Sir Ernest Shackleton
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Trans-Antarctic_Expedition [Accessed on 15 November 2014]
Received a Wednesday cablegram
Sent by Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Dated 28 October, Buenos Ayres
To state their warm welcome,
Where authorities have assisted
All they can, in their expedition.
Shackleton states how this will be,
The last cable on the team’s final step
To the Antarctic – the task described
As ‘white warfare,’ gives the message
Of their temporary farewell;
‘We shall do our best to make good.’
The explorer notes the expedition
Will be cut off from the world, but all
Prayers and thoughts are for their,
‘Brothers fighting at the front.’
He hopes that by their undertaking
They will add to scientific progress,
For national liberty and honour,
With achievements and discoveries.
Shackleton states part of their plan
Has been changed – the Endurance,
After landing the expedition members,
Will proceed to winter in the Antarctic;
Instead of sailing to South Georgia
And Buenos Ayres – such a change
Allows the use of coal, stored aboard,
For them to move rapidly southwards.
On leaving Georgia the ‘Endurance’
Will examine pack ice to see if this
Is loose enough to break through.
Reports received have suggested
That a heavy ice season exists
In the Weddell Sea – the Endurance
Will then be wintered at south latitude
77.30 degrees, while the journey may
Continue, if gaining an earlier date.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Antarctic Expedition – Farwell Message – Change of Plan. The
Daily Telegraph, [online] 30 Oct. p.3. Col.1. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11186087/Daily-Telegraph-October-30-1914.html
[Accessed: 30 October 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 30 October 2014).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
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