We are embarked on a decade of celebrations of the national expeditions of what is now termed the Heroic Age. Exploring the Antarctic – the great unknown continent – a hundred years ago was great adventure and, given what we now know of the primitive state of their equipment, it is surprising that more of these explorers did not die. The tragic death of Captain Scott's polar party must be taken as a key talisman for the title “Heroic Age” but we should not underestimate the courage and fortitude of all the others – British, Swedish, Norwegian, French, German, Belgian, Argentinean, Polish, Romanian, American etc – who sailed, walked and sledged into the unknown for the greater good of their nation.