Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T01:55:47.516Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

TNA = The National Archives, LondonGoogle Scholar
Anderson, J.W.F. 1916. Letter to the Foreign Office, 4 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916a. Instructions for the guidance of the Committee for relief, 10 May 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916b. Letter to the Admiralty, 17 May 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916c. Telegram to British Legations in Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, 2 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916d. Telegram to British Legation in at Montivedeo, 6 June 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916e. Copy of a letter to the Treasury, 4 July 1916 (copy unsigned), TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916f. File notes, 24 to 29 July 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916g. Unsigned copy of letter to Commander In Chief, Ships and Vessels, Devonport, 3 August 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Anon. 1916h. Draft letter to the Admiralty, 5 August 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO78/140, Falkland Islands Offices January–June 1916.Google Scholar
Barczewski, S. 2007. Antarctic destinies: Scott, Shackleton and the changing face of heroism. London: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.Google Scholar
Barstow, G. 1914. Letter to the Admiralty, 12 March 1914. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Beaumont, L. 1916a. Admiralty minute, 18 May 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Beaumont, L. 1916b, Covering letter to Admiralty, 19 May 1916 and Report of Committee. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Beaumont, L. 1916c. Admiralty minute undated. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Beaumont, L. 1916d. Admiralty minute, 15 July 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Beaumont, L. 1916e. Letter to the Treasury, 12 October 1916, plus attached report. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Beaumont, L. 1916f. Final report of Committee, October 1916. TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8483/60, Shackleton Relief Expedition Advisory Committee 1917.Google Scholar
Brownrigg, D. 1916. Admiralty minute, 22 August 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Chalmers, R. 1916. Letter to the Admiralty, 6 May 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Churchill, W.S. 1914a. Note, 23 January 1914,TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8368/29, Imperial Trans–Antarctic Expedition 1914.Google Scholar
Churchill, W.S. 1914b. Marginal note, 19 February 1914. TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8368/29, Imperial Trans–Antarctic Expedition 1914.Google Scholar
Churchill, W.S. 1914c. Admiralty memorandum, 23 March 1914. TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8368/29, Imperial Trans–Antarctic Expedition 1914.Google Scholar
Davis, J.K. 1962. High latitude. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.Google Scholar
Dixon, R. and Lee, C.. 2011. The diaries of Frank Hurley 1912 –1921, London, Anthem Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donald, R. 1916. Letter to the Treasury, 11 May 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Dudeney, J.R. and Walton, D.W.H.. 2011. From Scotia to Operation Tabarin: developing British policy for Antarctica. Polar Record. 48 (247): 342–360. DOI: 10.1017/S0032247411000520.Google Scholar
Ferguson, M. 1916. Copy of telegram to the Colonial Office, 3 October 1916, embedded in telegram, 13 October 1916.TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Foljambe, A.W.S. (Second Earl of Liverpool). 1916. Telegram to the Colonial Office, 3 July 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Freshfield, D.W. 1916a. Letter to the Treasury, 18 April 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Freshfield, D.W. 1916b, Letter to the Treasury, 5 May 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Green, J.F.N. 1916 Handwritten comment, 5 June 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO78/138, Falkland Islands Dispatches January to June 1916.Google Scholar
Green, W.G. 1916a. Copy of letter to Admiral Beaumont, 8 May 1916. TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8483/60, Shackleton Relief Expedition Advisory Committee 1917.Google Scholar
Green, W.G. 1916b. Letter to the Colonial Office, 2 August 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO77/140, Falkland Islands Offices January–June 1916.Google Scholar
Green, W.G. 1916c. Letter to Sir Ernest Shackleton, 2 August 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO77/140, Falkland Islands Offices January–June 1916.Google Scholar
Haddelsey, S. 2008. Ice captain, the life of J.R. Stenhouse. Stroud: The History Press.Google Scholar
Heath, T. 1913. Treasury memorandum, 1 December 1913. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Heath, T. 1916a. Letter to the Admiralty, 24 April 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Heath, T. 1916b. Letter to the Admiralty, 31 May 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Heath, T. 1916c. Letter to the Colonial Office, 27 June 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Harland, J.H. 1992. Catchers and corvettes: the steam whalecatcher in peace and war, 1860–1960. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot Publications.Google Scholar
