David Haig-Thomas

David Haig-Thomas (1 December 1908 – 6 June 1944) was a British ornithologist, wildlife photographer, explorer, and rower who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics. He was an army commando during the Second World War and was killed in action during the Normandy Landings. Haig-Thomas Island in the Canadian Arctic is named after him.

Biography

Haig-Thomas was born in London and educated at Eton College and St John's College, Cambridge. In 1930, 1931, and 1932 he was bowman of the winning Cambridge boats in the Boat Race. He was also the bow of the eight that came fourth rowing for Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics, and rowing correspondent of the Daily Mail. Haig-Thomas married Nancy Catherine Bury, daughter of Major Lindsay Edward Bury. They had two sons.

In 1936, Haig-Thomas led an ornithological expedition to Iceland. From 1937 to 1938, he led a British Arctic Expedition in northwest Greenland and Ellesmere Island, accompanied by John Wright and Richard Hamilton. The expedition arrived at Qaanaaq in northwest Greenland in August 1937. They left Etah in March 1938 and crossed Ellesmere Island where they met up with the MacGregor Arctic Expedition. They then sledged to Amund Ringnes Island, Axel Heiberg Island and Haig-Thomas Island in the Canadian Arctic. They returned to Greenland and spent the summer of 1938 in Qaanaaq.

Second World War

Haig-Thomas purchased Horsey Island in 1939 and lived there until called up to serve in the Second World War. He then served in Iceland and East Greenland. In 1942, he was part of Special Commando Boating Group, No. 14 Commando which was made up of Canadians and Norwegians. As well as Haig-Thomas, this included other polar explorers including Sir Peter Scott, Andrew Croft, August Courtauld and others. They specialized in using canoes and kayaks for limpet attacks in arctic waters. In 1944 in Operation Overlord he was in C Troop, No. 4 Commando. He was killed in action on D-Day in Normandy aged 35 and is buried in the churchyard in the village of Bavent.

Publications Haig-Thomas, David "I Leap Before I Look", London, William Clowes & Sons, 1936 Haig-Thomas, David Expedition to Ellesmere Island, 1937–38. Geographical Journal, 1940, 95(4):265–277. Haig-Thomas, David Tracks in the Snow London: Hodder & Stoughton 1939