Poem ~ Shackleton Heads for Antarctic – Saturday, 19 September 1914

In a break from war, on Friday, yesterday,

The Trans-Antarctic Expedition,

Of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his teams,

Departed London for the South Polar Region.

The exploration teams headed off

In two sections. Team New Zealand,

For the Ross Sea edge of the Antarctic,

Departed Friday morning to Tasmania,

Via Tilbury. Those for the Weddell Sea,

With Sir Ernest himself, later that day,

Headed towards South American shores.

Since the refitting of the Aurora,

Two weeks ago, the Ross Sea ship,

Under Lieutenant McIntosh,

Would depart from Hobart –

The Ross Sea team, upon the Aurora,

Will then part for the Antarctic.

If the land team of Sir Ernest do not cross

The Continent, within the first season,

The Aurora with the crew of 20,

Will winter in the Ross Sea –

The hope being for Sir Ernest

To meet up with the Ross Sea team,

In April 1915, or if failing that, April 1916.

With Frank Wild, second in command,

Sir Daniel Gooch and Sir Ernest,

Assisted with the dogs in preparation.

The physician Mr James and Mr Wordy,

Geologist, departed to join a steamer

On the Houlder Line for Buenos Ayres,

Along with motor sledges and 70 dogs.

On October 18, Sir Ernest and team

Will meet The Endurance –

Now on route to South America.

Sir Ernest stated that outbreak of war,

While not altering plans, had increased costs.

With need of scientific instruments,

Ordered from Germany, to be paid

Prior to delivery, had not been received.

The plan, upon landing the party,

In the Weddell Sea, was for the Endurance

To sail to the Falkland Islands.

Reaching there January 1915,

Bringing first news of the explorers.

Wintering in the South Shetlands,

The Endurance would make three bases,

Within the Antarctic region.

Those who left during Friday included:

Mr H.G. Lemard, Second officer of the Aurora

Mr J.R. Stenhouse RNR chief officer of the Aurora

Mr D.S. Mason Chief Engineer, Mr Hay Stoker

Mr Manger, carpenter, Mr J.L. Cope, Biologist

Mr H.L. Wild, in charge of stores, Mr A.H. Ninnis,

Cousin of Lieutenant Ninnis, who died during

‘Mawson Expedition’, in charge of the motors

Mr Spencer Smith, Cambridge Blue,

In charge of Photography and Mr A. Stevens,

M.B., B.Sc., Assistant Lecturer,

Of Geography at Glasgow University.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Antarctic Expedition – Departure from England. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 Sept. p.3. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11107159/Daily-Telegraph-September-19-1914.html [Accessed: 19th September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 19 September 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11107159/Daily-Telegraph-September-19-1914.html

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