Centenary of extraordinary expedition

TODAY commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of the most extraordinary achievements in Antarctic exploration.

On this day in 1912 Englishman Robert Falcon Scott, together with Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edward Evans reached the South Pole. However, they were not the first to reach their target. On December 14, 1911 the Norwegian Roald Amundsen with Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Svere Hassell and Oscar Wisting were the first to conquer the South Pole. The Norwegian party returned safely after covering 1,600 miles in 78 days. Tragically the English party, after travelling 1,300 miles in 99 days, all perished. Tom Crean took part in Scott’s expedition but was not selected for the final part of the journey. He and two others, Teddy Evans and Bill Lashly, were instructed by Scott to return to base when they were 146 miles from the South Pole.

Evans suffered frost bite and Crean was sent to get help. In atrocious weather conditions Crean travelled 35 miles in 18 hours to alert rescuers. Evans and Lashly were rescued. Evans rose to the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy and dedicated his book South with Scott to Crean and Ashly.

Patrick A Kavanagh

Rushbrooke,

Cobh.