Scott of the Antarctic

[Pleater]

It is one hundred years today since Scott, Wilson and Bowers succumbed to cold and starvation returning from the South Pole, only 11 miles from a cache of food and fuel which might have saved their lives.

Their bodies were discovered the following Spring and interred in the snow, but items from the ill fated expedition, including Scott's journal, were brought back.

The journal is now online.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[xman]

Great little podcast on doomed expeditions. Scott is in there somewhere. I recommend listening.
http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/20...itions-part-1/
http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/20...itions-part-2/

[creagdhubh]

This is always an interesting topic and their story has always amazed me.

Cheers,

[Mickey]

I read The Worst Journey In The World a few times now (Explorer's Club Classics) and can never seem to get enough of it.

Gonna have to dig it up again now

[Woodsheal]

The John Mills movie "Scott of the Antarctic" just played on TCM. The endurance and achievement of those early explorers is almost beyond comprehension these days....

[Peter Crowe]

The John Mills movie "Scott of the Antarctic" just played on TCM. The endurance and achievement of those early explorers is almost beyond comprehension these days....

I first watched that film when I was ten and a half years old in May 1977 (It was shown as part of the Queen's Silver Jubilee TV schedule), and had nightmares for some weeks afterwards about the death of PO Edgar Evans (fictitionalised for dramatic effect) with gangrene, and the demise of Captain Oates (which was faithful to Captain Scott's journal). Even all these years later, watching that film with it's haunting Antarctic Suite by Ralph Vaughan-Williams brings a lump to my throat.

[Riverkilt]

I have both a hand sewn Scott tartan kilt and an Antarctic tartan kilt - had I known (been more historically aware) woulda coulda worn one of them today.

[Pleater]

There was a time when Scott was considered incompetent, a buffoon - I suspect by those who did not have the slightest idea of what an expedition to the South Pole would have entailed.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Pleater]

Yes, Robert Falcon Scott was born near Devonport, one of six children.

He was - I feel - impelled into a more rash life than he might have led by the death of his father and younger brother, which made him financially responsible for his mother and unmarried sisters.

A plea that their families be taken care of was the last thing Scott wrote in his journal - and there were letters to various family members.

In one he urges that his grandson be interested in nature rather than sports and games, and Sir Peter Scott's programs on TV, which I saw when still a child interested me in the natural world and influenced my choice of subject at school and polytechnic.

There is a strong resemblance between R F and Peter Scott.


Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Tartan Tess]

In the building where we have our monthly Saint Andrews society of Maine meetings, there is a huge oil portrait of him and some sled dog/polar bear knick nacks. I do believe he was from Brunswick, Maine