Visit by the James Caird Society and the South Georgia Association

15 Sep 2008

Last Monday we welcomed a group of over thirty members of the James Caird Society and the South Georgia Association to view some treasures relating to polar exploration in the Archive & Library collections, and in the museum's 3-D collections. Members of the two societies included descendants of the men of Sir Ernest Shackleton's expeditions (including the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton, Ernest Shackleton's grand-daughter), a retired admiral and retired diplomat, historians and explorers.

Barbara Tomlinson, Curator of Antiquities, showed a collection of medical instruments that had belonged to Dr Alexander Hepburne Macklin, surgeon on Shackleton's last two expeditions. She described how the surgeon used this equipment to perform grisly operations such as removing frost-bitten toes. She also showed a medal awarded to Shackleton by the Royal Geographical Society on the success of his Antarctic expedition 1907-9, which illustrates on one side a sledge drawn by two ponies with two men (sadly ponies suffered badly in the sub-zero conditions, dogs were found to be much hardier).

Andrew Davis, Curator of Manuscripts, showed one of the letters we hold between Sir Ernest Shackleton and Lady Invernairn, wife of Lord Invernairn, a supporter of the British Antarctic expedition of 1907-9. He also showed the journal of Victor George Hayward on Shackleton's Ross Sea party expedition of 1915-16. Hayward was part of the Ross Sea party on board the Aurora, whole role was to lay depots to aid Shackleton's crossing. With illustrated daily accounts of the expedition, the journal ends with an entry for 6 May 1916, two days before Hayward's death when the sea ice on which he and Mackintosh were travelling on, broke up. We also saw a postcard written by Ernest Shackleton to Plasmon Ltd, London, dated 12 November 1909, in which Shackleton writes that he considers Plasmon biscuits and chocolate 'indispensable' in the polar regions, an early example of product endorsement.

Gary Steele, Assistant Librarian, showed some works which were actually printed by members of polar expeditions whilst at the Antarctic. The Aurora Australis was first published in Antartica in 1908, and is beautifully illustrated by one of the members of that expedition, George Marston. The book has a logo of two penguins and states it was 'Printed at the sign of the Penguins'; it is bound in boards of the expedition's packing cases. Gary also showed us a copy of the South Polar Times, the first volume edited and typed by Shackleton, and illustrated by Dr Edward (Billy) Wilson. There were many difficulties and risks printing in extreme conditions like these. Some work had to be done at night when there was more room in the hut. Once there was an accident whilst heating the ink for printing the illustrations with a candle; the plate overheated and melted the only roller they had.

The group also had the chance to view some of the important polar exhibits in the museum's collections, on display in the museum's Oceans of Discovery gallery. These include Shackleton's sextant and compass, and the reproduction of the James Caird boat, the original used to rescue the stranded party of the Endurance during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914-16.

The visit was a great success. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing our knowledge about the collections, and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the subject by knowledgable and enthusiastic visitors.

Eleanor (Head of Archive and Library)