[Oxford Mail, Dec 16, ?, 1929]  OXFORD MAN ON DISCOVERY II. Big Send-off
From London To-day. 3 YEARS'
CRUISE. WHEN the Discovery II. sailed
from London docks this morning for her three years
cruise of the Antarctic she had on board a
representative of Oxford in the person of
Lieut.-Commander John C. Irving,
RN. Lieut.-Commander Irving is the second son of
Mr.
John Irving, headmaster of SS. Mary and John
School. He received his initial training on H.M.S.
Worcester as a cadet, receiving his commission in
1914, when he served in the North Sea patrol and
also in the Mediterranean and the Baltic. Since he left the Navy in 1922 he has been
engaged in literary work, and is the author of the
well known book, "The Coronel and the Falklands."
He has also contributed articles on yachting to
various periodicals.  Valuable
Work.Lieut.-Commander Irving has done valuable work
in charting the sunken creeks of the South and East
coasts of England. Oxford will wish this old boy of the City of
Oxford School every success in his adventurous
cruise. The Discovery II., the new sailing ship designed
for investigating the whaling industry in the
Antarctic, will be away for three years. Hundreds of People gathered to witness the
departure of the vessel and after two hours'
skilful manœuvring she was steered into the
Thames, where much larger crowds were watching. As the ship glided from her berth girls crowded
to the windows of the factories overlooking the
dock and waved good-bye to the crew'. One very pretty girl, more daring than the rest,
climbed out on to a ledge and shouted "A Merry
Christmas next week," and the sailors responded
with a cheer. 
Index
on Cmdr John J C Irving
-
Picture: "The
crew of the Discovery II ... giving the Duke of
Gloucester three cheers during the inspection of
the vessel, which leaves London shortly for the
Antarctic"
| 
write to David
Irving