Quick Summary
The 1914-1917 British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition is an incredible story of survival. Never reaching mainland Antarctica, a week-long gale trapped their ship, Endurance, in the Waddell Sea.
The 1914-1917 British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition is an incredible story of survival. Never reaching mainland Antarctica, a week-long gale trapped their ship, Endurance, in the Waddell Sea. The 27-man crew, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, was adrift for 10 months. Subsequently, they evacuated their ship which began to sink and spent another 5 months drifting on ice floes. Finally, they were able to escape to Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands on boats they took from the sinking Endurance. The crew then faced a long rescue process.
The Royal Geographical Society has recently created a fascinating exhibit.
From the Royal Geographical Society (RGS)
Honouring the achievements of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the men of the Endurance Expedition of 1914-1917, newly digitised images will reveal previously unseen details of the crew’s epic struggle for survival both before and after their ship was destroyed.
To learn more about the exhibition explore, Enduring Eye: The Antarctic Legacy of Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Hurley, and to experience the exhibition from afar take a moment to flip through the Online Exhibition.
And for educators don't miss RGS-created materials, Discovering Antarctica and Exploring Shackleton's Antarctica. BBC News also has some terrific images of Shackleton and crew.
To learn more about Sir Ernest Shackleton explore the article and media resources in Britannica, Student Resources In Context, and Academic Search Premier.
