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The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2014

J.R. Dudeney ,
J. Sheail  and
D.W.H. Walton
J.R. Dudeney
Affiliation:
10 Church Lane, Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3RQ ([email protected])
J. Sheail
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, NERC, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8BB
D.W.H. Walton
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, NERC, Madingley Road, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET
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Abstract

The remarkable rescue of Shackleton's men from Elephant Island, after the sinking of Endurance, and from Ross Island, has been recounted many times by both participants and historians. There has been little critical examination of the part played by governments, nor assessment of some of Shackleton's own actions. In this paper we explore more fully from official British archival sources the extent to which the British Government was prepared to underwrite the rescue efforts; the importance of the plea made by Emily Shackleton directly to the Prime Minister; the role and actions of the Relief Advisory Committee (especially in respect of limiting Shackleton's actions); the significance of the media rights to the debt-laden expedition, and how such preoccupation could have influenced Shackleton's endeavour to rescue his marooned parties.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 52 , Issue 4 , July 2016 , pp. 380 - 392
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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