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

Dudeney, J.R.; Sheail, J.; Walton, D.W.H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7103-4043. 2016 The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Polar Record, 52 (4). 380-392. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247414000631

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Text This article has been accepted for publication and will appear in a revised form in Polar Record, published by Cambridge University Press. Copyright Cambridge University Press. Shackleton paper final.doc - Accepted Version Download (2MB)

Abstract/Summary

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.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247414000631
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Corporate
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	UKCEH Fellows
ISSN:	0032-2474
NORA Subject Terms:	General > History of Science
Date made live:	11 Feb 2015 16:45 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509699

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