The four man British Trans Artic Expedition The first man ever to walk across the Artic seen as they arrive at Portsmouth aboard the Ice Patrol Ship HMS Endurance with two of their huskies In front are Wally Herbert (left) 34 year old leader of the team and Major Kenneth Hedges 33 from Bournemouth the Medical Officer In rear right to left are Dr Roy Koerner the teams glaciologist Alan Gill Squad leader and Freddie Church radio operator The team spent 16 months trudging some 3800 miles across the ice and snows of the Artic Basin and North Pole June 1969