starved to death beside his companions in a tent beset by a fatal blizzard, “I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman.” Scott’s name became synonymous with
T
courage against the odds and dignity when all was lost. This year – the centenary of his team’s haunting demise – people around Britain and abroad are honouring the memory of their steely endeavour. Royal Mail has issued a commemorative stamp, expeditions have traced the footsteps of Scott (and of Norwegian Roald Amundsen who beat him to the South Pole), and exhibitions throughout the year are inspiring a new generation. Scott’s Last Expedition is the title of the
exhibition (to 2 September) at London’s Natural History Museum, which is home to 40,000 specimens brought back by his Polar Party. A partnership between the museum, Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand) and Canterbury Museum (New Zealand), the compelling show brings together some 200 artefacts, reuniting for the first time paraphernalia used by Scott’s team with scientific specimens they collected. Iconic and rare photographs, archive film footage,
equipment, thrilling diaries by Scott and his senior scientist Edward Wilson, even a life-size representation of Scott’s
40 BRITAIN
he epic tragedy of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s 1910–1912 ‘race’ to the South Pole is etched deep in the annals of British derring-do. “Had we lived,” he wrote as he froze and
base camp hut (which still survives at Cape Evans in Antarctica) are a must-see. Going beyond the conventional view of the bittersweet adventure, the displays celebrate the expedition’s many scientific achievements. “The important work they did has been overshadowed
by the really gripping story about the South Pole journey; we say that is not where the story ends,” says exhibition curator Elin Simonsson. “Their scientific work, looking at meteorology, glaciology, biology and geology, is just the beginning and connects to scientific work in Antarctica today.” Born in 1868, Scott’s own beginnings were
in Plymouth. His father ran a brewery, but seafaring was in the family blood and Robert Falcon – known as Con – trained in the Royal Navy from the age of 13. He quickly grew into a broad-chested, fair-haired young man with a winning smile who would later marry the sculptor Kathleen Bruce; their son, Peter, became the famous naturalist. As early as 1890, Scott was already keeping
a diary to which he confided his ambitions and anxieties. His competitiveness and fear of failure would become driving forces in the icy blasts of Antarctica, while his eloquent diary would immortalise his and his team's deeds. Having risen through the ranks, Scott was promoted to
Commander when he took up duties with the ship Discovery to lead the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901–4 aiming to unlock secrets of the still uncharted wilderness. Until the end of the 19th century, only sealers and whalers had set foot on the desolate southern
www.britain-magazine.com
CENTRAL IMAGE: ROYAL MAIL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100