Hart, I.B. 2001. Pesca. The history of Compañia Argentina de Pesca. Salcombe: Aidan Ellis.Google Scholar
Hinds, A.R. 1916. Letter to the Admiralty, 30 March 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Huntford, R. 1985. Shackleton. London: Hodder and Stoughton (1989 reprint in paperback. Sphere Books Ltd).Google Scholar
Hurst, A.W. 1916. File note, 3 May 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Law, A. Bonar. 1916. Telegram to Governors General of Australia and New Zealand, 30 June 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Lloyd George, D. 1913, Letter to Sir Ernest Shackleton, 3 December 1913. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Mawson, D. 1916. Letter to the Colonial Office,14 September 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
McElrea, R. and Harrowfield, D., 2004. Polar castaways: the Ross Sea party (1914 –1917) of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.Google Scholar
Meiklejohn, R.S. 1916a. File note, 3 May 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Meiklejohn, R.S. 1916b. File note, 16 May 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Meiklejohn, R.S. 1916c. Letter to the Daily Chronicle, 17 May 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Murray, O. 1916. Letter to the Colonial Office, 27 May 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916a. Memorandum, 25 April 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916b. Submission and Minutes,16 May 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916c. Minute, 21 May 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916d. Minute, 1 June 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916e. Minute, 3 June 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916f. Minute, 26 June 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916g. Minute, 27 July 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916h. Minute, 2 August 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Parry, J.F. 1916i. Minute, 21 September 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Pasman, M.A. 1916. Letter to British Legation at Buenos Aires, 12 August 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Perris, E.A. and Hutchison, A.. 1916a. Letter to the Prime Minister 14 April 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Perris, E.A. and Hutchison, A.. 1916b. Letter to the Prime Minister, 5 May 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Perris, E.A. 1916a. Copy of an intercepted telegram dated 20 August 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Perris, E.A. 1916b. Letter to the Admiralty, 24 August 1916. TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Savours, A. 2001, The voyages of the ‘Discovery’. London: Chatham Publications.Google Scholar
Shackleton, Emily, 1916. Letter to the Prime Minister, 16 April 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Shackleton, E. 1914, Letter to the Admiralty 2 February 1914. TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8368/29, Imperial Trans–Antarctic Expedition 1914.Google Scholar
Shackleton, E. 1916. Copy of telegram to the Admiralty, 6 June 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO78/138, Falkland Islands Dispatches January to June 1916.Google Scholar
Shackleton, E. 1999, South: the ‘Endurance’ expedition, London: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Sperling, R.A.C. 1916. File note, 6 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Stronge, F. 1916a, Telegram to Foreign Office, 2 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Stronge, F. 1916b. Telegram to Foreign Office, 4 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Stronge, F. 1916c. Letter to the Foreign Office, 7 October 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Thomson, G. 1916, Letter to C T Bowring & Co, 17 May 1916, TNA. Records of the Navy Board and Board of Admiralty, file ADM116/1712, Shackleton Relief Expedition 1916–1919.Google Scholar
Treasury, 1916. File note, stamped 12 August 1916. TNA. Treasury Board Papers and in–letters 1557–1922, file T1/12012, Shackleton Expedition and Relief 1913–1916.Google Scholar
Tower, R. 1916a. Telegram 196 to Foreign Office, 3 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Tower, R. 1916b. Telegram 197 to Foreign Office, 3 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Tower, R. 1916c. Letter to the Foreign Office, 6 July 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Tower, R. 1916d. Letter to the Foreign Office, 8 June 1916. TNA. FO371 General Correspondence, Foreign Office file FO371/2846, America 1916.Google Scholar
Tyler–Lewis, K, 2006. The lost men, the harrowing story of Shackleton's Ross Sea party. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.Google Scholar
Young, D. 1916a. Telegram to the Colonial Office, 31 May 1916, TNA. ADM1 Correspondence, Memoranda and Papers, Admiralty file ADM1/8483/60, Shackleton Relief Expedition Advisory Committee 1917.Google Scholar
Young, D. 1916b. Telegram to the Colonial Office, 2 June 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO77/138, Falkland Islands Dispatches January to June 1916.Google Scholar
Young, D. 1916c. Telegram to the Colonial Office, 4 September 1916. TNA. Falkland Islands to 1951, Colonial Office file CO78/139, Falkland Islands Dispatches July–December 1916.Google Scholar