Ernest Shackleton
Pictures of the Endurance Expedition

Page 2 - Dump Camp, Ocean Camp and Patience Camp on the sea-ice, escape by boat to Elephant Island, Shackleton's boat journey to South Georgia, Life on Elephant Island, attempted and eventually successful rescue of all the Endurance crew.
Pictures page 1

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Two of the crew amongst ice ridges that had been pushed up by the pressure from the pack

Early days of establishing a floating camp on the ice

Encampment, the observation platform in the background was to help look for breaks opening in the pack ice and also to scout for seals or penguins that could be taken as food

15th December 1915, Ocean Camp

Ocean Camp, Weddell Sea - The castaways adrift on the sea ice, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Wild are standing together at the left of the picture.

The tents at the camp were intended for use in crossing the continent of Antarctica which was the aim of the expedition before the Endurance was sunk

Dog teams scouting a way to the land across the rough sea ice, in the end progress was so slow as to be friutless

Part of a dog sled team and drivers

Teams of dogs, sleds and drivers take a break while scouting on the sea ice

Climbing up a pressure ridge, this was horizontal floating ice that was pushed up by some distant wind or storm exerting pressure on the ice

Patience Camp, Weddell Sea - Frank Hurley, left, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, right, in front of their small tent.

Trying to make a way through the rough and broken ice

Observation platform built from wood salvaged from the crushed Endurance, used for spotting openings in the ice, seals and penguins and for taking sightings on the sun (as here) to determine position and drift.

23rd December 1915 - Setting out on an attempt to cross the pack ice and start to make toward land, safety and an emergency store of provisions. The attempt was abandonded after 6 days as progress was so slow and so physically exhausting.

Sleeping bags and clothes being aired on the boat during a break while attempting to haul to land

Using salvaged wood to raise the gunwhales of the James Caird

Finally the pack ice drifted far enough north to begin to break up and the men took to the boats on loose pack

At night the boats were drawn up on to an ice-raft and a blubber fire kindled to warm frozen bodies. overhead the Aurora Australis flamed and waned. Composite image of photograph by Hurley and drawing by George Marston.

The boats are hauled up on to a friendly floe to rest the party, and to prepare food. Men on an ice-floe among many thousands in the Weddell Sea, with heavy clouds. Composite photograph and detail of drawing by George Marston.

The boats tried to stay together as far as possible even though not all were able to keep the same speed, a mixtutre of ice floes and bergs made for dangerous sailing

First landing on Elephant Island, the line of ice to the left is the high tide mark.

The three boats are pulled a little higher on the beach, the James Caird, the Dudley Docker and the Stancomb Wills, after the first landing on Elephant Island.

Shackleton and Frank Wild on arrival on Elephant Island

After five days and nights in the boats, the men are eventually on solid land. At last they can have hot food and as much water as they want, they eat and drink and eat and drink for the rest of the day

The launching of the James Caird from Elephant Island. Shackleton and five others setting out to reach South Georgia 800 miles away across the stormiest seas in the world, this was to become one of the most incredible small boat journeys of all time.

Launching the James Caird

Once afloat and just off shore, the James Caird was loaded with ballast and stores for the trip

Those remaining on Elephant Island wave goodbye to the small party going for rescue

The two upturned boats that formed the "Snuggery" or the "Sty". A view of the interior of the makeshift hut on Elephant Island. Composite of photograph and drawing by George Marston. Inside measurements: 18 feet by 9 feet by 5 feet at its highest point. Twenty-two men lived in this hut for four and a half months.

Home on Elephant Island was built of two upturned boats laid side by side, twenty two men lived like semi-frozen sardines within its cramped, dark interior.

After an arduous journey but made much more quickly than anticipated, the boat is in sight of the goal, nearing South Georgia. Drawn from material supplied by the boat party  Photograph of drawing possibly by George Marston.

Arrival at King Haakon Bay, South Georgia

The glacier behind the hut at Cape Wild, Elephant Island

The men on Elephant Island after three months, still hoping for Shackleton to bring a rescue ship

August 30th 1916, Shackleton sucessfully reaches Elephant Island with the steam tug "Yelcho" on his 4th attempt

A boat was lowered for the shore, ringing cheers greeted its approach, a terrible chapter in the men's lives was drawing to a close, rescue boat approaching Elephant Island.

The men on Elephant Island just before embarking on the rescue boat

Boarding a row boat to take everyone from Elephant Island to the Yelcho

The schooner "Emma" used for a previous unsuccessful rescue attempt

A newspaper article reporting the rescue of Shackleton's men from Elephant Island, Shackleton, left and Luis A. Pardo, captain of the rescue vessel "Yelcho" at right

The "Yelcho" a steam tug lent to Shackleton by the Chilean government to rescue his men, prior to the actual rescue it had been used to tow the schooner "Emma" part way to Elephant Island on a failed rescue mission. The rescue took place at the fourth attempt.

The rescued party arrive at Punta Arenas Chile, accompanied by local dignitaries

Elephant Island party in Punta Arenas

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