South

South
The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917

By

3
(1 Review)
South by Ernest Shackleton

Published:

1920

Pages:

425

Downloads:

4,915

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South
The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917

By

3
(1 Review)
Best known for the heroic and successful efforts of Ernest Shackleton and his men to save themselves from the remote, frozen Antarctic after disaster destroyed their ship thousands of miles from the civilization. Although wireless radio was available to ships at the time, the expedition's distant location made such contact impossible, and because World War I was raging, no rescue effort ever left Britain in search of the missing crew.

Book Excerpt

reed, our own services to the country in the event of war breaking out. All hands immediately agreed, and I sent off a telegram in which everything was placed at the disposal of the Admiralty. We only asked that, in the event of the declaration of war, the Expedition might be considered as a single unit, so as to preserve its homogeneity. There were enough trained and experienced men amongst us to man a destroyer. Within an hour I received a laconic wire from the Admiralty saying "Proceed." Within two hours a longer wire came from Mr. Winston Churchill, in which we were thanked for our offer, and saying that the authorities desired that the Expedition, which had the full sanction and support of the Scientific and Geographical Societies, should go on.

So, according to these definite instructions, the 'Endurance' sailed to Plymouth. On Tuesday the King sent for me and handed me the Union Jack to carry on the Expedition. That night, at midnight, war broke out. On the following Saturday, August 8, the '