United Kingdom and placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation...
. In addition to his radio duties Farrington took charge of producing the ship's journal Pelagic News. As a ship-based member Farringdon received the Bronze Polar Medal, a distinction which always rankled with him.
Wartime Service
After the outbreak of war, Farrington became an Air MinistryAir Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
inspector based at Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
in Manchester, until he was summoned to London for secondment to Operation Tabarin
Operation Tabarin
During World War II, Operation Tabarin was a small British military expedition launched from the UK in 1943 to the Antarctic to establish permanently occupied bases.-Reasons for the expedition:There were several reasons for Tabarin...
, under the overall command of Lt-Cdr James Marr. Based on Deception Island, in the South Shetlands, Farrington had expected to spend the winter of 1945–46 at Hope Bay
Hope Bay
Hope Bay on Trinity Peninsula, is long and wide, indenting the tip of Antarctic Peninsula and opening on Antarctic Sound....
, but his sense of duty made him exchange places with a less experienced radio operator. Thus, technically, he never wintered on the Antarctic mainland, with the result that he was not awarded the Silver Polar Medal
Polar Medal
The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.-History:...
Post war
On his return from the Antarctic in 1946, Farrington became a scientific officer with the Telecommunications Research EstablishmentTelecommunications Research Establishment
The Telecommunications Research Establishment was the main United Kingdom research and development organization for radio navigation, radar, infra-red detection for heat seeking missiles, and related work for the Royal Air Force during World War II and the years that followed. The name was...
at Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, moving two years later to the new electronics division at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell, Oxfordshire, was the main centre for atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1990s.-Founding:...
, Harwell
Harwell, Oxfordshire
Harwell is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse west of Didcot. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Amenities:...
. He retired in 1975 and returned to Northern Ireland where he died on 4 October 2002, survived by his wife and son.